“Lily! Lily! Lily!”
The fans who had gathered at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur for the premiere of “Baby Driver” chanted Lily James’ name, trying to get her attention. The English actress made her way down the red carpet, which was actually pink, the movie’s signature color, posing for selfies and signing autographs. Lily, whose previous roles have included Cinderella in the live-action Disney film of the same name, Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and Lady Rose MacClare on TV’s “Downton Abbey,” plays Debora in the film, a diner waitress who she describes as “lonely despite her optimism and warmth.”
Lily was anything but lonely on Monday night—in fact, she got emotional as she thanked the fans for showing up. The next day, she told Super, “It was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was the most amazing response I’ve ever had. Everyone was so warm and excited to see us and see the movie. It was really, for all of us, an amazing night.”
Here are more excerpts from our conversation with Lily.
On working with Edgar Wright:
Edgar as a director is amazing. I’ve never worked with someone who has such a unique, clear vision of exactly what he wants his film to be… it’s really so rewarding.
On her character’s relationship with Baby:
They’re both these old souls. My character is a real dreamer and very impulsive and I really relate to that.
On mastering Debora’s American accent:
I struggled with saying “holler.” I have American family so that helped and I worked really hard. And Ansel really helped me. I really enjoy acting in another accent, it’s really freeing.
On her driving skills:
I never got a speeding ticket which is a miracle. There was a part where I used to drive to school where there were no cameras and I used to speed because I was always excited to leave school. I actually don’t drive anymore because I live in London and there’s no need but my boyfriend gets a lot of parking tickets. Seriously. It’s ridiculous.
On working with Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx:
Jon got scary in those scenes but he would be pretty jokey as soon as the take stopped. He was incredible in this movie. Jamie is just amazing. His energy on set is infectious. He’s full of life. Watching him was like watching a magician. He’s so spontaneous and impulsive and he improvises… Even when we were doing photo shoots in LA, he’d be like, this isn’t right… and then his guys came in and turned the music on and suddenly we were dancing.
On social media:
I’ve seen the power of Instagram through this tour and I really respect it… But there are times when you want to switch off a bit. At times, I worry that I want to be like a blank canvas as an actor. Sometimes I think if I post too much, I might be giving away my potential mystery. But we live in a different world now, it’s not like it was with old movie stars where you knew nothing about them. There’s a balance between the two I think.
On the female Doctor Who:
I’m so excited about Jodie, we actually went to the same drama school at different times. I think she’s the perfect person to take on the role. I think that having a woman is just spectacular and it’s about time. It’s gonna bring new life and new energy.
On playing a young Meryl Streep on the “Mamma Mia” sequel:
I start tomorrow pretty much. It’s gonna be a different kind of ride but it will be a good one. I’ve got ABBA on serious rotation, ask my hair and makeup. It’s a lot. —PAM PASTOR