Lily Cole: ‘My biggest fear is getting the giggles in my West End debut'

Lily Cole will be trying her best to keep a straight face as she makes her West End debut opposite some of the UK’s hottest young comedy stars.

The model-turned-actress, 29, says she’s worried that she’ll start laughing at the wrong moments as she treads the boards in The Philanthropist at Trafalgar Studios next month.

Starring alongside comedians Matt Berry, Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal in Simon Callow’s forthcoming rival of Christopher Hampton’s classic play, Cole plays the seductive Araminta.

“My biggest fear is laughing at a joke when I’m not supposed to laugh,” she told the Standard.

“There are some times where it’s quite funny but my character doesn’t find it funny at all.”

The model has spent the last few years pursuing an acting career, appearing in small roles in films including The Moth Diaries, Snow White and the Huntsman and The Zero Theorem.

“I hadn’t actually read the play before, I knew of Christopher Hampton but it was the first time I’d ever seen it performed. The first time I read it I thought it was brilliantly written and I knew Simon was going to direct it,” she said.

“I met him in the run up to the process but I hadn’t met him before but I had very good feedback from other people who had worked with him and know him and really respect his work. So, I guess the combination of the writing and Simon made it very exciting.”

The play follows 24 hours in the lives of a group of young academics who meet to discuss sex, marriage and the meaning of life at a dinner party.

First staged at the Royal Court in 1970, The Philanthropist has been cast with young actors for the first time since its debut.

“I hadn’t thought too much about the age of the audience, I would hope it’s quite varied, you know,” said Cole.

“I hope it appeals to young people but I hope it also appeals to older people too because I think the ideas in it are cross-generational and poignant. I don’t think it’s ageist in any way – maybe not, like, eight-year-olds. I think it’d be a bit much for eight year olds.”

Director Callow said that he was hoping that a younger audience might be attracted by the cast of contemporary comics.

“I don’t think they’d be at all daunted by it in any way, they’ll only be delighted. It’s just delightful,” he said.

“The producer and I had the idea that it would be great to just find these sparky people who are very much loved and laughed at by a younger generation than mine and so it has proved.”

Christopher Hampton’s The Philanthropist, directed by Simon Callow is at The Trafalgar Studios from 3rd April until 22nd July. Tickets: www.atgtickets.com/the-philanthropist / 0844 871 7632