Lily James Finally Reveals Why She Said Yes to Bumble Creator Biopic Swiped

Whitney Wolfe Herd built two of the biggest dating app stories of the last decade, and now Lily James is playing her in the tech biopic 'Swiped'. James told RadioTimes.com why she jumped in: this is a story about ambition, power, and what happens when a woman is legally told to keep quiet. That last part is where the movie gets spicy and a little inside baseball.

Why Lily James said yes

'Taking away someone's right to speak their truth or tell their story is a very vicious act.'

That idea of silencing women is what James says pulled her into the project. She also signed on as a producer, even though she admits she didn't know a ton about Wolfe Herd at first. What she found was a complicated arc: a young grad who helps co-found Tinder, leaves in a storm, then launches Bumble and turns it into a juggernaut. The film tracks that run, and the aftermath, with James wanting to keep the performance grounded in actual human stakes, not just headlines.

The real-world baggage the movie digs into

• Wolfe Herd sued Tinder over claims of sexual harassment. That case settled for an undisclosed amount, with Tinder not admitting wrongdoing. She is still under a non-disclosure agreement tied to that period, which meant being legally muzzled while allegations leaked to the press.
• James plays those consequences on screen — panic attacks, anxiety, the whole weight of being gagged while your name is in the news.
• There's timely context too: in the UK, the Employment Rights Bill aims to stop employers using NDAs to silence people over harassment and abuse.
• For what it's worth, Wolfe Herd became a headline-making billionaire off Bumble's success; the film positions that rise as both a triumph and a personal trial by fire.

James on playing real people (again)

This isn't her first time stepping into a very public life — she did Pamela Anderson in 'Pam & Tommy'. Different story, same pressure. James says she tries to bring as much authenticity and integrity as possible, work obsessively hard, and keep the humanity front and center whether the character is real or fictional. If 'Swiped' can add anything meaningful to the conversation about silencing and accountability, she says, the team would be proud.

Where to watch

'Swiped' is streaming now on Disney+. Plans start at £4.99 a month or £89.90 for a year.