E.L. James

Birthday: 7 March 1963, London, England, UK

Birth Name: Erika Mitchell

E.L. James was born on March 7, 1963 in London, England as Erika Mitchell. She is known for her work on Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018). She has b ...Show More

I've set the bar quite high in terms of storytelling. I've set the bar quite high in terms of storytelling.

Write for yourself. That's it. And write every day. Write for yourself. That's it. And write every day.

I don't watch much British television at all. I mean, it's ironic because I used to work in it for y Show more I don't watch much British television at all. I mean, it's ironic because I used to work in it for years. Hide

Once you're in charge of your job, your house, your children, getting the food on the table, doing a Show more Once you're in charge of your job, your house, your children, getting the food on the table, doing all of this, all of the time, it'd be nice for someone else to be in charge for a bit maybe. Hide

I never set out to do this - getting to No. 1 in the 'New York Times' bestseller list wasn't even a Show more I never set out to do this - getting to No. 1 in the 'New York Times' bestseller list wasn't even a pipedream. Hide

I'm looking forward to getting back to my house and my Ugg boots and not washing sometimes, and gett Show more I'm looking forward to getting back to my house and my Ugg boots and not washing sometimes, and getting back to writing. Hide

Yes, I'm a 'Twi-hard.' I became obsessed. Absolutely obsessed. I didn't watch television, I didn't g Show more Yes, I'm a 'Twi-hard.' I became obsessed. Absolutely obsessed. I didn't watch television, I didn't go to the cinema. My friends would ring and say: 'What are you doing?' And I would say: 'I've just got to finish this chapter.' Hide

God forbid that women have fantasies. God forbid that women have fantasies.

I've worked in television all my life, but really I've always wanted to work in the movies. I've worked in television all my life, but really I've always wanted to work in the movies.

All a writer wants is to be read, and people are so flattering and lovely. I mean, there are witches Show more All a writer wants is to be read, and people are so flattering and lovely. I mean, there are witches out there as well. But most are so kind. Hide

I'm a bit of a control freak. I'm a bit of a control freak.

I think women love a passionate love story. I think women love a passionate love story.

I really like clever men who challenge you. I really like clever men who challenge you.

Women basically want the same thing - a good passionate story, a great fantasy - and for our partner Show more Women basically want the same thing - a good passionate story, a great fantasy - and for our partners to do the laundry and the washing up. Hide

I came up with a story and I wrote it. I came up with a story and I wrote it.

I'm not a great writer. I'm not a great writer.

I think women love to read love stories. I think women love to read love stories.

I value my anonymity. I'm happy to come in on the tube or the train and watch other people reading ' Show more I value my anonymity. I'm happy to come in on the tube or the train and watch other people reading 'Fifty Shades.' Hide

Everyone's clamoring for the fourth book in the 'Fifty Shades' trilogy, which makes me laugh. Just t Show more Everyone's clamoring for the fourth book in the 'Fifty Shades' trilogy, which makes me laugh. Just the part of 'a fourth book in trilogy' that makes me laugh, not the clamoring for the next book. Hide

I see myself as a story teller. I see myself as a story teller.

I hate having my photograph taken. I hate having my photograph taken.

[on 'Fifty Shades of Grey' ] I wrote the books really just to entertain myself. The fact that they'v Show more [on 'Fifty Shades of Grey' ] I wrote the books really just to entertain myself. The fact that they've entertained a whole lot of other people is just thrilling. My only ambition when I published this was to see it one day in a book-shop. So everything has been, like, 'Holy crap!' Hide

If you've been married for 400 years, as I have, it's nice to experience first love again and you ca Show more If you've been married for 400 years, as I have, it's nice to experience first love again and you can vicariously through a book. Hide

E.L. James's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (6) as Creator (3)

20 20 - Season 46

20/20 - Season 44

Loose Women - Season 28

Lorraine - Season 14

[18+] Fifty Shades Darker

Fifty Shades Freed

Book Club

Fifty Shades Of Grey

20/20 - Season 47