TOWN & COUNTRYWhen I sat down to talk to Lily James, I found that it was impossible to be cynical about the value of enchantment,’ says Andrew O’Hagan, who interviews our cover star for Town & Country’s inaugural issue. The Surrey-born actress, best known for her role as Lady Rose, the loveable, naughty niece to Lord and Lady Grantham in Downton Abbey, battled the elements for our covershoot at Boughton Monchelsea Place, an Elizabethan manor house in Kent, dressed in Ralph Lauren.

James confesses that her own relationship with Lady Rose MacClare has been a love-hate one: ‘She seemed shallow. But she changes. Even though her values were about privilege and having a good time, she learned to care about bigger things.’

James is soon to star in another transformative role, as the title part in Disney’s Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh. ‘It’s wonderful to have these chances,’ she says. ‘I would like to be a decent example to other girls and that probably means believing in their belief in me. I want to respect the dream we’re all having.’

She is an actress on the brink of superstardom, but with true British modesty maintains: ‘I never want to be one of those actors who sits around pretending it isn’t totally exciting.’ We agree Lily, it’s all very exciting.

Read the full interview with Lily James in the June 2014 issue of Town & Country, out now.

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