Lily James in Bathing Suit Transforms Into Pamela Anderson

Lily James has played some iconic roles in her career, from Cinderella to Mamma Mia's Donna Sheridan. And now she's playing another, as Pamela Anderson in the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, which details Anderson's relationship with rocker Tommy Lee, and a certain tape that made their relationship infamous. (The series, co-starring Seth Rogen, debuts today.) How did she turn into Pam? Read on to see 5 ways Lily James stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

What did it take to become Pamela Anderson? "A 3:30am alarm and coffee! Then three hours with amazing makeup artists and the biggest, blondest wig," she told TV Insider. "Sadly, Pam wasn't involved in the show, but I studied as much as I possibly could. My only focus was to do her justice. I watched a lot of Baywatch. She is hilarious and so witty — always one step ahead…which [are two of] many reasons I think she is so iconic."

James tells Shape that she works out in the mornings, and she thinks that this helps keep her living a healthy lifestyle. "I have found that starting my day with exercise is the key. When I work out regularly, I immediately feel the benefits. It's exciting to be empowered by that, and it turns into a domino effect. Naturally, I start eating better and stop drinking so much wine. Then I feel more energized in the morning to work out again."df44d9eab23ea271ddde7545ae2c09ec

James says to Shape that she loves to bike through her neighborhood. "Recently, I got my bike back, and that's been such a gift. It's my bit of freedom to ride without having any direction stuck in my mind. It helps me stop overthinking and just connect myself to the present."

James showed off her dance moves in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, and she also revealed that she did a lot of dancing in quarantine. "In lockdown, I had to make exercising fun; otherwise I would lose interest," James told Shape. I switched up my normal yoga and Pilates for daily dance classes. Early on, I learned this fun dance routine and couldn't stop doing it. The next day, my neighbour called saying, 'Oh my God, Lily, you played that song for three and a half hours.'"

James tells Shape that while she tries to eat healthy, especially during lockdown, she also doesn't ignore her cravings. James says that she believes in moderation. "I had to remind myself that it's OK to indulge sometimes. I don't try to deprive myself of stuff. If I want to order fast food, I let myself eat what I want to eat. Now I'm striving for a constant balance between the two."