When it comes to the work, I'm excited to see what people think. When it comes to the private life, that's when I don't pay attention.
When you surprise yourself and you can't remember what the take felt like, then something transformative has happened.
I think it's just important to not judge people based on their physicality because it's really about personality and people's hearts and souls. That's what drew me to Audrey Hepburn who is kind of like my icon.
When I went through my eating disorder, I never sought medical assistance. I created myths in my head about how I should get through things, so the idea that I could surround myself with truth and feel comfortable enough to speak mine allowed me to breathe.
I have amazing memories of being able to travel and being able to have family all over the world.
I love fashion and always have something put together, but I won't wear anything specifically to be photographed in. I have become more cautious of making funny faces in public.
So much has changed since the '70s and '80s when it comes to acting and being in the public eye. We'd go out to a restaurant, and there would be five or six people. Now there's a lot more, plus social media, and this desire to bring other people down.
I don't choose projects according to the idea of being a role model. To be considered as one is definitely an honor.
Many of my deepest insecurities stem from my issues with my dad.
I've had to prove myself. But I'm driven, and I would love to make my own mark on the world.
I believe in the producers at Constantin, and I know that they have a really good taste level when it comes to the creative side.
I remember the screen test for 'Gossip Girl' was on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. I was about 17 or 18 years old at the time. I remember driving onto the lot and going, 'Oh my God. This is surreal.'
I remember lying in bed one night when I was 15 and deciding I was ready to go into acting properly. I'd put it off until then because I didn't feel I was ready to handle the rejections.
I couldn't handle the pain and confusion surrounding my dad's divorce, and I was having a hard time balancing being a teenager with pursuing two different grown-up careers.
I'm constantly surprised by human nature and humanity. And I think that's why I love what I do: because I love to story-tell and bring new characters to life.
Not many people know my father was an actor. He was the Artful Dodger in 'Oliver!,' and was in a film called 'Frauds,' too. It's interesting talking to him about acting, how much you can get turned down, and how not to take that as a discouragement. It's nice to have that element to relate to for us both.
The journalist in me always loved relating and socialising and connecting with people, but there came a point where I needed to make a decision to stop that being my focus and really focus on acting - an audience are only really going to believe me as a character to an extent if they don't know me as Lily that well.
I love the royal family. I even got up in the middle of the night to watch Kate and William's wedding. And I never miss the Queen's speech on Christmas Day. I feel it's my duty as an English-born woman to watch.
But the thing is, I was never looking at a strategic way of gaining fame. That's not why I'm doing this.
There's so many different things that you can physically change for a character.
Regarding scripts and projects, I've always been open to reading all sorts of genres and never closing myself off to one, because you never know what you might find.
I always loved dressing up and telling stories.
I've always loved Jane Austen's writing.
To play someone I loved in my favourite fairytale as a kid is a total honour.
I grew up knowing the pros and cons of the business and knowing what comes with pursuing what you love in terms of being in the public eye. I also grew up among people that were considered celebrities and people that people admired.
At first, I didn't hang out with celebrity kids. That wasn't the way I was brought up. I went to a run-of-the-mill Catholic primary school when we first moved to L.A. But then I went to a high school where there were lots of 'industry' children. Those weren't my best friends and I've never set out to make myself a part of that scene.
I'm passionate about speaking out against bullying and speaking up for self-awareness with young people and body-image issues and self-esteem issues.
When you trust and have elevated personnel in each department, then the sky really is the limit. If you don't have that trust in the backbone of the project, you may not know what you're making.
I was raised by my mom, pretty much, and she just had this very non-judgmental, having no shame about yourself, no regrets, just trusting your gut and your instinct, and treating yourself with respect.
My mother used to take me to flea markets in my stroller, and I would just rummage through the piles. You've got to dig through the overstuffed racks that everyone else just walks by. It's the only way to find the cool stuff.
I get kids who say, 'Oh, I love your movie, but my mum loves your dad.' It's really nice to be able to share that with him, but it doesn't define who I am career-wise.
I've always loved fantasy books. Even just growing up, I've always kind of loved magic and fantasy.
It's really important to stand up for yourself and not always agree with what people say if indeed you don't feel that that's true.
My dad knows how to tell a story. He'd make me laugh by doing all the different voices.
I've grown up being obsessed by 'Harry Potter.'
I didn't want to land an audition because I was 'The daughter of...' I never wanted to give anyone the opportunity to say, 'You only got the role because of who you are.'
My last name may have opened doors, but I have to keep them open.
I was actually the one who decided to move to LA. Mom and I were driving on Sunset Boulevard during one of our trips back to see her family, and I said, 'Can we just stay?' So we did.
I've always been a firm believer that you don't have to close one door in order to open another.
I'd love to dive into a comedy.
I've always loved being active, and I used to do sports - basketball, soccer, volleyball - growing up.
From a young age, I've had a desire to put forward this perfect image, whatever perfect was.
Hollywood in the 1930s is an incredible period of history. There are so many amazing stories about the stars and the studios at that time that you can't fit into one film.
My older siblings and I all work in 'the industry'. So obviously we have hectic schedules, but we make it work.
I'm trying to be the most vibrant version of myself.
I graduated high school, and I always wanted to go to college, but I also really wanted to work at a young age. At 18, I was pitching talk show ideas to different networks. I was a journalist.
There is a Twitter account apparently dedicated to my brows. I do not Tweet on it, but... they talk about who they've seen today.
Everything for me has happened so quickly. I finished shooting 'The Blind Side' not this past June, but the June before, and all of sudden up to now, it seems like it's gone from zero to 60 for me. I feel so fortunate to be able to say that.
During the day, I'm constantly reapplying hand cream. My grandma used to do it all the time, so maybe I got it from her.
