Lily James recently reflected on the responsibility of portraying Whitney Wolfe Herd in Hulu’s Swiped, while also opening up about why she continues to gravitate toward layered and emotionally complex female characters throughout her career. James had spent years building a career filled with layered performances, moving seamlessly between period dramas, musicals, thrillers, and real-life portrayals. Whether stepping into the glamorous world of Pam & Tommy or taking on emotionally driven stories in film and television, the actress consistently gravitated toward characters with depth, resilience, and vulnerability. 

Her comments also revealed why stories about complicated, ambitious women had continued to resonate so strongly with her throughout her career.

During Deadline’s The Actor’s Side conversation at Disney’s A Toast to TV event with Pete Hammond, Lily James reflected on the responsibility of portraying Whitney Wolfe Herd, the entrepreneur behind the dating app Bumble in Swiped. The actress explained that she had been especially drawn to the parts of Wolfe Herd’s story that had remained overlooked in public discussions.

“Her story was really sort of pushed to the side and she signed an NDA and I was really interested in sort of looking at that, how they're often weaponized against women and silenced and sidelined women. So I felt it was time that her story was sort of front and center and if we could be a part of that. That felt really like a huge responsibility, but so exciting,” James told Deadline.

The film explored the events that shaped Wolfe Herd’s rise in the tech industry, including the struggles and setbacks she faced before launching Bumble. Swiped focused on how she worked to create a dating platform designed to give women more control over online interactions while navigating the pressures of a male-dominated business world. James explained that the emotional and personal layers within Wolfe Herd’s journey were a major reason the story stood out to her.

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As conversations around Swiped continued following its release, Wolfe Herd herself also addressed what it felt like watching her own life adapted into a Hollywood production.

In a CNBC interview, Whitney Wolfe Herd admitted that she had mixed emotions about seeing her life adapted into a film. The entrepreneur revealed that she initially attempted to stop the project from moving forward before her lawyer explained there was little she could legally do to prevent it.

“It feels too strange for me,” Herd said while discussing the experience of watching her story become a Hollywood production.

She also described herself as feeling “both terrified and maybe slightly flattered” by the entire situation. Despite her hesitation surrounding the movie, Wolfe Herd praised the casting choice and expressed admiration for Lily James.

“I was honored they chose Lily James. She is a very talented actress,” she shared. Although Herd confirmed she had no involvement in the production itself, she admitted the experience of seeing her personal journey dramatized on screen felt surreal. 

With Swiped, Lily James once again demonstrated her interest in portraying women whose stories carried emotional depth and cultural significance. Through her performance as Whitney Wolfe Herd, James explored themes of ambition, public scrutiny, and resilience while bringing attention to a story that had often remained in the background.

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What did you think of Lily James’ performance in Swiped? Let us know in the comments!