Her music career, launched in 2022, is equally impressive. India’s style blends pop, RnB, funk, and dance, creating a distinctive sound that has already drawn attention. Her debut single Poison has racked up over 135,980 streams on Spotify, signaling a bright future ahead in the music industry. Whether on screen or in the studio, India Lillie Davies continues to push boundaries and make her mark as a multi-talented artist.
In this exclusive interview with Editor Anastasija Pavic for DSCENE Magazine, India shares the mix of influences that shape her artistry, from the vibrant energy of pop stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo to her passion for romance novels and spy thrillers. Balancing the structure of acting with the creative freedom of music, India hints at what’s to come. With her breakout role in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and a rapidly growing music career, she teases new ventures, leaving us curious about what lies ahead.
What kind of music, books, or art do you personally enjoy, and how do they influence your own creative process?
I love lots of different styles of music, it depends on my mood what I listen to. I’ve always been a fan of matching music to a vibe – for example Sunday morning, coffee in a clean flat I would put on a chill funk, soul playlist but for what I listen to the most it would have to be Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae and Olivia Rodrigo at the moment. I also read a lot of romance books, I’m in love with love, it makes me so happy when I see people in love. It would be so fun to play a part like Andie Anderson in How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days or any rom-com! I also love Spy books and films, it would be a dream to play a spy in a huge action movie! Everything I read, listen to and live fuels every aspect of acting and music, I like to pull from my own emotions even if the story isn’t mine, you can relate your emotions to a character through a similar experience that you might have lived.
How do you adapt to the different challenges of acting compared to making music?
With acting, the story and character’s trajectory are laid out for you; it’s up to you to bring it to life and add your own interpretation. You have a lot of pressure especially if the show was previously a novel, you want everyone who fell in love with your character the first time round to fall even deeper when they watch the adaptation. I think there’s always a part of me in everything I’ve played so far. With music it’s an emotional outlet, I write when I feel sexy, when I’m sad, when I want to dance, there’s no pressure in it for me and I love writing and singing songs that excite me to show everyone. I’m sitting on so many amazing songs that I just can’t wait to get out there!
“I loved the layers of her character, the depth of emotion and the resilience of such a young woman. I read all 3 amazing books and it’s great to have that material to fully understand a person.”
How did your childhood and environment influence the way you express yourself artistically?
I actually grew up in the South West of England but I’ve always known what I wanted to do. I knew that I couldn’t complete my dreams in the countryside and decided to give myself a chance by moving to London at 18 years old! The city makes you learn a lot, fast and I worked in the fashion industry for a while. Moving to London when I was so young influenced a lot of how I am now. Living in London at an early age made me appear wiser beyond my years, I think that’s because I was around a lot of people in the industry and working whilst still being quite young. My mum and dad love music and we always have some music playing in the house, my Mum enjoys Soul, Jazz, RnB and my Dad enjoys House and Funk. I feel that all of your experiences make you, you but they also can help you build characters and songs.
What was it like making your acting debut on a show as popular and acclaimed as Call the Midwife?
It was my first job, I was so happy and I was lucky because I got cast as sisters with my actual sister! We were both excited because for our first job we got to be together! I feel grateful for that opportunity and it made me fall even more in love with being in TV and Film.
How did you prepare for the role of Andie Bell in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and what was it about the character that attracted you to the project?
I loved the layers of her character, the depth of emotion and the resilience of such a young woman. I read all 3 amazing books and it’s great to have that material to fully understand a person. I felt completely immersed in her world of Little Kilton, all of her personal problems and the love and hope she has with Sal is just such a beautiful thing to convey. I also think that having the incredible Emma Myers on board to be the most wonderful Pip was very exciting and made everyone on the project work super hard to get the show to such a beautiful place. Holly Jackson—what a force. I’m so grateful she saw Andie in me, and I hope I did her justice for both her and the fans!
“I’m in love with love, it makes me so happy when I see people in love. It would be so fun to play a part like Andie Anderson in “How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or any rom-com!”
What was your approach to portraying a character who is both a victim and a pivotal figure in the story’s development, and what unique challenges did this dual aspect present?
The first scene I filmed was the opening of the show, I was incredibly nervous as this 2 minute opening scene had to convey so much and so little. It was a big moment for Holly and Dolly Wells (Director) and for Andie. I feel that to fully understand Andie Bell I had to read all the books and learn that we all do things for different reasons – you can never fully know what’s going on in someone’s mind when making decisions. I felt her desperation to save herself and her survival instincts. She’s a woman who is beyond her years mentally but acts upon her emotions. I feel like knowing the whole story and exactly what she must have been thinking in that exact moment helps show the duality of her character.
Since the series is based on a popular novel, did you feel any pressure to live up to fans’ expectations of Andie Bell? How did you balance staying true to the book with bringing your own interpretation to the role?
I just wanted everyone to love watching it as much as the cast and I loved filming it! I knew that the popularity of the books meant that a lot of people would already have a depiction of what Andie Bell is in their head. I just tried to show her vulnerability and her resilience as much as possible! When I filmed it there wasn’t much pressure but when it got closer to being released I did feel a little nervous for how the die hard fans might receive the whole show!
As someone with a successful single like “Poison” and a growing acting career, how do you find the time to balance both and stay aligned with your aspirations?
They are both my biggest dreams, being a well respected actress and a major popstar! I feel as though they work hand in hand with one another and I am a dedicated person so I just know that somehow at any point I will make both happen. A little bit of faith never hurt anyone! I feel both career choices have moments where one is busy and the other is quiet and it changes, it’s nice to have both to focus on!
What excites you the most about the next phase of your career, and how do you envision your artistic evolution?
I love being at the beginning of my career. I’m a massive dreamer! I love living the journey of it even though it’s hard sometimes. I’m excited for the moments where you stop and think ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve made it, I’ve done it, little Indi would be proud’ if that’s on a huge movie set and I’m the leading lady, or if I am about to perform at the O2 arena in London and it’s sold out! I just want to be doing it all, being on set as much as I can, in the studio and on stage as much as possible! With Acting I’m hoping to grow more and evolve as I work with brilliant Actors and play a variety of different people. With music I will always be writing, I have so many unheard songs that hopefully you will all hear one day. I’m so excited to get started and continue to evolve in this industry! You’ll be seeing me one way or another or BOTH!
