For TV and movie fans, Lily James is recognized as a rapidly rising star that has massive appeal across genres. She is stunningly gorgeous and she has unbelievable range. Despite being a native of Great Britain, the star has mastered the American accent, which has contributed tremendously to her success in Hollywood. She has taken on roles that include the lead in Cinderella, Downtown Abby, Wrath of the Titans, Fast Girls, and more. While serious movie fans are definitely aware of Lily James, there are some things that they will likely not be aware of, so we decided to share five facts about this gorgeous actress to help you get up to speed on your Lily James fandom.
1. Lily James is Not Her Real Name
I know, Lily James has such an awesome ring to it, right? However, like many people who enter into the world of show business, Lily decided that her birth name was not a good fit, and so she took on a stage name that has become a major part of her identity as a celebrity. He birth name is Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson. Now that is a mouthful. Could you imagine having to read that at an award ceremony? It is not clear why the actress did not simply shorten her name to Lily Thomson, but her stage name has definitely served her well.
2. Acting is In Her Blood
There are all types of ways that a person can develop a passion for a profession like acting. With some, it is seeing a particular movie as a kid growing up that simply inspires you. With others, it happens later in life almost by chance. Then there are those who have acting in their DNA, literally. As it turns out, Lily is the granddaughter of Helen Horton, who has more than 70 movie credits to her name, with a career that spanned more than six decades. Horton had a role in Alien (1979) and Superman III (1983).
3. Her Claim to Fame
While there is no arguing the fact that James has made a major splash in Hollywood in recent years, her claim to fame is her role as Lady Rose MacClare in the British television series “Downtown Abbey.” James entered the show at the beginning of its third season and she still has a regular role on the show. At this point, she has not given any indication that she plans on leaving the show. Why mess with a good thing?
4. She Was Initially Supposed to be One of the Evil Stepsisters
By now, everyone knows that Lily landed the leading role in the feature Cinderella. What many are unaware of is the fact that she initially auditioned for the role of one of the wicked stepsisters in the movie; however, those beautiful blonde locks of hers opened up the opportunity for her to step into the leading role, and she did not disappoint. This situation sort of describes the dynamic that has influenced Lily’s career almost from the beginning.
5. The Daughter of a Young Mother
In the movie Cinderella, Lily’s onscreen mother is played by Hayley Atwell, who is also a native of Britain. What many people may not be aware of is the fact that Atwell is only seven years older than James. While this little fact may not appear to be significant on the surface, it speaks to the professionalism and talent of both actresses who were able to create the right chemistry and dynamic in the move despite the age issue.
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