Despite criticism of the series in France, Macron will appear as herself in the show’s fourth season when new episodes arrive on Thursday

French first lady Brigitte Macron will make a cameo appearance as herself in the Netflix series Emily in Paris when new episodes are released on Thursday.

Macron will wear her own clothing, Elle magazine revealed on Tuesday, “with no particular instructions given to her” by the series known for its fashion.

Program creator Darren Star told Elle that Macron “has great talent”.

The 71-year-old former teacher’s cameo, according to Emily in Paris lead Lily Collins, had been brewing since 2022.

“The idea … came to us when Darren Star and I met her at the Élysée Palace in December 2022,” Collins said.

“She is a big fan of the show and took the mention of her in season one with great humour. This scene in season four is a wink, and shooting with her was both an honour and a real joy.”

It is the second time Macron has played herself on screen. In 2018, she appeared in Vestiaires, a French comedy series following two disabled swimmers. Earlier this year, it was announced that a six-part biopic titled Brigitte, une femme libre (Brigitte, a free woman) was in production.

The second half of the fourth season of Emily in Paris is being released on Thursday on Netflix.

Since launching in 2020, the series has attracted sizeable audiences. The first half of season four debuted at almost 20m views and the show has consistently appeared on Netflix’s top 10 lists – even as it has also made headlines for its absurd storylines and candied depiction of Paris.

The series has been criticised in France in particular for its stereotypical, fantastical portrayal of life in the city of light, from beret-wearing bon vivant lifestyles to sanitised, Instagramable scenes of the capital.