Yes, you shall go to the ball: Stunning Lily James steals the show at London premiere of Cinderella

 
Yes, you shall go to the ball: Lily James as she arrived at the Cinderella premiere in Leicester Square
Gareth Vipers20 March 2015
The Weekender

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Lily James stole the show in Leicester Square this evening as the stars gathered for the premiere of Disney's retelling of the Cinderella fairytale.

James, who plays the lead role in the new film, hit the blue carpet in an elegant split gown, while Fairy Godmother Helena Bonham Carter also looked glamorous in a teal gown with black flowery motif.

Bonham Carter has confessed she feared director Kenneth Branagh's retelling of the classic tale was going to be a "boring cliche" because there was no twist.

Bonham Carter, James and Branagh walked a blue carpet at the Odeon Leicester Square for the London premiere, along with Downton Abbey's Sophie McShera and The Borgias' Holliday Grainger, who co-star as the wicked stepsisters, Game Of Thrones hunk Richard Madden, who plays the Prince and Sir Derek Jacobi who is the King.

Bonham Carter said: "I was really scared that it was gong to be such a cliche and really boring. I said, 'What there's no take on it? No twist?'

"Because Cinderella is a story that's been told a hundred times and everyone knows what's going to happen.

"But having seen it I'm amazed and it does work, which is testament to, one - the story is such a classic and was meant to be retold. And also he's very clever Ken. It could have failed on so many levels and been really naff. But I think all the characters work because they're not stereotypes."

There has been some controversy regarding the size of James waist in the corseted dress Cinderella wears to the ball and the example it sets young girls.

But Bonham Carter said for her it was all about making your waist bigger when being fitted with a corset for a long day's filming.

She said: "Lily does have a tiny waist. They didn't make it tinier than it is, she just has.

Cinderella premiere at Leicester Square

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"But if it's a working corset then you make it work for you. A corset can be very comfy, as long as you don't breathe in when they're fitting it.

"Don't be vain at six o'clock in the morning, be the opposite. Breathe out, and then you'll be fine."

The cast all insisted the story of a young girl who escapes her life of servitude by meeting a wealthy prince was still a relevant one to tell children.

James said: "We tried to make the lead character really strong. Somebody who's got unbelievable kindness, unbelievable strength and that makes her able to deal with life on her own terms and find joy in bleak situations. So I think there's a lot to take from it."

Branagh agreed: "In this version I think the message is very positive. She is empowered, good, thoughtful, strong. She asks questions about why her step family are so cruel. She decides to stay in that house for a reason. She doesn't dismiss the idea of service, thinking it's not a thing to be ashamed off. And she's really mature in the face of this mistreatment.

"She's neither frail nor unsophisticated, and in Lily James' performance she's also funny and beautiful."

Cinderella, which also stars Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother, opens in UK cinemas on March 27.

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