Lily James on Her Role in the Beatles-Inspired Movie Yesterday and Acting in Her 30s

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Cinderella actress Lily James, 30, stars in Yesterday (June 28), a rock ’n’ roll rom-com about music, dreams and the long and winding road to love. She stars as Ellie, a schoolteacher in a relationship with a struggling singer-songwriter (Himesh Patel) who finds sudden fame performing Beatles songs after a mysterious global blackout gives the rest of the world Fab Four amnesia.

Related: Lily James on Meeting Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Yesterday was partly inspired by Ed Sheeran’s rise to fame, correct?

Ed’s such a cool, down-to-earth, relaxed guy, and he’s stayed exactly the same as who he was when he was starting out. In our film, it’s the same thing—a local lad rises to dizzying heights of success with a little help from the music of the Beatles, instead of Ed Sheeran music, while still remaining true to who he is.

What qualities does Ellie have that resonated with you?

She’s just an everyday girl that you can really relate to, even though her best friend, Jack, is going through all these massive changes. The other big draw is that Ellie’s a schoolteacher. Teachers are unsung heroes.

What is the movie’s take on Beatles songs?

In this movie, you can hear the music in a new, fresh way, which comes from its simplicity. We aren’t trying to imitate the originals. We really wanted to capture that feeling of the early Beatles when they were just creating music for the sake of creating music.

Related: Exclusive Photographs of the Beatles' Trip to India Emerge in New Book

You turned 30 this year. What are you looking forward to in this decade?

I think you begin to know what you want, what you’re about and what’s important to you. I definitely feel like my 20s were so hectic and busy, but I’m now settling into knowing myself a bit better, or at least focusing on that. I’m working on centering myself.

We’ve had Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman and now Yesterday. What is the fascination with music makers that makes us want to capture their lives?

I think with bands/artists that are so successful and iconic, there’s a fascination in wanting to know what was going on at the time that they made their music, what they were inspired by and what it felt like to be in the middle of such a sensation—the hype, the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, everything.

Did you get the opportunity to work with or meet Ed Sheeran, who has a small part in Yesterday?

I did. He was just so relaxed and really open to everyone. He’s great in the movie. He’s got a great sense of humor and it really comes across. It’s refreshing to see someone be a part of it all and not take themselves too seriously. We got to be a part of and privy to his gigs, which are these huge, massive sold-out stadiums in Wembley and Cardiff! We got to take over his stage during night shoots and he let us film his crowds, which is pretty amazing.

What did you learn observing teachers?

[Director] Danny [Boyle] was keen that I go and shadow teachers at this local school so that I could try to understand what it is to be a teacher—as much as I could in a few days. That really was an amazing experience, watching these teachers. They dedicate their whole lives to their students and they’ve got such spirit and sense of humor and passion, it was infectious. I found it inspiring.

This was Himesh Patel’s feature film debut. How was it to work with him?

Himesh was absolutely phenomenal. The ease with which he entered into this film was amazing. I really admire him. He was constantly on the guitar improving, and I really feel he conquered these iconic Beatles songs with such purity and honesty. What always blew my mind was that he was getting up and doing gigs in front of 7,000 people on the beach. He was an actual rock star—and he did it with total confidence! He’s so brilliant in the film and so funny and loveable. It’s a beautiful performance.

Do you have a favorite Beatles song?

“Blackbird” is one of my favorite Beatles’ songs.

You just wrapped up the title role of Eve in a theater production of All About Eve. Eve is a character that is 180 degrees from Cinderella. Are you actively seeking characters with less charm and more neuroses?

All About Eve was so exciting. I really wanted to work with the director [Ivo van Hove], but it was also the character. What was great was that you think she’s one thing and then as the show goes on, you realize she’s not. That was a joy to play. At the start, you play on her innocence and naivety, but then you start to see underneath she’s got this steely ambition with no real empathy. She’s incredibly toxic and it destroys her by the end. I’m definitely seeking out characters like that, where I can really explore the depths and dimensions of them. Ones that are more challenging and less expected from me.

Related: Lily James on Baby Driver and Going Modern After Downton Abbey

After so much work in TV and film, what was it like to return to the stage?

It was amazing to return to the stage, but also completely terrifying. I couldn’t eat anything for the first six weeks before going onstage because I was so nervous! It was a real challenge but I’m very proud of myself. Acting with the same group of people every evening and being part of a company is an incredibly unique experience. It’s a great gift being on the stage. I looked out at the audience every night in this beautiful, historic theater and thought I was so lucky to be doing what I love. I definitely want to keep switching from screen to stage as much as possible.

Next up for you is the film Rebecca, based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier. Have you seen the 1940 version directed by Alfred Hitchcock?

I have seen the Alfred Hitchcock version of Rebecca now. But I hadn’t seen it before I took the role, which is probably a good thing. I’ve seen it now and it’s brilliant. I am excited to have the opportunity to do a remake, though, because in Hitchcock’s version, there were certain storylines they couldn’t include due to the [restrictions of the] time period. So there is room to do a version that sticks closer to the book in that respect. My main point of reference has always been the book—I love the book.

What is your goal in taking on the role of Mrs. de Winter?

It’s interesting. Since it’s a first-person narration, you can really take the character in any direction. She describes herself and we all know you don’t really describe yourself in a terribly honest and accurate way most of the time. There’s scope to decide who [director] Ben [Wheatley] and I think she is. I’m sure everyone who reads the book has a slightly different feeling about it—whether they trust her or not. Her growth is also what makes her such an interesting character, because she goes from this crippling, self-conscious, anxious young woman to this real powerful matriarch of sorts. Her journey is so dramatic and huge, so it’s a gift as an actor to get to play something that has such complexities.

You began acting young. Is it for life? Or is there something else you hope to achieve?

I was always singing as a kid and I’ve always been drawn to performing and acting. As of now, it’s what I’m planning to do forever, but you never know. I’m really hoping to get more into producing and being involved with my own work right from the beginning—maybe one day directing—but I feel like I’ve still got so much to learn as an actor, so we’ll see.

Related: Downton Abbey Star Lily James On Becoming Russian Nobility in A&E Networks' War & Peace

What are you passionate about besides acting?

Many things, but I do really love losing myself in a book. I’m also passionate about traveling—I love exploring new places. I am a curious person and life is long, so there’s a lot to explore. My family and friends mean the world to me and I’m passionate about spending time with them.

What does your downtime look like?

My downtime isn’t that frequent, so it normally involves catching up on a lot of sleep! I’ve just finished the All About Eve run, so I have been able to get away and relax for a few days before the next project begins. It’s important to treasure your time off and make the most of it.