Lily James reveals how perfume helps bring characters to life

Lily James revealed that she relied on fragrance to step into the characters she played. 

The actress said she either created her own blend or picked an existing scent and used it every day while filming, explaining that the ritual helped her focus.

She told HELLO! magazine that once she sprayed the perfume, it instantly brought her into the role. 

James described scent as “seductive” and said it became a way of anchoring herself in her performance.

Her latest project was Swiped, a biopic about Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble. 

The 36-year-old star admitted that portraying a real person felt more demanding than taking on fictional roles. 

She said she wanted to make sure she did Whitney justice and spent hours watching her interviews and reading about her life. 

The Relay actress further admitted that she discovered an energy in Whitney that she found “infectious.”

Whitney, however, had mixed feelings about the film., as she told CNBC that she tried to stop the project but was told by her lawyer that she could not. 

Moreover, the businesswoman admitted it felt “too weird” to watch her own life on screen, confessing she was both “terrified” and “slightly flattered.”

Whitney said she hasn't decided whether she would watch the film, joking that she might just grab some popcorn and see what happens.