Whether a zombie-slaying Elizabeth Bennett or an impulsive and vivacious Natasha Rostova, Lily James has filled her acting CV with portrayals of complicated, strong women. In her latest film, Darkest Hour, she stays true to form, playing Winston Churchill's committed secretary, who admires her boss without being sycophantic. She is a quiet force, who along with his wife (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) is there to bolster him during moments of vulnerability and self-doubt.
Empowered female roles feel all the more important given the recent Harvey Weinstein allegations - a scandal that James is certain will lead to positive change.
"It's been a terrifying, shocking and horrible time, but I'm not surprised," she told us. "I'm so in awe of the brave people who have come forward. They've shared their pain, but now there will be change. There has to be.
"I'm excited as a young actress to think that there could be a time that… I mean, I don't know many men or women who haven't experienced, in some shape or form, that kind of power imbalance or predatory behaviour," she continued. "I feel a strength from it despite the horror, and also solidarity. The door is open and there is no choice but to march through with eyes wide open, head held high to embrace this new time."
It's a quote that feels very Churchillian – focused and strong even in times of hardship and adversity. In the latest portrayal of the wartime PM, Gary Oldman takes the lead – unrecognisable in terms of physicality. Already, the film has garnered Oscars hype.
"There is a buzz about it, you can't hide from that," says James. "It's incredible, but it can't be why you do it. I think you have to ignore that, otherwise you'll only be disappointed."
The film manages to convey the duality and humanity of Churchill – both his powerful speeches and charisma, as well as his vulnerabilities.
"When he's doing those big speeches, they're so rousing and hopeful," says James. "You long for that feeling of unity and hope. It's really striking."
There has been a renewed appetite for films based around the events of 1940, with the release of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk last summer, Ridley Scott's forthcoming Battle of Britain and now Darkest Hour, which focuses on Churchill's appointment as PM and the challenging decisions he has to make in the weeks to follow – does he enter peace negotiations with Hitler or continue to fight on despite the odds? We all know how the story ends.
For James, the current appeal for films set at this moment in history has a lot to do with where we are politically right now and how they pull on our sense of nostalgia.
"The threat of war now, what's going on with our politics and the climate of everything… I guess maybe that feeds into this renewed interest," she says. "We're so much stronger united, not just in terms of Europe, but as a country, as people, as collective world citizens. We're not [united] though and there's not many powerful people to unite us or to look up to, so all of that must play a part."
Next up for James is an altogether different role in Mamma Mia 2, where she will play the young version of Meryl Streep's character.
"Everyone in the old cast is back and it's extraordinary," she says of why she wanted to be part of the film. "I just wanted to sing Abba and dance on a boat in the middle of the sea and I did."
If Surrey-born James seems happy in her own skin now, she hasn't always welcomed some of the wider aspects of her job – fashion and social media, for example. However, she admits that her perspective on style has changed.
"I felt like fashion was something quite far removed from myself and from the job of being an actor," she said, before adding: "But you have to be all things. At first I repelled that, and you don't have to go with those things I suppose, but now I really enjoy it."
"I'm an actor and I like pretending to be other people," she explains. "I often hate just being myself, so with fashion… for example at the London premiere of Darkest Hour, I wore a sexier dress than usual and I found myself standing in a different way and pouting. It's fun if you look at it like that. It takes you away from yourself while helping to express yourself – I appreciate that's contradictory."
What's the one piece of advice she'd give to her younger self?
"Have the courage to be who you are in that moment," she said. "If you're inexperienced that's fine, if you feel out of place, that's fine because everyone is always growing and has felt those things. You don't have to pretend you know what's going on. It's fine to be exactly as you're feeling when you're feeling it and to be honest about that. Be true to who you re rather than giving off a front of what and who you think you should be."
Darkest Hour is out in cinemas from 12 January.
