10 Things You Need to Know About the Lovely Lily James
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Actress Lily James is one of the new faces in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, so now is the perfect time to learn more about the beautiful star who's capturing everyone's attention. From Lily's real name to her relationship status to where you've probably seen her before, there's so much more to Lily than meets the eye. Ahead of the film's debut, get to know more about her with these 10 facts.
She Was Born Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson
Lily is the daughter of the late actor James Thomson, and she took her stage name to honor her father.
She's British
Lily grew up in Surrey, and the English actress has already been dubbed "the next Keira Knightley."
She's a Middle Child
Lily has two brothers, one older and one younger, and for her birthday each year, she'd go to London with her parents and her brothers to see a musical.
She Hit the Stage Before Hitting the Big Screen
It's been a quick rise to stardom for the English actress. After she graduated from London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2010, she took on a series of stage roles before appearing in Wrath of the Titans, Fast Girls, and Cinderella.
She Won Over Fans on Downton Abbey
Fans of the TV show Downton Abbey recognize Lily for her role as Lady Rose MacClare.
She's a Natural Brunette
Lily has naturally brown hair, but she dyed it for her role on Downton Abbey — and those blond locks helped her get noticed for a Cinderella audition.
She's Taken
Lily is dating a fellow Brit: 35-year-old actor Matt Smith. Don't expect her to talk about her personal life too often, though, as she previously told InStyle UK, "In regards to your love life, you're just entering into a whole of pain if you talk about it. If you've never said anything, there are no sound bites to haunt you when you're crying into a box of Kleenex after it all goes wrong."
She's Already Got a Few Accolades Under Her Belt
At the 2014 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London, Lily nabbed the next breakthrough award, and in 2015 and 2016, she took home SAG Awards for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series for Downton Abbey.
She's Friends With Other Famous Brits
Scroll through Lily's Instagram feed and you'll find photos of the actress alongside stars like Douglas Booth and Suki Waterhouse.