BELFAST TELEGRAPH – Lily James believes there is nothing braver than dealing with growing up.

The Downton Abbey star appears in Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella, where she takes on the fairytale title role.

One of the biggest themes is courage, prompting Lily to reflect on times she’s had to combat nerves in her own life.

“I think every day you have to be brave, dealing with growing up,” she reasoned to Time Out London.

“I’d say loss is probably the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with.”

Of course romance is also a huge theme for Cinderella and her prince, with Lily confirming she’s a believer in true love.

The 25-year-old also addressed criticism from feminists, arguing that her character is actually a very strong woman.

“Yes! She’s definitely gutsy,” she smiled. “Right at the end, when the prince comes to rescue her, rather than going downstairs and falling into his arms, she’s like, ‘Right, I’m this girl. I’m not a princess. This is who I am.’ It’s all on her terms. It’s hopelessly romantic, but she’s empowered. Whether she’s a feminist or not depends on what your idea of a feminist is.”

And strong women play a huge part in Lily’s life, with the star crediting Downton co-stars Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael with giving her support and advice.

“[They] have been wonderful at helping me deal with all the pitfalls,” she gushed. “They’ve got such wit and intelligence.”

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