It's not often that you come across an actor that genuinely loves beauty. Someone who understands its power to facilitate self expression, sartorial curiosity, comfort and, arguably above all, fun. It's understandable. When you're navigating a profession that asks you to lose yourself entirely in another person's identity, then in the next moment requires you to be instantly recognisable wherever a red carpet appears, the last thing you might want is to try on yet another character in your spare time.
Or so you'd think. For the chameleon-esque Lily James, beauty is an opportunity. 'I love the idea of your face being this canvas that you can play with,' James tells ELLE UK. And she should know. Flitting between mind-blowing physical transformations for roles like Pamela Anderson in last year's TV smash Pam And Tommy, to glistening British starlet at the Fashion Awards, to Charlotte Tilbury make-up ambassador, and back again, James has mastered the art of enjoying beauty.
Below, we caught up with the multi-hyphenate to talk nineties lip liner, joining the copper hair club and why her dressing table is forever overflowing...
As the face of Charlotte Tilbury, your make-up stash must be extensive...
'I just hoard, hoard, hoard. When it all looks so pretty on your dressing table it's hard not to! I still have perfumes that my grandma gave me when I was a little kid - all these old glass bottles that are more like syrup now. I smell them and I'm like "Woah", but I can't get rid of them. Also you know you can personalise the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream? Mine says "Magic Lily" on which is too adorable. I love that personal touch. But it means my dressing table is overflowing with stuff, you can barely see it...'
What's your ultimate make-up hack?
'For last year's Fashion Awards I wore this amazing Rodarte dress which was super playful and festive - I looked like a Christmas fairy. Halley Brisker did this incredible updo for me and I tried this new five point highlighter hack that I'm now obsessed with. You put it on your cheeks, under your eyebrows, on your nose like an exclamation mark, on your cupid's bow and along your jaw, and your face transforms because of how the light hits it.
'When I'm feeling really minimal and don't want to wear lots of make-up I just use some of the Magic Cream and do the same highlighter hack, then whack on a big woolly hat - it makes you look a million times better.'
Have you ever tried a beauty a look and thought, 'Big mistake. Huge.'?
'I think any time I've over fake tanned I look back and think that was a little much! Or equally when I'm overly pale. I dyed my hair really dark last year and there was one look where I wore this really beautiful brown Aya Muse suit - I loved the outfit but I think I looked a tad too gothic. Saying that, I loved the Versace campaign I did - it was the coolest thing ever.'
What era of beauty are you most inspired by?
'I recently shot a film called Finalmente l'alba where I played a 1950s movie star - we shot it in Italy which made it extra glamorous. I grew up watching Ava Gardner films at my granny's house and after watching them again I've re-fallen in love with her. There's something about that old Hollywood look that was enhanced by phenomenal lighting and cinematography and made those stars look so beautiful. What I love about this new Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood highlighter is it's giving you those beauty hacks but without the lighting and the amazing make-up artist - it's making it accessible for everyone, which is really exciting.'
You character Josephine is a redhead, were you tempted to join the copper club?
'I loved having copper hair for that movie. Actually, after the film I immediately dyed my own hair the same colour. It's faded out a little now, but I love playing with my look. I think that's why beauty is important to me because it follows the progression of your life as you grow into who you are. Having no rules, no limitations and just embracing who you are is so great.'
Tell us about your incredible Pamela Anderson transformation...
'I tried my hardest to totally embody her; as an actor it was my job to really go there. I spent four hours in the make-up chair everyday. I had a prosthetic forehead, the tiny eyebrows, the enhanced lips - I'm now obsessed with the lip liner that just goes right over your cupid's bow. When I work with make-up artists now I'm like, "Baby draw it way over that lip line." Eyebrows wise I'd never go thin, though. Charlotte says eyebrows are the pillars of your face and I feel like I need big pillars!'
How did it feel playing someone so known for their physicality?
'It was wild. I had these prosthetic boobs on all the time and sometimes I'd forget I was wearing them and I'd change my top in front of the whole crew and technically I looked naked and they'd be like, "Woah Lily!" and I'd be like they're not mine don't worry!
'I also felt really powerful. Pamela is so beautiful, she's a goddess but it's her confidence, her sexuality, her celebration of who she is and really owning that, that was the hardest bit for me to get. Channelling that confidence was really inspiring and it's something I want to hold on to for myself. Everyone says it but really confidence is beauty and anything you can do to enhance that confidence is the trick to life.'
How does beauty help to keep you grounded?
'I'm 33 and I suddenly realised that having a ritual keeps you sane. You need ritual in your life otherwise you're just a child running around trying to be an adult! So I love self care and wellness. It's something I lose hold of quite easily and I can feel really unrooted and far from myself, so I try to make sure I stick to my morning and evening skincare rituals. No matter what, I take my make-up off and I cleanse, tone and moisturise.
'Also I love long baths. In the evening I'll use the Tilbury face oil on my skin and my cuticles and I add some drops to my bath as well. I like to watch TV in the bath on my phone or my laptop and I always end up getting them wet.
'Last night I was about to start watching Too Hot To Handle but I actually managed to read a book instead. I've got this amazing book called Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr Dispenza and it's all about reprogramming your mind and how manifesting and your thoughts can really change your future and experiences. When I'm not reading that, I'm obviously obsessed with The White Lotus like everyone else in the world.'
