Lily James On The Difficult Relationship Between A Public And Private Life
Article updated on 10/02/2022: Following the release of Lily James' latest biographic series Pam & Tommy, the 32-year-old actor has continued to address issues surrounding privacy.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the actor said: 'Women in the public eye at some point experience some sort of difficult situation in that relationship between privacy and your life being in the tabloids.'
In the miniseries James plays Baywatch star Pamela Anderson in a story which explores the American actor's sex tape with her ex husband Tommy Lee.
Highlighting that she believes Anderson and Lee's scandal impacted how media culture exists today, James explained: 'A lot of people don't know the true story of what happened. And within that, the bigger themes of privacy and sexism and exploitation into the birth of the internet.'
James also admitted that she initially doubted whether she could 'pull off' playing Pamela Anderson in the role she referred to as 'transformational'.
She also opened up about feeling pressured to do the Baywatch star 'justice' and what she learnt from playing Anderson, noting: 'You come to understand how people think of you.
'That's very useful, what that fantasy idea of you is…I was ready for a transformational role, something I didn't really think I could pull off.'
Article updated on 1/2/2022
Lily James has recently felt the need to defend her sex scenes in Pam & Tommy, the series which sees her portraying Pamela Anderson at the time of the her and former husband Tommy Lee's infamous sex tape being leaked.
This comes after she formerly spoke to Porter about privacy being non-existent, ahead of the series' release.
Addressing comments suggesting that her and on-screen husband Sebastian Stan's scenes are gratuitous, the 32-year-old told The Sun: 'We really felt that the sex scenes had to be a part of the story and had to be essential to the script and progressing their relationship and looking at what happened.'
She added: 'It was a really great constant conversation and nothing was set in stone.'
Article originally published on 10/1/2022
Lily James portrays Canadian-American actor Pamela Anderson in a new eight-part TV series, Pam & Tommy, which explores the Baywatch star and her former husband Tommy Lee's stolen and leaked sex tape.
Ahead of the mini series' release next month, the 32-year-old British actor James has opened up about privacy and told Porter that she believes there 'is no such thing as privacy now'.
The Rebecca star, who admitted it was 'scary' portraying the sensitive issues around Anderson's private life, highlighted that instead of personal videos being stolen, in today's age: 'We’re handing them out, constantly sharing our lives – with an audience that doesn’t really care about you.
'And giving away information to corporations using it for profit. I know a time before that happened, but there are young girls who have no idea.'
She continued, noting: 'I hope a lot has changed. But sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s changed quite enough.'
James, who previously dated The Crown actor Matt Smith, has had to deal with intense public scrutiny over the years, including an incident involving herself and her The Pursuit of Love co-star Dominic West in Rome in 2020.
At the time, photos of her West seemingly being affectionate with each other were taken by paparazzi and shared by several publications around the globe.
West, who is married to landscape architect Catherine FitzGerald, was seen at lunch with James and photographed tenderly stroking her face. In one image he was seen nestling into her neck, while in another the pair were captured cruising around the Italian capital on an electric scooter.
Speaking about misogyny in the media, James reflected on how it's changed over the years and since Anderson's sex tape incident and said: 'I think it’s more hidden now, perhaps? Anyway. There was a lot in it that I found I could relate to.'
When asked about the photos of her and West in an interview with The Guardian last year, James said: 'Ach, I’m not really willing to talk about that. There is a lot to say, but not now, I’m afraid.' The interview marked the first time she publicly addressed the incident.
As for West, shortly after images of him and James came to light he and his wife showed a public display of affection in front of cameras outside of their Wiltshire home and left a handwritten note outside that simply read: 'Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together. Thank you.'
When asked in her Porter interview whether she's learnt anything about to how to be a famous women today, as a result of her career so far, James said: 'I suppose that there’s a way of deflecting attention for more worthy purposes.'
Elsewhere she added: 'Women are held to much higher standards and attacked in ways that feel so vicious. Pamela [Anderson] had such wit and grace in the way that she held herself. I admire that strength.'
James, who's been romantically linked to American musician Michael Shuman since February of last year and, before that, was rumoured to have dated Avengers star Chris Evans, also opened up about issues around identity and vulnerability.
'Well, sometimes I feel really feisty, like I can take on anything, and other days I feel very fragile,' she explained.
As for playing Anderson in her new series, which she describes as a period of 'absolute lust for love', James explained: 'When you recreate any character, you’re taking on another person’s life without necessarily having all the information, so I really have to put huge trust in the director.
'But I want to provoke a conversation, and I want to be part of these attempts at change. I realise a lot of it’s incredibly sensitive and difficult. And so, as an actor, to a certain extent, what you do is make yourself very open to talk to all of that.'
The star continued, adding: 'My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically', and mentioned she reached out to her in hopes they would be in contact up until filming for the series commenced.'
Pam and Tommy will air on Disney+ on February 2.
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