Ashley absolutely dished to Cosmo about how they fell in love on-camera…and off!

mily in Paris is back! And the show simply hits different (in the best way possible) now that we know Cosmopolitan cover star Ashley Park and is dating her on-screen boyfriend Paul Forman IRL. These two hid their relationship for a while before going public, but now that they’re Instagram / red carpet / all the things official, they’re cuter than ever. But if you’re curious about how things started for Ashley and Paul, gather round.

Circa 2021

Ashley and Paul meet on set of Emily in Paris thanks to Paul being cast as Ashley’s love interest in Season 3. And apparently their chemistry is off the damn charts, to the point where everyone (specifically Lily Collins) notices except them.

“In the beginning, we were just friends, because I was at a point where I was like, ‘I will never date an actor again,'” Ashley recently told Cosmopolitan (*waves hi*) in her cover story. “And one of the first things he said to me was, ‘I’ve never dated an actor.’ And I was like, ‘Amazing.'”

“I mean, let’s face it, he’s eye candy,” she added. “So I was also like, ‘Oh my god, definitely not. I am past that. I would never fall for someone who looks that impeccable.’ So we were just friends. Very platonically, we would hang out. Then I was invited by the International Medical Corps to go and volunteer with Ukrainian refugees in Poland. It was going to be a whole week in Poland and I didn’t want to do it alone, so I thought, You know who should come with me, because literally we are just good friends, is Paul.”

You’re probably thinking that there’s no way the vibes were merely platonic at this point, but Ashley insists they were. As she put it, “I come from the theater! You want to bond with your costars, and I was like, ‘He’s my new scene partner.’ So I invited him. Fast-forward, we’re filming one of our last scenes together, and he said, ‘I am getting really attached to you.’ I felt so all-knowing and above it. I was like, ‘Oh, you poor man, let me explain. This is a show. You’re just excited about the whole thing.”

Turns out Lily “noticed the chemistry” and Ashley finally realized the extent of her feelings during the trip: “I had to do a little loss-of-dignity tour,” she said. “I had to be like, ‘Lily, everyone, we are so in love.’ That was about two years ago.”

September 29, 2022

Ashley and Paul attend their first public event together, as friends / costars (at least as far as the general public are concerned).

March 1, 2023

While they aren’t official with their relationship just yet, the vibes are getting more couple-y by the minute.

July 7, 2023

Ashley gushes about her “boyfriend” (without naming any names) to People, saying, “I’ve just never been with someone so supportive. And not supportive like, ‘Oh, that’s so cool for you,’ but who genuinely feels happiness when I do.”

October 8, 2023

The events keep eventing, and—due to their palpable chemistry—fans start speculating.

October 26, 2023

Paul and Ashely are spotted holding hands under a table, which obviously kicks off even more relationship rumors.

January 19, 2024

Ashely reveals she was hospitalized with critical septic shock, and thanks Paul for his support throughout the health scare. Her caption (and a sweet photo of them kissing) also confirms fan speculation that they’re dating.

“Grateful most of all to @peforman for being unconditionally by my side through all this,” she wrote. “You calmed my fears and held me through ambulances, three foreign hospitals, a week in the ICU, scary ERs, countless scans and tests and injections, excruciating pain, and so much confusion all while we were alone on the other side of the world far from those we know. I love you Paul. More than I can ever say.”

Meanwhile, Paul drops this:

January 25, 2024

Ashley and Paul go (even more) public on Instagram!

February 18, 2024

The. Cutest.

February 19, 2024

Paul celebrates their first date in public and we’re just 😭.

March 1, 2024

They officially enter the matching outfits phase of their relationship.

May 15, 2024

Ashley and Paul chill in Italy, are adorable, etc.

May 19, 2024

Perfect couples’ content. ✔️

June 23, 2024

Another day, another glam event, but more importantly: where do I buy Paul’s exact boots.

August 6, 2024

Ashley’s cover shoot with Cosmopolitan drops! Ya know, the one where she gave all those juicy quotes about Paul that we kicked off this article with!

August 15, 2024

They attend the premiere of Emily in Paris together, looking chic!

That’s that on these two, but we’ll keep you updated with the latest developments.