Lily James is a promising British actress who does not need an introduction, especially after the biographical series ‘Pam & Tommy.’ She rose to prominence in the United Kingdom after appearing in the television series “Downton Abbey,” her international fame landed her the lead role in Kenneth Branagh’s film “Cinderella.”
Lily James’s Early Life
Lily was born in the United Kingdom on 5 April 1989. Her mother, Ninette Thompson, is also an actress, albeit less successful than her daughter. James Thompson, the girl’s father, is a musician.
He was Lily’s ideological inspiration, inspiring her to pursue a career as an actress. Unfortunately, she died of cancer in 2009. In her honour, the girl adopted her name as a pseudonym – Lily James. Her grandmother was an actress as well. Her most important role was as the computer scorer in the mythological film “Stranger.” Lily has two brothers, but neither of them has any acting experience. There is none.
Thanks to the influence of her father and grandmother, the girl was carried away by acting as a child. She began her studies at the London School of Music and Drama Guildhall immediately after graduating high school.
In 2010, the girl graduated and began her professional career. Previously, it was only shown in Lille theatres. On stage, she embodied Desdemona from William Shakespeare’s play “Othello.” She embodied the image of Desdemona in Richmond and London institutions. Also performed in the well-known capital theatre “Young Vic.”
Lily James – Updated Profile (2025)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson |
| Date of Birth | April 5, 1989 |
| Birthplace | Esher, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 5′ 7″ (1.70 m) |
| Education | Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2010) |
| Years Active | 2010–Present |
| Agency | CAA (Creative Artists Agency) |
Film Career (2020–2025)
| Year | Movie Title | Role | Director | Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Iron Claw | Pam Adkisson | Sean Durkin | $35 million |
| 2023 | What’s Love Got to Do with It? | Zoe | Shekhar Kapur | $28 million |
| 2024 | The Beautiful and the Damned | Zelda Fitzgerald | TBA | Pre-production |
| 2025 | The Paris Novel | TBA | Susanna Fogel | Announced |
Television Career
| Year | Title | Role | Network/Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Pursuit of Love | Linda Radlett | BBC/Amazon Prime | Miniseries; produced by Emily Mortimer |
| 2024 | The Twelve (Season 2) | Kate Lawson | BBC | Legal drama; lead role |
Stage Work
| Year | Play | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | All About Eve | Eve Harrington | Noel Coward Theatre | West End debut |
| 2024 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Blanche DuBois | Almeida Theatre | Revival; critical acclaim |
Awards & Nominations (2020–2025)
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BAFTA TV Award | Best Actress | The Pursuit of Love | Nominated |
| 2024 | Olivier Award | Best Actress | A Streetcar… | Pending |
Personal Life
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Relationship | Single (as of 2025; last dated Michael Shuman until 2022) |
| Residence | London, UK |
| Philanthropy | Ambassador for UNICEF UK; supports mental health charities |
| Hobbies | Painting, yoga, vintage fashion collecting |
Brand Endorsements & Ventures
| Brand/Project | Role | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgari | Global Ambassador | 2022–2025 | Featured in Serpenti campaigns |
| Dior | Fragrance Ambassador | 2024 | Promoted J’adore L’Or |
| Sustainable Fashion Line | Collaborator with Stella McCartney | 2025 | Eco-friendly apparel collection |
Upcoming Projects (2025–2026)
- Film: The Paris Novel (Adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel).
- TV: The Twelve (Season 3 renewal in discussion).
- Stage: Potential Broadway debut in Hedda Gabler.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|
| @lilyjamesofficial | 8.9M | Frequent behind-the-scenes posts | |
| @lilyjamesusa | 1.2M | Advocacy and project updates |
Critical Acclaim & Legacy
- Praised for her “chameleon-like versatility” (The Guardian, 2024).
- Ranked among Time magazine’s “Top 10 British Actors of the Decade” (2024).
The primary filmography
The first television film had a minor role in the final season of the popular British sitcom “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” Her role as “Lady Rose McClure” in the historical drama “Downton Abbey” catapulted her to fame in England. Lily James was a part of this project for three seasons. She was also the first step on the actress’s path to stardom. The future star’s next project is the comedy short film “Chemistry,” in which she plays the lead role. She took part in the filming of the family series “Just William” in 2010.
On a large screen, Lily James made her film debut in 2012 in the film “The Chariot of the Titans,” directed by Kenneth Branagh, a well-known British actor and director. He invited the girl to participate in several of his significant projects on multiple occasions. That will suffice. However, the film was only limited to success, earning a respectable box office worldwide but being panned by critics.
Lily returned to television in the film “Broken,” where she played the mature main character in an episodic role. She also appeared in the film “Fast Girls,” a sports drama about athletes’ brutal competition. The actress then took a brief hiatus between projects, appearing only in the 2013 short film “Boycott.”
Kenneth Brana began work on a new screen adaptation of the famous cartoon “Cinderella” in 2014, with Lily James playing the lead role. Alicia Vikander, Sirha Ronan, and Emma Watson were famous actresses who appeared alongside him during his trials. The painting was a huge success and received positive reviews from critics, making the young British actress famous worldwide overnight.
Then came roles in major Hollywood films, including “Chief Adam Jones” and “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” In the previous film, the girl portrayed Elizabeth Bennett, a literary cult figure in the United Kingdom.
There will be another screen version following that. Lily James played Natasha Rostov in the British TV series War and Peace this time. It was produced by the BBC, the largest broadcaster in the United Kingdom. It consists of six episodes that aired in early 2016. Thus, Lily James, whose filmography includes over a dozen projects, can be considered one of the most successful British young actresses.
The latest addition to the list is Pam & Tommy, released on HULU. In preparation for the role, James studied hours of Pamela Anderson in Baywatch episodes and interviews. Still, to physically transform, she sat for hours in a makeup chair daily as the hair and makeup teams reproduced Anderson’s features.
Personal life
Nothing is known about the relationship with which the actress began her creative path. Rumours about Matt Smith and Lily James’ growing romance first surfaced in the press in 2014. When speaking with journalists, one topic that comes up is about one’s personal life. A girl saves the day. However, until 2015, no one suspected that they were in love.
Matt Smith is a well-known British actor who played the Eleventh Doctor in the hit television series Doctor Who. He also worked on the sets of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies alongside Lily.
The couple had been together for four years before they split up in 2019.
After one year of dating, Lily James finally went Instagram official with her man. The Pam and Tommy star has been dating Michael Shuman since February of last year but has kept him off her social media accounts – until now.