HUFFINGTON POST – Lily James is ready to stop talking about the size of her waist in Disney’s new adaptation of “Cinderella.”

The actress previously defended her figure as “naturally quite small” after users on social media accused the “Cinderella” filmmakers of digitally altering her body to make it thinner. James told HuffPost Live’s Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani on Monday that the focus on her waist is symptomatic of the troublesome way society discusses women’s bodies.

“On one hand it’s upsetting, on the other hand it’s just boring,” James said. “Why do women always get pointed at for their bodies? And why is this whole thing happening and I’m constantly having to justify myself? International Women’s Day has just gone, and it just feels just a bit sad that it’s still happening. You know, I’m very healthy and I always have been.”

“Cinderella” director Kenneth Branagh told HuffPost Live last week that James’ waist was not altered and looked tiny because of lighting and the “natural body physics” of wearing a corset. James also praised the “beautifully-designed” costume and said she “felt like a princess” when she was wearing it.

Richard Madden, who plays Prince Charming in the film, corroborated the insistence that James’ waist appears onscreen exactly as it is in real life.

“I can vouch for Lily on this. That’s her real waist,” Madden told HuffPost Live. “I held it, I know how tiny it was. And she did eat. She eats like a boy.”

AOL BUILD – Last week we hosted Cinderella director Kenneth Branagh. This week his stars join us to talk about Disney’s new lush and live-action big screen fairytale. Downton Abbey’s Lily James is the enchanting Cinderella and Game of Throne’s Richard Madden is her Prince Charming in a film adaptation sure to sweep the audience off their feet. Interview at AOL HQ in NYC for AOL BUILD.

Lily and Richard discuss ‘Cinderella’ for the AOL BUILD Speaker Series on March 9, 2015 in New York City.

GALLERY LINKS
Public Appearances > 2015 > AOL BUILD Speaker Series: ‘Cinderella’

Lily and Richard attended a ‘Cinderella’ Q&A for the Apple Store Soho Presents: Meet the Filmmaker on March 8, 2015 in New York City.

Lily attended a special screening of ‘Cinderella’ in New York City hosted by The Cinema Society And Stuart Weitzman on March 8, 2015.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER – Coincidentally, Cinderella star Lily James celebrated International Women’s Day by relishing in the courage and agency of her refreshed Disney princess.

“This Cinderella is a really powerful, strong character — I wanted to bring a strength of spirit to the role,” James, wearing a Dolce and Gabbana outfit with Stuart Weitzman heels, told The Hollywood Reporter before a Sunday afternoon screening at New York City’s Tribeca Grand Hotel.

Madden added of Kenneth Branagh’s modern take, “This young woman in distress doesn’t need a man to save her. That’s totally irrelevant — she’d be fine without the prince, she’d get on with it.” Plus, his spin on Prince Charming includes a “sense of humor — the ability to make fun of himself and have a bit of banter with his dad.”

James was overjoyed about the recent announcement of Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, starring fellow Downton Abbey breakout Dan Stevens opposite Emma Watson. “I’m so excited he’s playing the beast! I couldn’t believe it, I texted him immediately,” she said. Madden’s advice for playing such a beloved character? “Practice your dancing, because you’re gonna have to do it at some point!”

Disney has Beauty and the Beast (also featuring Luke Evans) following Cinderella and Maleficent in starring British actors (or at least accents, in Maleficent’s case). When asked about what it is about the U.K. that seems to make these live-action retellings inherently magical, James told THR, “I don’t know! It’s weird! [On set,] there was a sense of theater of company, of epic storytelling in an intimate nature. I don’t know whether British actors are more theater?”

Continue Reading