Lily James is gearing up for a new role as an action star in Hollywood. The 36-year-old actress, known for her work in Downton Abbey, will headline a remake of Sylvester Stallone’s thrilling 1993 movie, Cliffhanger.
Reflecting on her casting, Lily humorously mentioned, “It is the most amazing film and I guess Sylvester Stallone wasn’t available, so they just thought… Lily James.” She revealed that casting agents in Los Angeles are now likening her to a “Sylvester Stallone type.”
Securing the part of Naomi, a character whose family faces a threat from kidnappers, was no easy task for Lily. The original film featured Sly, aged 79, as a mountaineer entangled in a hijacking incident involving a US Treasury plane. Lily initially pledged to learn climbing for the film’s 2026 release but later confessed to forgetting about it.
During a trip to Ibiza, Lily recalled her commitment, sought a climbing instructor, and dedicated extensive time to the activity, developing a deep passion for it. The film Cliffhanger marks a distinctive shift in genre and location for Lily, who was recently in New York promoting Swiped, a biopic of Bumble dating app founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.
Playing the role of Herd, Lily admitted to never using a dating app herself. She expressed mixed feelings about portraying the creator of such platforms without personal experience but mentioned borrowing a friend’s phone for research purposes. Lily emphasized the impact of the film on people, citing a producer who found their life partner through Bumble.
Despite her past relationships with Matt Smith and Michael Shuman, Lily confessed a preference for meeting men organically rather than through apps. She expressed concern about the potential decline of traditional face-to-face interactions in favor of digital platforms.
In addition to her upcoming projects, Lily starred in various films such as Baby Driver (2017), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Yesterday (2019), and The Iron Claw (2023). Her acting career commenced in 2010 with her debut on the BBC series Just William, following which she gained prominence in Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Downton Abbey.
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