VOGUE – Lily James first became a household name as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey, before going on to star in Disney’s Cinderella in 2015 and Kenneth Branagh’s production of Romeo and Juliet this summer. As Burberry reveals a new side of the actress in her first ever campaign – for My Burberry Black – we sat down with James to talk about everything from fashion to food to fragrance.

On Fragrance
I have also always been really drawn to fragrances. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve had signature scents that I’ve worn or been bought, and for every character that I play when I’m acting I have a scent which helps immerse me into the character. Especially when I’ve been doing series – like for Downton Abbey, every year when I went back I’d spray my Lady Rose perfume and was like: “Ah, here I am”. With My Burberry Black I like that it has this floral feel but then the darker sensual note of the amber, which feels stormy and a bit seductive. I really overspray perfume, I use a lot! But I like when people are like: “Ooh I can smell you”. I spritz it in the air and walk through it, spritz it on my wrists, on my neck… The other smell I really love is lavender – my granny loves it and so I always get her lavender gifts.

On Skincare
I’m a big cleanse, tone and moisturise every night and morning kind of person. I take really good care of my skin actually and I love products, I love Kate Somerville, Liz Earle – stuff that feels really natural and light on your skin. I never sleep with my make-up on. Even when I’m really drunk I wake up with a washed face. It’s a miracle sometimes, I don’t know how it happens. I like feeling like my skin can breathe.

On Brows
I know it should be like “beauty comes from within” and all that, but the best beauty advice I’ve ever been given was when I was once told to grow out my eyebrows. It wasn’t even from a beauty angle, it was from a director I was working with where I was playing a 13-year-old. So he was like: “Your eyebrows are too thin, you shouldn’t pluck them!” So I grew them, and it kind of revolutionised my face. I used to pluck my eyebrows so they were about one hair thick – it was a bad phase.

On Make-up
I wear quite a lot of make-up in Romeo and Juliet because it’s on stage – though I cry most of it off – but in normal life I tend to just wear tinted moisturiser and mascara. I like with the Burberry make-up that you can use your hands, it’s tactile. The Fresh Glow Highlighting Luminous Pen and Face Contour are really easy to use. I love a red lip but I don’t think I do it very well because I’m always drinking or something and then it ends up all over my face. It feels a bit restrictive. I like going for a nudey, smudgy, smoky vibe. Very Burberry. When I did the London premiere for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I really liked my hair and make-up because it was a bit more sexy.

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Yesterday (August 22) Lily attended the official launch of her new campaign “My Burberry Black”. Both the advertisement and the various promotional shots for the campaign look great, and she was a real queen at the launch – in a Burberry custom dress. The event took place in Regent Street, at the Burberry Thomas’ Café.

Matt Smith, and several of her friends (Jenna Coleman, Douglas Booth, Laura Carmichael, Gemma Chan and others) were there as well to support Lily!

Some photos from the event have now been added to the gallery, be sure to check them!

GALLERY LINKS
Public Appearances > 2016 > My Burberry Black Launch Event

It’s finally here! After the announcement back in April that Lily was going to be the new face of My Burberry, we were really excited to see her in this new project. Burberry has released the video for “My Burberry Black” flagrance (below) and stunning promotional pictures have been added to our gallery. Enjoy!

GALLERY LINKS
Other Projects > Ad Campaigns > Burberry (2016-) > Promotional Shot

ODELily James reveals how she got in the sexy mood for her debut Burberry campaign, and tells us about admiring Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne. Report by Melissa Nathoo.

‘The Exception’ (previously known as The Kaiser’s Last Kiss) will have its world premiere in the Special Presentations section at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival, which kicks off on September 8 and ends on September 18.

Holland 1940. The Nazis are rampaging through Europe. The British have retreated from Dunkirk. The last German Kaiser, now an old man, has been living in exile in a big old house in the Dutch countryside for 25 years, chopping logs and reading PG Wodehouse. Into this world comes a young German officer, sent to stop the old man from defecting to England. Add a beautiful and mysterious Dutch maid and a British spy and the stage is set for a gripping spy thriller and love story.

THE STAGE – Lily James, Lara Pulver and Matt Lucas are set to appear in a gala celebrating 40 years of the National Youth Music Theatre.

James, Lucas and Pulver, who all took part in NYMT, will be joined by fellow alumni including performers Toby Jones, Gina Beck and Ben Barnes, as well as composer Jason Robert Brown.

The gala, which will take place on October 30 at London’s Adelphi Theatre, will feature NYMT members from past and present.

Called Encore, the evening will include performances celebrating NYMT’s 40 years, which have seen the youth company premiere 50 new musical theatre works.

NYMT founder and former artistic director Jeremy James Taylor said: “40 years have raced by. It’s been a rollercoaster rise – but they say time flies when you’re having fun.”

The show will be directed by Taylor and Michael Jibson.

COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE – Lily James has had a pretty big year. We will all remember her as Natasha Rostova in the BBC adaption of War & Peace earlier this year. But most recently she’s been in London playing Juliet in the Kenneth Branagh production of Romeo & Juliet. And now she returns as the new face of the burberry fragrance, My Burberry.

As the new face of My Burberry, Lily James replaces the likes of Kate Moss and Cara Delevinge. “I’m so delighted to have worked with the very lovely and clever Lily James on our new My Burberry campaign,” said Burberry chief creative and chief executive officer, Christopher Bailey. “I have admired her work for quite some time and was bowled over by her wonderful charm and her warmth when we met so it was a treat to have had the opportunity to collaborate on this shoot together,” reports British Vogue.

Beauty regime
I religiously cleanse, tone and moisturise every night without fail! I really take time to remove all traces of make-up.

Favourite scent
Chloé, which I’ve worn forever as it was the first scent my dad bought me because I was christened Chloe.

Beauty treat
Indulge in a facemask. Nubo does this amazing ice glow one. Your skin feels so alive after!

Hair care
I used to be awful and just cut my hair myself with the kitchen scissors. Now I guess I must have grown up a bit because I go to Daniel Hersheson, who is great.

Favourite beauty brand
I just went to the BAFTAs(2013) with Lancôme and I love their make-up. I also love M.A.C matt lipsticks.

Beauty travel essential?
I love my Aspinal brush roll kit as it has all the make-up brushes you need and fits neatly into any travel bag.

Make up bag essentials
Chanel foundation Vitalumiere, Lancôme mascara and Sisley powder.

What can’t you live without?
My Sisley lip balm to hydrate and my Liz Earle Cream Blush in Peony.

Lily was spotted at the Men’s Final of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 10, 2016 in London, England. Many thanks to my friend Emily for some of the pictures.

GALLERY LINKS
Public Appearances > 2016 > Wimbledon Championships – Men’s Final