Lily James has been wowing as she waltzes in the big-screen, live action Cinderella.
Lily has already cut a rug, dancing in Downton Abbey, as the vivacious Lady Rose.

But on the set of the fabled fairytale the actress has been floating around on a sound stage at Pinewood Studios, to the strains of a newly composed waltz by Oscar-nominated composer Patrick Doyle, with a little help from choreographer Rob Ashford.

Lily plays the title role opposite Richard Madden as Prince Charming and Cate Blanchett as her not entirely wicked stepmother (she’s more resentful and miffed than out-and-out evil).

Helena Bonham Carter, with a milk-white perm and gown to match, is the fairy godmother. And Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera play Cinder-ella’s stepsisters.

Doyle’s score for the Disney movie is going to have audiences humming and dah-dah-dahing happily ever after. Listening to it as I watched a ballroom scene, where Lily and Richard were all but flying, I was unable to stop myself bobbing from side to side in time with the music. I looked around and spotted several burly crewmen swaying, too.
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A FORMER Tring pupil is filming the lead role for a movie directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Lily James will play Cinderella in the Disney film, alongside Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother, Game Of Thrones star Richard Madden as Prince Charming and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother.

The 24-year-old studied Musical Theatre at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, where she boarded until she was 18.

She credits her time there as giving her the foundations of a successful acting career, gaining confidence and self esteem.

She counts a group of Tring Park alumni as her best friends. Lily said: “I am still amazed at the success I have had since leaving Tring Park. I credit my time there as really giving me the grounding and acting skills to succeed in the world of entertainment. They encouraged me to be confident in my abilities, while nurturing my dedication and drive for acting.”

Since leaving Tring she has worked consistently; appearing in the film, the Wrath of the Titans, TV shows such as The Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Just William and performing in the stage production of Playhouse by Martin Crimp at the Richmond Orange Tree theatre and in Othello with The Wire actor Dominic West in Sheffield.
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Thanks to this blog, I have added a scan featuring Lily for a behind the scenes on Downton Abbey’s Christmas Special in the December issue of Woman & Home magazine.

I have added HD screen captures of Lily in the latest episode of ‘Downton Abbey’ to the gallery. Enjoy!

7 high quality stills from episode #4.8 of ‘Downton Abbey’ have been added to the gallery.

Thanks to my friend Mimi, I have added to the gallery a high quality scan from Total Film magazine featuring a ‘Cinderella’ article!

HD screen captures of Lily in yesterday’s episode of ‘Downton Abbey’ have been added to the gallery.

Added new high quality stills from episode 6 and 7 of ‘Downton Abbey’.