She’s making a return to the big screen with the new romantic-comedy film, What’s Love Got to Do with It? And on Monday, Lily James looked every bit the movie star as she attended the London premiere of her new project.
How True Is the Movie What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Directed by Shekhar Kapur and written by Jemima Khan, the 2022 British rom-com-drama “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” features a star-studded cast including Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Emma Thompson, Sajal Aly, Oliver Chris, Asim Chaudhry, Jeff Mirza, Alice Orr-Ewing, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and won the “Ugo Tognazzi” award for Best Comedy at the Rome Film Fest on October 22, 2022. It tells the story of a white British woman who falls in love with a South Asian man, which hits close to home for the screenwriter Jemima Goldsmith Khan.
Lily James as Zoe Shazad Latif as Kazim “Kaz” Khan in the 2022 British romantic comedy-drama film What’s Love Got to Do with It? (Credit: StudioCanal)
Jemima, a white British woman, was married to South Asian cricket star and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan Niazi, from 1995 to 2004. The couple has two children together.
While some characters in the film share the last name “Khan,” which is also the screenwriter’s married name, it’s worth noting that “Khan” is a common last name among Asian Muslims and not necessarily a self-reference on the part of Jemima Khan or a reference to her ex-husband, Imran Khan. The name “Khan” historically denotes a ruler or chief and has a long-standing hereditary or military title.
Jemima Marcelle Goldsmith, known professionally as Jemima Khan, was married to retired cricketer and former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan from 1995 to 2004, with whom she has two sons (Credit: Stuart Hardy / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
While inspired by her personal life, the movie is not based on a true story. “Since I lived in Pakistan for ten years between the age of twenty and thirty I understand a lot about their culture. And so I would say that every single character and anecdote comes from either someone I met in real life or an experience I have had in my own life. But it is not autobiographical,” Khan explained in an interview with Firstpost.
But added that “all the characters that I have met and pretty much every line is taken from real life.”
“What’s Love Got to Do with It?” shares a strikingly similar name to the 1993 American biographical film “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” which is based on the life of the legendary American music icon Tina Turner.
Lily James shows off her ultra-glam bombshell style at the London premiere of her new rom-com What’s Love Got to Do with It? held at Odeon LUXE Leicester Square on February 13, 2023 (Credit: Stuart Hardy / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
The 33-year-old actress, who has gone through a dramatic style transformation since portraying Pamela Anderson in the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, continued her ultra-glam bombshell look in a sultry green dress by Miu Miu.
Putting on a busty display, Lily James opted for a custom form-fitting dress with a built-in white bra attached to the low-cut corset bodice.
Aside from drawing attention to her cleavage, the lime green number also showed a glimpse of the actress’ legs through the back vent and the see-through, sheer fabric adorned with clusters of green crystals.
The Pride and Prejudice and Zombies actress worked with stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray to create the look, which was accessorized with a set of diamond drop earrings and a matching ring by Nour by Jahan.
She then boosted her 5’7” height by slipping into a pair of towering Jimmy Choo “Max” satin stilettos. They feature open toes, thin ankle straps, about an inch of platforms, and at least 6-inch heels.
Lily James teams her green cleavage-baring Miu Miu embellished gown with white satin Jimmy Choo platform sandals (Credit: Stuart Hardy / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
Staying true to the sultriness of the look, James wore her short hair in wet curls, styled by Halley Brisker. Makeup artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury gave Lily James a radiant look using her aunt Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Magic Cream, Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, and Invisible UV Flawless Primer.
She also brushed her brows up for a bushy look and applied Beautiful Skin Foundation in Shade 7C with Radiant Concealer in Shade 6, Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in Shade 1, Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish Powder in Fair/Medium, and Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer in Shade 2.
Lily James keeps the sultriness going with wet-look curls and eyeliner (Credit: Cover Images)
For her cheeks, she used the new Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pink Pop with Beauty Light Wand highlighter in Spotlight, while for her eyes, she applied the Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette with Hollywood Exagger Liner Duo and Pillow Talk Push up Lashes! Mascara.
She completed the look with the Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk Medium and Hot Lips 2 Lipstick in In Love with Olivia.
Lily James completes her ensemble with diamond drop earrings and a matching ring by Nour by Jahan (Credit: Cover Images)
Later that evening, Lily James was pictured arm-in-arm with her brother, Charlie, while leaving the premiere after party at London’s Soho House.
She was wearing the same gown, which she layered underneath a pale yellow coat by Galvan.
A nod to men’s tailoring, the $2,195 buttery outerwear featured an alpaca, wool, and cashmere blend with shoulder pads, a notched lapel, and a back vent.
Lily James walks arm-in-arm with her brother Charlie outside London’s Soho House following the after party of What’s Love Got To Do With It? (Credit: Blitz Pictures / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
Her latest outing marked her first red-carpet appearance following her reported split from her boyfriend of two years, Michael Shuman.
A source told The Sun: “Lily and Michael have grown apart in recent months and have now decided to end their relationship.”
“They just couldn’t make it work as a couple, but they both wish each other the best for the future.”
What Is What’s Love Got to Do with It? About?
What’s Love Got to Do with It? has nothing to do with Tina Turner’s 1984 song or her 1993 biographical film of the same name.
Directed by Shekhar Kapur, from a screenplay by Jemima Khan, 2022’s What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a cross-cultural rom-com that follows Zoe (Lily James), a British dating app addict and filmmaker who decides to document her childhood friend and neighbor Kaz (Shazad Latif) as he prepares to marry a stranger from Pakistan chosen by his parents.
Lily James is a dating app addict and filmmaker in What’s Love Got to Do with It? (Credit: StudioCanal)
As she films his journey, Zoe begins to expand her perspective on love and realizes that she might be able to learn something from the concept of arranged marriage.
It’s scheduled to be released in the UK on February 24.
Shazad Latif and Lily James star in the new rom-com What’s Love Got to Do with It? (Credit: Stuart Hardy / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)