Lily James wants to shed her Cinderella image: 'The blonde, sweet thing is so not me'

The actor says she is seeking new and more diverse roles

Lily James has revealed she wants to shed her Cinderella image, admitting ‘the blonde, sweet thing’ just isn’t her.

The actor, who played the Disney princess in the live action retelling of the classic fairy tale, says she thinks fondly of the role but that the time has come for her to strike out in a different direction.

Speaking to Harpers Bazaar UK, James revealed she is now actively seeking out different characters, starting with her role as the twisted protagonist of All About Eve.

“Cinderella was a gift, and I will treasure it for the rest of my life. But I wore a dress for the Mamma Mia! premiere that was blue and white and quite pouffy, and when I got out on the red carpet, all anyone said was 'Oh it's Cinderella!’” she explained.

“It's a happy association, but also something that you want to shed at some point… The blonde, sweet thing is so not me.

“I'm actively seeking characters from now on that are different, who don't rely on charm or the qualities that I think I've explored quite a lot.”

As well as ditching her rose-tinted image, James hopes that her new leading role on stage in the West End will help people see the breadth of her talent.

Speaking about the new character, she said: “She's definitely a pathological liar, and there's a lot of nastiness in her – I can't wait. It will be good if I can really surprise the audience.

“But I hope our roles don't seep into real life. I did hear from someone who worked with Ivo - van Hove, the play's director - that he encouraged a sense of the character in their real relationships.”

The actor, who has also starred in Downton Abbey and Baby Driver,added how much she’s looking forward to turning 30 in April this year, describing her twenties as “chaotic”.

(Image: Harper’s Bazaar UK/ Alexi Lubomirski)

“It is a real turning point. My twenties have been so chaotic, and I've always looked forward to 30 as being an anchor point,” she explained.

“You stop caring so much about what other people think, and become more secure in your own life.”

Lily James said her Mamma Mia! premiere dress reminded people of her role in Cinderella (Getty Images)

James also said this laissez-faire approach is something that has potential to impact her life positively, revealing she can have a short and fiery temper.

“I don't always deal with pressure and stress well. I grew up in a house where tempers rose quickly… I think the extremes live quite happily in me,” she said.

(Image: Harper’s Bazaar UK/ Alexi Lubomirski)

“I can be really happy and I can also be the opposite – I throw things and shout. I've always been quite explosive.”

The March issue of Harper's Bazaar UK is on sale from 7 February 2019.