Cinderella actress Lily James has revealed the personal tragedy that helped her relate to her latest role.

Lily, who also stars as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey, has told how losing her father to cancer at the age of 19 allowed her to identify with Cinderella, whose mother dies when she is a child.

The 25-year-old actress said: “I had a scene where I was told my dad had died, so it was really hard, but I feel what’s important in the film is that Cinderella gains strength from her loss and that was something I could … That was in me.”

Lily James in Cinderella
Lily James as Cinderella (Disney/Jonathan Olley)

Speaking to the Sunday Times Style magazine, Lily, who stars alongside Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter in Kenneth Branagh’s re-imagining of the classic fairytale, said processing her father’s death would take “the whole of my life”.

She said: “That’s sort of why my experience of drama school is pretty unique – it happened while I was there.”

The actress, whose father was also an actor, added she was sad that he had not lived to see her success.

She said: “Yeah. It’s s***.”

Meanwhile, Lily also insisted the remake of the classic fairytale carries a positive message for young girls.

She said: “I think what we did, and what was really really important was to make it  that it wasn’t about a girl looking for a prince… With Cinderella she’s just fine on her own and she’s just dealing with life… and when they meet, they meet as equals.

“I think you get the sense that they rescue each other which I think is a better message for young girls.”

Cinderella will be in UK cinemas on Friday March 27.