2009–2019: Television beginnings and breakthrough James's 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). In 2012, she was cast as
Lady Rose MacClare in
Downton Abbey. She appeared as a guest star in final episode of the third season and appeared again in the Christmas special: A Journey to the Highlands. Lady Rose subsequently became a main character in the fourth and fifth series of the programme. James also appeared as Lady Rose in the series television finale. She did not reprise her role for any of the subsequent three movies. 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, centered 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. Her performance received critical acclaim. 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. '' at the 2015
San Diego Comic-Con In 2016, she returned to television in the 2016
BBC historical drama series
War & Peace, playing
Natasha Rostova. She also 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. It received mixed reviews and failed to break even at the box office. 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. In 2017, she appeared in several major films. She played Debora, the love interest of the main character, Baby, in
Edgar Wright's action film
Baby Driver. She played
Elizabeth Layton, a secretary to the British prime minister
Winston Churchill (played by
Gary Oldman), in
Joe Wright's war drama film
Darkest Hour. She also headlined the
Second World War drama film
The Exception, playing a British agent posing as a servant to the exiled
Kaiser Wilhelm II. James starred as the younger version of
Meryl Streep's character, Donna Sheridan, in the sequel to
Mamma Mia!, titled
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The film was released in July 2018. In the same year, James played the author Juliet Ashton in the 1940s period drama
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society who exchanges letters with the residents of
Guernsey, an island off the coast of
Normandy that was German-occupied during the
Second World War. In 2019, James starred as Eve Harrington in
Ivo van Hove's stage adaptation of
All About Eve alongside
Gillian Anderson. The play opened on 15 February to positive reviews, running at the
Noël Coward Theatre in the
West End until 11 May.
2020–present: Rise in popularity and film roles In 2020, 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 2021, she played
Peggy Piggott in
The Dig, a British film directed by
Simon Stone, based on the 2007
novel of the same name by
John Preston. In late 2020, she was cast to play
Pamela Anderson in the miniseries
Pam & Tommy for
Hulu. In September 2022, it was announced that James was contracted to be a brand ambassador for the Natural Diamond Council, which promotes naturally sourced diamonds. In June 2023, it was announced that James would star in
Penelope Skinner’s new play
Lyonesse at the
Harold Pinter Theatre, alongside
Kristin Scott Thomas, whom she previously acted with in
Darkest Hour and
Rebecca. It will run from 17 October to 23 December. In 2023, she starred as Pam Adkisson, Kevin Von Erich's wife, in
The Iron Claw. She also starred in the Italian film
Finally Dawn as Josephine Esperanto. James starred in the indie film
Greedy People along with
Himesh Patel and
Joseph Gordon-Levitt which released in 2024. James is set to star as the lead in the upcoming
Cliffhanger reboot directed by
Jaume Collet-Serra. Originally
Sylvester Stallone was set to play the lead, but production announced he was no longer involved with the film. ==Personal life==