Lily James Cancels String of Appearances After Dominic West Kissing Controversy
Lily James’ name is ringing bells right now for two reasons. She is in an upcoming Netflix film and she’s tied to a scandal with married actor Dominic West. The pair were spotted kissing during a weekend holiday in Rome and the photos went viral.
After the story broke, West and his wife Catherine FitzGerald faced the press together with smiles and kisses. The couple reassured the media their marriage is strong in spite of what paparazzi caught on camera.
James has been mum about the incident and recently retreated from a series of media appearances.
Lily James is in Netflix’s next big film, ‘Rebecca’
James stars alongside Armie Hammer in Rebecca on Netflix, a film that’s slated to roll out as one of the streamer’s next blockbusters. James plays the love interest of Hammer’s Maxim de Winter in a mystery-thriller that follows their romance and the looming shadow cast by his dead wife.
Both a book adaptation and remake of a 1940 film, Rebecca places James in the spotlight as the main protagonist.
She and Hammer have been doing a virtual press tour to promote the film and she recently spoke to ET Canada about her role. James said that she can relate to her character’s anxiety, insecurity, and feelings of impostor syndrome.
The movie hits Netflix on Oct. 21 and though it’s received mixed reviews from critics, it’s likely to soar in viewership.
James cancels several interviews this week
James was scheduled for a Today show appearance on Oct. 19 and backed out of the engagement, sparking speculation that she’s trying to lay low amid the West scandal. Hammer also canceled the dual interview for the NBC show.
James, a native Brit, was also set for a guest spot on England’s The Graham Norton Show, but canceled that too. According to Metro UK News, she was supposed to appear along with Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Springsteen, and Sam Smith on Oct. 23.
Page Six reported that James pulled out of interviews for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the last minute on Oct. 13. She’s in the lineup for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Oct. 21, the same day Rebecca drops on Netflix. It is unclear whether she will be present.
James and West are currently filming
West and James play father and daughter in The Pursuit of Love which is currently shooting in the U.K. It’s a BBC TV miniseries based on a book trilogy by Nancy Mitford. The story follows Linda Radlett (James) and her upper class English family as she navigates her quirky love life and quest for marriage in a post-World War I world.
James and West took a break from filming earlier this month when they were photographed in Italy. West has been in a relationship for 20 years with FitzGerald and married for 10. They share four children.
James was last linked to Marvel actor Chris Evans after the two were seen out and about in London this past summer.
