Lily James Continues to Demonstrate She's the Ultimate Chameleon of Hollywood.

      Lily James is undoubtedly a woman of many commitments. Our interview has been postponed twice, even once on a Sunday, due to her recent flight for a shoot in a different time zone. When she finally appears on Zoom from a hotel suite in Vancouver—fresh-faced and with no makeup after a morning workout—she's full of apologies, and all is quickly forgiven. "Thank you for being so patient," she says, clasping her hands in apology. "Things have been quite hectic here." Who can blame her for her busy schedule? James exemplifies the modern-day workhorse. The SAG Award-winning actress has been active in Hollywood for over 15 years and is just 36. The British star has crafted a versatile filmography that many actors would envy. There's her musical triumph—who can forget her charming performance as the singing, dancing young Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia 2? She has also taken on cool A24 projects, including the brutal wrestling tale The Iron Claw, and participated in the tension-filled heist film Baby Driver directed by Edgar Wright. She portrayed Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy, for which she underwent extensive prosthetics and received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Her roles include Cinderella, a zombie-fighting Elizabeth Bennet, and Winston Churchill's secretary (not in the same film, of course). Look closely, and you’ll find James's pale face and large brown eyes across virtually every movie genre. James doesn't just have versatility—she has an impressive abundance of it.

      "I do find acting a bit addictive," she confesses as she tucks her freshly dyed black hair behind her ears. "I feel fortunate to be in this profession because when you embody a role, you think, 'Wow, I don't know where I fit in that,' but then you discover it, and you completely push the limits of what you believe you're capable of." Today, she is on a somewhat free day from filming her latest movie, Harmonia, an '80s thriller centered on a mysterious all-female cult. Alongside The White Lotus star Carrie Coon, James portrays a captivating spiritual leader—hence her siren-like raven hair and the chunky moonstone necklace peeking from her blue and white Hunza G shirt. Everything is geared toward her character, although she's no stranger to brunette looks, having dyed her hair black and bleached her brows for a Versace campaign in 2023. ("I would say yes to anything Donatella asks me!")

      "I'm currently wearing a lot of crystals," says James as she pulls a beginner's guide to crystals from her desk. "I have some crystal tarot cards that I've been using to ask really important questions. My agent is like, 'You can't answer questions based on crystal tarot cards that you don’t even know how to use yet!'"

      But today, she’s here to discuss another three projects. The 36-year-old British actress is indeed juggling three films this year. First up is Finally Dawn, a vibrant Italian period drama in which she plays a dissatisfied movie star, set to debut shortly after our conversation. Next is Relay, a stylish corporate thriller directed by David Mackenzie. (I've received an exclusive screening link, and let me tell you—if you spot the shocking twist, you're much smarter than I am.) Lastly, there’s Swiped, the eagerly anticipated biopic about Whitney Wolfe Herd, where James portrays the Bumble founder and Tinder co-founder who sued her former company for sexual harassment.

      Just recounting this list makes me feel tired, so I can only imagine how James is managing it all. "Honestly, I feel a bit scattered discussing these projects," she admits sincerely. Finally Dawn (its original title is Finalmente l'alba, which she flawlessly pronounces in Italian) boasts a notable European auteur pedigree with director Saverio Costanzo, known for his acclaimed TV adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend. The film was shot years ago, and its release was postponed due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, James shares. "I’m thrilled it’s finally coming out and people will be able to see it," she adds, clearly ecstatic. "It was filmed on actual film, and it’s utterly gorgeous."

      Relay was a different challenge. The Manhattan-based thriller features James as a whistleblowing scientist seeking assistance from a solitary fixer played by fellow Brit Riz Ahmed. I jokingly ask if the two discussed stealing American jobs. James laughs heartily. "I stick to my American accent on set because I find it a bit tricky to slip in and out of it," she admits. However, around a fellow British actor, "it's slightly more awkward to speak in an American accent."

      Yet Swiped has a special place in James's heart, partly because she also holds a producing credit on the film. "It felt like a natural progression for me to be involved behind the scenes." It is one of the first productions from Parodos Productions, the company she