Lily Collins lifts lid on whirlwind romance with fiancé director she met on set
EXCLUSIVE: The daughter of Phil Collins, 31, may have the attention of millions as star of Netflix hit Emily in Paris, but right now she is devoting most of her energy to fiancé Charlie McDowell
Finding herself the star of the most streamed show on the planet is not the most important thing right now in the life of Lily Collins.
The English actress’s performance as a fish-out-of-water American in Netflix runaway hit Emily in Paris has won her millions of fans.
But for now Lily, 31, has time for only one… her new fiancé, Charlie McDowell.
She met him last year on the set of film Gilded Rage – him the director, her the star – and says their fate was sealed at once.
Lily admits: “It was one of those situations where I knew the second I met him that I wanted to be his wife one day. So, it was just a matter of when, really.”
That “when” came a little closer when Charlie, 37 – the son of actor Malcolm McDowell – proposed on holiday a fortnight ago, in front of a mountain range in Arizona.
Armed with a £60,000 rose cut ring he helped design himself, he put his phone camera on a timer to capture the moment.
Lily, whose dad is Genesis drummer Phil, 69, shared the moment on Instagram, saying: “I’ve been waiting my lifetime for you and I can’t wait to spend our lifetime together.”
Her shoots in Paris gave the couple plenty of chance to build their romance.
Unlike her boyfriend in the show – who calls off a planned visit after deciding a long-distance relationship is out of the question – Charlie did join her in the French capital.
She says: “He did come out a few times. And we did roam the streets and get lost on the cobblestone alleyways a few times.
“I miss that the most. The idea of being in Paris, taking a scooter, going to museums, eating and even taking the Eurostar to London and Bruges… everything is so romantic.
“Hopefully we get a season two – but it’s a very different world now.”
With them both working in film, Lily admits keeping the relationship going when they travel so extensively has been tough.
But she says: “I’m very happy. When something is incredibly special, you make it work. It doesn’t matter where in the world, there are ways to always feel connected.”
Born in Surrey, Lily moved to Los Angeles with her mum Jill when she was seven, after her parents split.
She only decided to act at 16, following in the footsteps of half-sister Joely, 17 years her senior – as well as her dad who, after a series of cameo roles, starred as Great Train Robber Buster Edwards in the 1988 film Buster.
But she is relaxed about finding fame on a global scale, saying her dad’s superstardom prepared her for the rollercoaster ride to come.
She says: “I grew up in a family that was privy to highs and lows, to compliments as much as bad reviews.
“I’ve stayed close to my school friends, from before I became known. That keeps you grounded.”
She also had a fling in her 20s with A-lister Zac Efron – her co-star in last year’s Ted Bundy biopic, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.
In Emily In Paris, she plays a driven twenty-something from Chicago who leaves her life behind for an unexpected job opportunity in Europe.
Tasked with bringing an American sensibility to a venerable French marketing firm, culture clashes become de rigueur as she adjusts to her new home, career, friendships and loves.
Lily says: “It was so much fun to do – I love Emily, she’s a ray of sunshine.”
Creator Darren Starr is also the man behind Sex and the City, making Lily wary of comparisons with iconic character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker.
She says: “We made a big effort to say Emily is not Carrie. I had those icons as a young woman – it’s so relatable. Sarah Jessica Parker is everything.
“I didn’t want her to be a second version of her.”
As with her fiancé, she fell in love with the role at once. She says: “It ticked every box. I love romantic comedies, I’ve wanted to do one for years.
“When I met Darren and he said I might be doing costume with designer Patricia Field it was a dream.”
Patricia who also styled Carrie. Lily says: “Growing up watching all of Darren’s shows, Patricia is like a god to me. In my first fitting with her, I was so nervous.
“When you meet someone you’ve admired for so long, you hope you’ll get along, that she’s everything you hoped. She’s so much more.
“She’s like a fairy godmother of fashion to me.”
Emily in Paris has come in for harsh criticism for peddling French stereotypes but Lily says they worked hard to avoid those tropes.
She says: “I feel the show does a good job of presenting what we expect in a culture clash. I know Darren and the writers spent so much time researching and speaking to Parisians.”
She thinks the show is also giving audiences a much needed lift as we deal with our lockdown blues.
Lily explains: “The idea that Emily is having a new life experience, being lost in the city and being able to wander freely… that’s something I’m craving.
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