Lily James

Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson (born 5 April 1989), better known by her stage name Lily James, is an English actress. She studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and began her career in the British television series ''Just William'' (2010). Following her role in the period drama series ''Downton Abbey'' (2012–2015), her film breakthrough was the title role in ''Cinderella'' (2015).

James went on to portray Countess Natasha Rostova in the television adaptation of '' War & Peace'' (2016) and Pamela Anderson in the biographical series '' Pam & Tommy'' (2022). The latter earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in 2022. She has had starring roles in several films, including '' Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'' (2016), '' Baby Driver'' (2017), '' Darkest Hour'' (2017), ''The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'' (2018), the musical ''Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'' (2018), '' Yesterday'' (2019), '' Rebecca'' (2020) and '' The Dig'' (2021).

Early life

Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson was born on 5 April 1989 in Esher, Surrey, the daughter of Ninette Mantle, an actress, and James "Jamie" Thomson, a musician. She has two brothers, one older and one younger. Her paternal grandmother, Helen Horton, was an American actress. Her maternal grandmother was French, and fled her village near Paris because of the Nazis, later marrying James's grandfather, a minister in the RAF. After finishing her studies at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire, James went on to graduate from London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2010. Shortly thereafter, she signed with Tavistock Wood management in London.

Career

Her television credits include Ethel Brown in the 2010 BBC production of Richmal Crompton's ''Just William'', Poppy in the fourth series of ITV's ''Secret Diary of a Call Girl'' (2011), and Lady Rose Aldrige in ''Downton Abbey''. Lady Rose became a main character in the fourth and fifth series of the programme. James also appeared as Lady Rose in the series finale.

In 2011, James played Taylor at the Young Vic Theatre in Tanya Ronder's stage adaptation of the novel ''Vernon God Little'' directed by Rufus Norris, Nina in Russell Bolam's modern adaptation of ''The Seagull'' at Southwark Playhouse, and Desdemona in Daniel Evans' production of ''Othello'' at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, with Dominic West and Clarke Peters.

In 2012, James played the role of Katrina in ''Play House'' and Marijka in ''Definitely the Bahamas'' in a double-bill written and directed by Martin Crimp at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, London as part of the theatre's 40th anniversary. Charles Spencer of ''The Telegraph'' wrote that "it is performed with a persuasive mixture of mischief and deeper feeling by Obi Abili and Lily James, the latter combining a mixture of neuroticism and glowing sexual allure that proves extraordinarily potent." James played the role of Korrina in the Warner Brothers film ''Wrath of the Titans'' and starred in '' Fast Girls'', written by Noel Clarke, centred around a group of young female athletes competing in the World Championships.

James played Cinderella in Kenneth Branagh's 2015 live-action Disney film ''Cinderella''. James was photographed by Annie Leibovitz as Cinderella, in the blue gown her character wears to the ball, for the December 2014 issue of ''Vogue''. James also made her singing debut in the film singing "Sing Sweet Nightingale," "Lavender's Blue" and "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from the 1950 animated film in the end credits.

In 2016, she returned to television in the 2016 BBC
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