Dominic West says the kiss scandal with Lily James helps understand Prince Charles’ role

Dominic West says the kiss scandal with Lily James helps understand Prince Charles’ role

Actor Dominic West has opened up about the impact of his headline-grabbing kiss with co-star Lily James in 2020, detailing the “hugely stressful” impact it had on his wife Catherine FitzGerald and how the experience surprisingly informed his portrayal of Prince Charles in Netflix’s The Crown .

Dominic West and Lily James pictured on holiday in 2020 (Courtesy: @MailOnline at X)

Speaking to The Sunday Times Culture Magazine, West acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation: “I hesitate to speak on behalf of my wife because it’s obviously horrible, especially for her.”

He continued with a touch of humor, reflecting, “But sometimes we joke about it… It’s a ridiculous situation. It puts a lot of pressure on my wife and my kids, but there are lighter moments. That’s what the best to come. than that, really.”

While Fitzgerald has remained largely silent, West revealed that the incident helped him understand his role as Prince Charles, “I have a very deep understanding of what it’s like to feel the horror of your name or your photo in the press,” he shared.

Princess Charles (Dominic West) and Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) from “The Crown” (Courtesy: Netflix)

“There are those horrible frozen moments when something is revealed about you. I think anyone can understand that feeling. But I went through it and it definitely informed how I approached [playing Prince Charles]. That feeling of horror is not something you get used to.”

West went on to explain the public scrutiny he faced mirrored the experience of Prince Charles, whose relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles was constantly covered in the tabloids.

In October 2020, a photo emerged of West passionately embracing James during a romantic vacation in Rome. According to the Daily Mail, the couple spent two days together at the Hotel De La Ville.

West and James are on vacation in 2020 (Courtesy: The Daily Mail)

The images, taken shortly after international travel restrictions were lifted due to the outbreak, sparked a social media frenzy.

West, who was still married to Fitzgerald at the time, was not wearing his wedding ring in the photo, sparking speculation of a marital rift. Reports even claimed Fitzgerald had banned him from speaking to James.

Allegedly in an attempt to quash the rumours, the pair were later photographed cuddling each other outside their Cotswolds home too.

In one of the photos, they displayed a handwritten message for waiting reporters: “Our marriage is strong and we are still together. Thank you.”

West and Fitzgerald’s handwritten message (Courtesy: E! News)

James, for his part, has chosen to approach the situation obliquely. During a 2022 interview promoting her role in Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, she expressed empathy for Pamela Anderson, who has dealt with relentless media scrutiny throughout her career.

Lily James as Pamela Anderson in “Pam & Tommy” (Courtesy: Hulu)

“Women in the public eye at some point experience a difficult situation in their relationship between privacy and your life being in the tabloids,” shared James. “It is a lot. It’s a story as old as time.”

Although James did not directly refer to the Rome incident, his comments hint at the toll the media frenzy has taken.