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 called the second Maggie Smith. She is famous in the homeland for playing the role of Lady Rose in the hit series «Downton Abbey». The work in the pictures «Cinderella» and «War and Peace» brought her the world wide popularity.

The Childhood

Lily was born in an intellectual, creative family from Surrey. Her mother, Ninette was an actress, and her father was James Thomson, a musician. Lily's grandmother, Helen Horton, was also an actress, she took part in scoring the film «Alien».

It is not surprising that the girl, intending to continue the dynasty of actors, dreamed of the stage from an early age. Lily started mastering acting at the art school in Tring and continued at the London School of Music and Drama, which he successfully graduated in 2010.

In school, as Lily recalls, she demonstrated an awful taste in clothes. One day she put on a terrible bodycon mini dress from pink latex and shoes with huge heels for the party. Classmates ridiculed her, and since that time she developed a phobia to be dressed inappropriately for the occasion. The rest of the school years she dressed in nondescript 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 plunged into the world of professional theatre to drown out the grief.

The Acting Career

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

That time, she decided to try on TV 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 «The Abbey Downton» brought the young actress a real success. Her character first appeared in the third season and caught the fancy of the public at once: thoughtless tramp who's only interested in dancing, grooms, and dresses, could challenge society and its ossified traditions. In the end, Lily had to come to terms with the lush Victorian costumes for the next three years.

Lily James in the TV series «The Abbey Downton»

After «The Abbey Downton», Lily James's career began rapidly growing. The year 2012 was very fruitful to the aspiring actress: she starred in four pictures, «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 has been approved for the role of Cinderella in the eponymous film adaptation of the Disney cartoon, beating the stars in the casting as 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 horse-riding (before that she didn't even know which side to approach horses) and ballroom dancing. The scenes with the father turned to be a very difficult challenge for the young actress as she was overwhelmed with the sad memories of her own so early deceased father.

The movie was a huge success and glorified the British actress in the whole world. The next landmark work in James’s film career became the role of Natasha in the multi-screen version of Leo Tolstoy's novel «War and Peace» from the BBC, thanks to which Lily has taken a worthy place among the most successful British Actresses.

Lily James played Natashia in BBC «War and Peace»

In 2016, the girl suddenly decided on a bold experiment and has posed naked for the advertising campaign of the new fragrance from Burberry.

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 sensual blonde is at the peak of her popularity. She returned to the theatre, lured by the role of Juliet in Shakespeare's play. Romeo was played by an actor from «Game of Thrones» Richard Madden. The performance can be seen not only in theaters as it was broadcast in cinemas all around the world.

Lily James and Richard Madden are new Romeo and Juliet

In 2017, there were planned several releases with 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

In 2018, there will be released a melodrama «The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society» with Lily James and Jessica Brown-Findlay in the leading roles. In August, there will be a premiere of the next episode of the cult musical «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 the actor Matt Smith on the set, who played the priest Collins during work in large-scale Hollywood project's «Pride and Prejudice and Zombies». There was a sympathy between them, which developed further in this deep sense.

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 thought about the wedding. However, taking into account the employment of actress in recent times, this important event is postponed all the time. IN December 2020, the rumors about Lilt and Matt's split appeared, but after 3 months after they were spotted together in London.

Later, Lily was rumored to have a relationship with Chris Evans (in wasn’t confirmed) and with rock-musician Michael Shuman from Queens Of The Stone Age. They were captured by paparazzi for a several times.

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

Lily James Now

In early 2022, the "Pam and Tommy" first season was released on Hulu. It told the controversial and passionate love story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee from Motley Crue (played by Sebastian Stan) and a leaking of their home video.

Pam & Tommy trailer

The role of 90s sex-symbol went to Lily James. She worked a lot to reach Pam’s shape. At least, she didn’t need breast implants. Make-up artists created a special silicone pad 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 been fashionable in 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, there were designed overlays and dentures.

Lily James and Sebastian Stan remaked this well-known photo

By the way, Pamela didn’t approve the series and ignored all Lily’s attempts to consult a prototype of her character. Later, an insider close to Pamela told journalists, that It is shocking that this series is allowed to happen without her approval.

Lily James: latest news and articles

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