Lily James: Dame Maggie gives me tips

Lily James has learnt how to deal with boredom from Dame Maggie Smith.

The 25-year-old actress has starred in Downton Abbey since 2012. For the young star, the chance to work alongside double Oscar winner Dame Maggie Smith has been a daily education.

"I'm learning a lot about how to be one of the 'good' actors," Lily told Harper's Bazaar magazine. "You'd hope that it's natural to be a good person, and kind, but I'm learning how to deal with long, sometimes boring days."

Lily plays Lady Rose MacClare in the hit British period drama. The show has captured fans imaginations all over the world and with that comes a lot of media attention. Lily is still learning the best way to deal with it, but she has realised that the mantra 'fake it until you make it' is very useful, particularly on the red carpet.

"You have to pretend a little bit...act like you're super confident and sexy, when really you're like, 'My left t*t's hanging out!"

It isn't the first time the star has sung the praises of Maggie. Soon after joining the show, she told British edition of OK! magazine about her great sense of humour on set.

"[Dame Maggie Smith] is one of the greatest actresses ever. To be with her on set is a gift. She's amazing and funny and chilled," she said. "[Most of her quips] aren't scripted. It's the way she says it or the looks she gives - it's gold. She has loads of quips off camera too."

The blonde beauty's star is hopefully going to have the same kind of longevity as the Harry Potter actress, as she has just played the title role in Cinderella, which was directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The film, set for release in 2015, also stars fellow Downton cast mate Sophie McShera as one of the Ugly Sisters.