Lily James and Matt Smith ‘SPLIT for good after failing to rekindle their relationship in lockdown’

Lily James and Matt Smith have reportedly split for good, after a failed attempt to rekindle their relationship in lockdown.

The actress, 31, has reportedly told pals their five-year relationship is over, and is now looking to date a man away from the showbiz industry.

In May Matt, 37, and Lily sparked rumours they’d reconciled after spending lockdown together at their joint home, having split last December after five years as a couple.

A source told The Sun that Lily and Matt realised they’d be better off as friends after struggling to make their relationship work.

Lily is now reportedly looking to date someone away from her industry, after struggling with the attention that came with dating another star.

The source said: ‘They have gone back and forth this year trying to sort things out between them because they both have so much love for each other.

‘But unfortunately it just isn’t working and they have mutually decided to just close this chapter of their lives. 

‘Now Lily just wants to find a normal guy who’s not in the spotlight because she found it quite tough being with another celebrity.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Lily James and Matt Smith for comment.

Lily and Matt first met while filming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in 2014, but didn’t confirm their romance until February the following year.

The couple parted ways in December 2019 after five years together, with reports claiming their romance had hit the buffers over Matt’s closeness to his The Crown co-star Claire Foy, 37.

In March the pair were pictured together for the first time in months, but they appeared be keeping a safe social distance apart.

The split followed rumours that Lily had struggled to cope with Smith’s close friendship with Claire, which developed as they played the Queen and Prince Philip on acclaimed Netflix series The Crown.

However, other sources said that the couple were driven apart because of their hectic work schedules.

But in May it was reported that Matt and Lily had rekindled their romance, after reconnecting while isolating at their shared home in lockdown.

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Matt and Lily’s break-up was mostly because their hectic schedules meant they could barely see each other.

‘Being in the house and having no work and distractions has allowed them to reconnect and get back to a good place. There is such an amazing chemistry between them and they make a wonderful couple.  

‘It’s what their friends had all hoped would happen because they do make each other so happy and their split happened because they were just too busy to see each other.’

However, in July Lily was spotted looking cosy with Captain America star Chris Evans as they left the private members’ venue, Mark’s Club in Mayfair in the same taxi, before enjoying ice cream at the part the following day.

Prior to their split last year, Matt had openly spoken about the possibility of starting a family with the ‘Baby Driver’ star.

The actor admitted he was looking forward to one day becoming a dad.

Meanwhile, Lily had also discussed the possibility of marrying the ‘Crown’ actor.

She told The Sunday Times Magazine: ‘I’ve gone through different phases of wanting and not wanting to get married. I don’t know where I sit with it now. What matters is the relationship and how you feel about each other.

‘I come from the most incredible family, so that means a lot to me. Eventually, sharing your life with a family is the most important thing.’