Kenneth Branagh has revealed he cast Lily James in the lead role in 'Cinderella' because she and the fairytale character both have a ''lovely heart''.
Kenneth Branagh cast Lily James in 'Cinderella' because she has a ''lovely heart'' just like the character.
The 54-year-old filmmaker knew the 'Downton Abbey' star would be perfect in the lead role of his reimagining of the classic fairytale when she first auditioned because she shares so many qualities with her alter ego Ella.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper, he said: ''Her voice is warm and musical and she has a strong sense of humour which is very important, plus she's a beautiful girl. I think that she has a lovely heart and that comes through in her work.''
Although Branagh is a fan the 1950 animated Disney version of 'Cinderella', the director want to shoot a live action remake of the beloved cartoon movie.
Instead he worked on the basis that many people wouldn't have seen the iconic film so he could bring in new elements to the story.
He added: ''The tale has been in various cultures for the last two-and-a-half -thousand years and is very flexible and has had very many adaptations. It was important for us to reinvent Cinderella and make her a more pro-active, more 21st Century character.
''For me it's not a question of better; it's a question of different. The animated classic from Disney is a quite magical piece of movie-making but it was made in 1950 and I felt there would be a vast number of people who would never have seen it or seen it in the context of the life we lead and so there would be room for another one.''
Lily stars in the new Disney film with Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan Skarsgard, Derek Jacobi and Hayley Atwell.
As life gets one step closer to normality for those affected by the impact of the CoVID19 pandemic we take a look forward to what's fresh, new and...
The normally uneventful month of February saw a lot more activity than the norm as 2021 saw significant signs of hope and optimism begin to appear.
Maximo Park return with their first full length studio album in nearly four years as they release 'Nature Always Wins'.
Yes, I know, it's far too early to call out contenders for the Top Ten Albums of 2021 but, if 'In Quiet Moments' by Lost Horizons doesn't feature...
Maisie Peters first release of 2021, 'John Hughes Movie', is as an inspired, individual and thought provoking concept that showcases the singers ever...
Wolf Alice make a long awaited return ahead of the release of their third album with a new single and video, 'The Last Man On Earth'.
Tom Odell returns with new song, 'numb', his first single in nearly two years.
The latest adaptation of Agatha Christie's 83-year-old classic whodunit, this lavish, star-studded film is old-style...
Britain's epic 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk has been dramatised on film before, but no one...
It's 1940 and World War II is in full swing. Allied soldiers from Britain, Belgium,...
It's the 1930s and a group of strangers from different walks of life board a...
In one of the biggest military disasters in British history, 400,000 soldiers found themselves stranded...
In the late 80s, Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) was the most famous police detective on...
The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of unconditional love that shows how far...
Cinderella is an uncommonly kind young woman, overcome with the loss of her dear father....
Following her mother's death, Cinderella was faced with a lonely existence while her beloved father...
Everyone is familiar with the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. Cinderella lives a mundane life...
There's nothing very original in this spy thriller, but director Branagh gives the film a...
Jack Ryan is a young office worker at CIA headquarters whose life turns upside down...