19 Facts About Lily James

Lily James studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and began her career in the British television series Just William.

Lily James has two brothers, one older and one younger.

Lily James's paternal grandmother, Helen Horton, was an American actress.

In 2011, Lily 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, Lily 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.

Lily 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.

Lily James played Cinderella in Kenneth Branagh's 2015 live-action Disney film Cinderella.

Lily 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.

Lily James starred in her second major film, as Elizabeth Bennet in the action-horror film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a parody of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Lily James played Juliet in the Garrick Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Rob Ashford and the actor-director Kenneth Branagh in 2016.

Lily James played Debora, the love interest of the main character, Baby, in Edgar Wright's action film Baby Driver.

Lily James played Elizabeth Layton, a secretary to the British prime minister Winston Churchill, in Joe Wright's war drama film Darkest Hour.

Lily James headlined the Second World War drama film The Exception, playing a British agent posing as a servant to the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II.

In 2019, Lily James starred as Eve Harrington in Ivo van Hove's stage adaptation of All About Eve alongside Gillian Anderson.

In 2020, Lily James played the second Mrs de Winter in an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Gothic romance Rebecca directed by Ben Wheatley and co-starring Armie Hammer.

In September 2022, it was announced that Lily James was contracted to be a brand ambassador for the Natural Diamond Council, which promotes naturally sourced diamonds.

Lily James took her father's first name as her stage name when she learned there was already an actress named Lily Thomson.

Lily James was in a relationship with the actor Matt Smith, whom she met while working on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, from 2014 to 2019.

In 2021, Lily James began dating American musician and songwriter Michael Shuman, a member of US rock band, Queens of the Stone Age.