‘Downton’ star Lily James joins Harry Styles in 1950s romance ‘My Policeman’

Lily James has yet another period drama project in the pipeline.

The 31-year-old English actress, best known as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey, is currently filming the BBC’s upcoming The Pursuit of Love mini-series.

Her new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca premiered on Netflix last month, and she has another new Netflix period drama movie on the way, titled The Dig.

Next up, it’s been announced that she’ll be starring alongside One Direction singer Harry Styles in a movie based on Bethan Roberts’ novel My Policeman.

Inspired by the life of E.M. Forster and his relationship with his long-time companion Bob Buckingham and his wife, Roberts’ 2014 book is being adapted by Oscar-nominated writer Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia).

My Policeman is described as “an exquisitely told, tragic tale of thwarted love.”

The official synopsis reads: “It is in 1950s’ Brighton that Marion first catches sight of Tom. He teaches her to swim in the shadow of the pier and Marion is smitten—determined her love will be enough for them both.

“A few years later in Brighton Museum, Patrick meets Tom. Patrick is besotted with Tom and opens his eyes to a glamorous, sophisticated new world. Tom is their policeman, and in this age it is safer for him to marry Marion. The two lovers must share him, until one of them breaks and three lives are destroyed.”

Lily James is set to play Marion, while Styles – who made his acting debut in 2017’s Dunkirk – will play Tom.

The movie is expected to begin filming next year.

Bethan Roberts’ novel My Policeman is available on Amazon.