Lily James says truth is ‘very rarely what things appear to be’ in new interview

Lily James says truth is ‘very rarely what things appear to be’ in new interview

Actress Lily James has spoken about how appearances can be deceptive in a new interview.

The Mamma Mia Here We Go Again! star, 31, has been promoting her new Netflix film Rebecca, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier and co-starring Call Me By Your Name star Armie Hammer, 34.

In the film, Lily plays a young woman who falls in love with and marries the dashing Maxim de Winter (Hammer) but soon finds his home haunted by memories of his first wife, the eponymous Rebecca.

Now in a new interview, the former Downton Abbey star and Hammer were asked about their new film and also whether viewers confuse them with characters they play.

The actress told Grazia UK in a YouTube interview : “I guess we’re actors and maybe it happens more with TV shows where you repetitively play the same character over and over and people are just convinced that’s you.”

Lily also revealed that she believes the difference between appearances and reality is particularly relevant for Rebecca.

She explained: “We were talking about how in this film, it’s a bit like social media, we think Rebecca is this one thing, like you’re saying it’s very deceptive and you scratch the surface and you realise it’s completely different.

“I think that’s our lives, that’s how we display ourselves on social media, that’s the characters we play versus who we really are, how we present ourselves versus the truth. It’s a complete minefield and very rarely what things appear to be.

“So, I think this film explores that very successfully.”

Lily did note, however, that she does sing in the street like her character Donna in the second Mamma Mia film.

Lily has been at the centre of a recent showbiz scandal after she was photographed being kissed by married actor Dominic West, 50, during a meal in Rome.

Dominic subsequently spoke to press with wife Catherine FitzGerald and said: “I just want to say our marriage is strong and we are still very much still together.”

The actor then handed over a similarly worded note to press, which was signed by both him and his wife, before kissing her in front of the camera and turning to walk back inside their home.

Meanwhile, Lily has recently split from her on-off boyfriend Matt Smith, 37, after what was reportedly a mutual decision between the actors.

A source told The Sun : “Lily and Matt were a picture-perfect couple for years but there are just some differences they haven’t been able to get past.

“They have gone back and forth this year trying to sort things out between them because they both have so much love for each other.

“But unfortunately it just isn’t working and they have mutually decided to just close this chapter of their lives.”

The actress has yet to comment publicly on the images of her with Dominic West and has also reportedly pulled out from an appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

Mirror Online has reached out to a representative of Lily James for comment.

Fans of Lily can catch her new film Rebecca when it arrives on streaming giant Netflix on Wednesday.

Rebecca is released on Netflix on October 21, 2020.