ONCE MORE, WITH ZOMBIES
Film based on Austen parody
Imagine making the transition from the Cinderella fairy tale to the monster mash-up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Lily James can.
After portraying Cinderella in the Disney live-action movie, the 26-year-old actress was reading the screenplay for the zombie production and she was hooked.
“It sounded insane and I couldn’ t believe that these words were going together in a title,” says James, who plays the determined Elizabeth Bennet in the film version.
“Then I read (the script) again and I read Seth Grahame-Smith’s book, and I loved both.”
The film, like the best-selling parody novel of the Jane Austen classic, is loyal to the original narrative with the noted exception of zombie attacks interrupting the assorted 18th century English countryside romances.
In fact, the 2009 book was so successful it spawned a miniindustry of spoof novels, including Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (also a film).
In the latest alternate universe to hit the big screen, the Bennet mother (Sally Phillips) continues her attempts to marry off the Bennet daughters. Hardly passive, though, the daughters are all combat-ready zombie killers with Elizabeth leading the way.
“I just think Liz Bennet was already the coolest, most independent and wonderful character, and then give her a sword and she gets even better,” James says.
The role didn’t come without sacrifice, however.
In fact, she had to snap out of “a very sort of lazy phase” to prepare for the physical portrayal of the sword-and-dagger zombie fighter.
“A lot of my training was just to get my fitness up and then I did boxing, some martial arts and yoga,” James says.
Bella Heathcote, who plays sister Jane Bennet, was even more focused. “I did about three months of kung fu in L.A. before I went over to London, and then we did about a month with Lily and the other girls,” Heathcote says.
“It was great that we were playing strong, independent female characters and getting to rescue the boys, and not being the damsels for once.”
Pride and Prejudice devotees should know that Elizabeth still has a contentious love-hate relationship with Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) who is also a zombie hunter. And Heathcote’s Jane still has a thing for Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth).
And, of course, there is Mr. Collins (Doctor Who’s Matt Smith), the parson who continues to be an inept suitor — which is a more obvious comic device in this rendition of the Austen tale.
But right from the start, director Burr Steers lets audiences know what they’re in for when the Bennet daughters prepare for a bloody otherworldly skirmish.
“We really felt like this girl band,” says James. “It was fun to be the girls who are the action heroes — just brilliant and especially in a Jane Austen movie.”
So far, James has enjoyed “a brilliant run” since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London five years ago.
After a series of high-profile theatre performances, a few TV costarring roles and a couple cameos in movies, James won the part of the rebellious Lady Rose in Downton Abbey.
Eventually, it led to her Cinderella role, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies role and her portrayal of Natasha Rostova in the wellreceived BBC series War & Peace, which takes some creative liberties with the Leo Tolstoy story.
“I just think it’s good not to be too holy about anything, which is why I think doing Pride and Prejudice with zombies is so much fun,” James says.
“War & Peace isn’t so extreme but it is really bold with the adaptation, which makes it feel fresh, modern and current.”
In the meantime, despite her early triumphs, she anxiously looks to the future.
“I think actors tend to be pretty anxious, worried people,” James says. “I think there’s ups and downs, but I’ve been having the best couple of years.
“Right now, I’m just happy and grateful. So all the anxiety that comes along with it is deal-able.”