Lily James biography, photos as Pam, boyfriend, Cinderella, height 2025

Lily James' Biography

Lily James (full name Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson) is a popular British actress, often hailed as the next Maggie Smith. She first gained recognition in Britain for her role as Lady Rose in the hit series «Downton Abbey». Her roles in «Cinderella» and «War and Peace» catapulted her to international stardom.

Early Life

Lily was born into an intellectual, creative family in Surrey. Her mother Ninette was an actress, and her father James Thomson was a musician. Lily's grandmother, Helen Horton, was also an actress, she provided voice work for the film «Alien».

Naturally, growing up in this theatrical dynasty, Lily dreamed of the stage from an early age. Lily began studying acting at the arts school in Tring before moving on to the London School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2010.

Looking back on her school days, Lily admits she had terrible fashion sense. She once wore a hideous pink latex bodycon mini dress with towering heels to a party. Her classmates mocked her, and ever since, she's been terrified of dressing inappropriately. For the rest of her school years, she stuck to plain hoodies and sneakers. She still maintains a casual style.

Lily James changed her name in memory of his father

In 2008, her father passed away from cancer. In his memory, she took the pseudonym Lily James. Under this name, she threw herself into professional theatre to cope with her grief.

The Acting Career

Lily immediately conquered London society with her roles as Desdemona in «Othello» and Nina in Chekhov's «The Seagull», capturing the attention of even the most discerning theatre-goers in the British capital.

Around that time, she decided to try television and played a small role in the sitcom «The Secret Diary of a Call Girl».

The role of Lady Rose McClair in the TV series «Downton Abbey» brought the young actress real success. Her character first appeared in the third season and immediately caught the public's fancy: a thoughtless socialite interested only in dancing, suitors, and dresses, who could challenge society and its rigid traditions. Ultimately, Lily had to embrace those elaborate Victorian costumes for the next three years.

Lily James in the TV series «The Abbey Downton»

After «Downton Abbey», Lily James's career took off rapidly. The year 2012 proved very fruitful for the aspiring actress: she starred in four films, «Chemia», «Broken», «Wrath of the Titans» and «Fast Girls».

Lily James – A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)

According to Zoomboola.com, in 2014, Lily was cast as Cinderella in the live-action Disney adaptation, beating out major stars in the audition process including Alicia Vikander, Saoirse Ronan, and even the incomparable Emma Watson. Her partner on the set became Kenneth Branagh.

During pre-production, she had to learn horseback riding (she didn't even know which side to approach a horse from) and ballroom dancing. The scenes with her father proved especially challenging for the young actress, as they brought back painful memories of her own father's early death.

The movie was a huge success and made the British actress famous worldwide. The next landmark role in James's film career was Natasha in the BBC's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel «War and Peace», which secured Lily's place among Britain's most successful actresses.

Lily James played Natashia in BBC «War and Peace»

In 2016, she made a bold decision and posed nude for Burberry's new fragrance campaign.

Lily James posed nude in a perfume's commercial

In the same year, audiences saw her in the historical drama «The Exception» along with Jai Courtney and Christopher Plummer.

The stunning actress is at the peak of her popularity. She returned to the stage, drawn to the iconic role of Juliet in Shakespeare's classic. Romeo was played by "Game of Thrones" star Richard Madden. The performance wasn't just limited to theaters – it was broadcast in cinemas worldwide.

Lily James and Richard Madden are new Romeo and Juliet

2017 saw several major releases featuring the actress. Among them was the thriller «Baby Driver» with Ansel Elgort, the war drama «Darkest Hour» with Gary Oldman.

Baby Driver: Lily James and Ansel Elgort

2018 brought the release of the melodrama "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" starring Lily James and Jessica Brown-Findlay. August saw the premiere of the next installment in the beloved musical franchise "Mamma Mia!" Lily James will play the heroine of Meryl Streep in her youth.

In 2019, the actress played one of two main characters in British theatrical performance "All About Eve" along with Gillian Anderson. Also, Ralph Fiennes and Lily James portrayed the key heroes of "The Dig" historical drama.

All About Eve: Lily James and Gillian Anderson

Lily James' Personal Life

In 2015, Lily met actor Matt Smith on the set of the big-budget Hollywood project "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," where he played the priest Collins. There was an instant chemistry between them that blossomed into something deeper.

The lovers often appear together at social events, although they try not to attract the attention of journalists.

Lily James about «Baby Driver», American accent and Matt Smith

Lily and Matt have often talked about marriage, but with the actress's busy schedule, wedding plans keep getting pushed back. In December 2020, rumors of Lily and Matt's split surfaced, but three months later they were spotted together in London.

Later, Lily was rumored to be dating Chris Evans (though this wasn't confirmed) and rock musician Michael Shuman from Queens Of The Stone Age. They were spotted by paparazzi on several occasions.

Thanks to her musical taste nurtured in early childhood, Lily has a deep appreciation for good music. Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor are among her favorite artists.

Lily James Now

In early 2022, the first season of "Pam and Tommy" premiered on Hulu. It chronicled the controversial and passionate love story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee from Motley Crue (played by Sebastian Stan) and the leak of their private tape.

Pam & Tommy trailer

The role of 90s sex-symbol went to Lily James. She worked hard to achieve Pam's iconic look. Fortunately, she didn't need breast implants. Makeup artists created a special silicone prosthetic for her. Also, she didn't dye her hair. A whole team worked on the wig using four different colors to achieve Anderson's famous platinum shade. Thin eyebrows, which were fashionable in the '90s, were also glued on top of Lily's natural eyebrows, covered with flesh-colored overlays. To give Lily's face a resemblance to Pam, special overlays and dentures were designed.

Lily James and Sebastian Stan remaked this well-known photo

Notably, Pamela didn't approve the series and ignored all of Lily's attempts to consult with her about the character. Later, an insider close to Pamela told journalists, that It is shocking that this series is allowed to happen without her approval.

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James Morgan

the Cinderella role was made for her. she was very sexy and beautiful in this movie.

2021-09-10 04:48:54
Charles Xavier Roberts

Lily James in `Cinderella` is very charming, beautiful, graceful, smart. This role was made for her.

2021-05-13 20:56:21
Wanda Schultz

In my view, all the roles with old times clothes what Lily James had to wear for the roles was the most successful. She is very harmonious in that kind of outfits.

2021-05-07 12:58:04
Henry Sanchez

Lily James is inherent the English prim, coldness, gentility and stolidity. Maybe that`s why in the series `Downton Abbey` the actress was like a duck to water.

2021-03-21 09:58:54
Helen Bell

Natasha Rostova by Lily James is wonderful. When I watched at the first time this movie I literally feel in love with this epoch.

2021-03-12 13:33:01
Samuel Andrew Thomas

The appearance of Lily James in my opinion is nothing special. There is a lot of girls like her but at the same she is undoubtedly very talented much more than many other actresses.

2021-02-05 19:37:34

Photos: Lily James