Explore Emily in Paris star Lily Collins’ dual nationality, cultural roots, and the influences that shape her identity as both British and American.

Ah, the world of Netflix’s Emily in Paris! It’s a delightful feast for the eyes, with not two but three main characters. Yes, we have our lead, Emily Cooper, and the enchanting city of Paris, but let’s be honest—Emily’s wardrobe is the real showstopper here. If clothes could talk, we bet they’d have their own spin-off series by now! Now let’s talk about the woman behind the fabulous outfits: Lily Collins, who embodies the audacious Emily.

This enchanting English-American actress rose to fame with her feature film debut in 2009’s The Blind Side, and since then, she’s been on a meteoric rise, or should we say, she’s been en Vogue.

And since 2020, she’s been painting Paris red—or whatever color matches her fabulous ensembles—as the super stylist marketing executive we all love, in Emily in Paris. So, is the actress British or American? Or, perhaps like her fashionable character, does she transcend labels altogether? Let’s find out!

Is Lily Collins British? What’s Her Religion?

Ah, the classic conundrum: Is she British or American? The answer is a delightful fusion of both! Born in 1989, in Guildford, Surrey, England, to Phil Collins and Jill Tavelman, Lily Collins is the epitome of a cultural smoothie—perfectly blended with a dash of British wit and a sprinkle of American flair. She spent her formative years in the UK before making the grand leap to Los Angeles at the tender age of six (via W Magazine).

Despite her dual citizenship, Collins has always felt a bit more British than American. This 35-year-old is the daughter of a musical icon (Phil Collins), but don’t let that fool you into thinking she’s all about the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Instead, she’s been embracing her roots, even while starring as the quintessential American character, Emily Cooper, in Emily in Paris. She told The Sunday Telegraph:

I am half and half, but I’ve always felt more British than American. I have played the most American character for five years now. And that was interesting, because I grew up learning French, speaking it, dreaming in it… 

“Playing Emily makes me feel more American!” she quipped. So, what about her religion? Well, she boasts Russian Jewish roots from her maternal grandfather, along with English and German ancestry (via IMDb).

How Did Lily Collins Lose Her Accent?

Lily Collins shared a funny and heartfelt story about her childhood on The Kelly Clarkson Show (via Daily Express). The actress opened up about how she had to embrace an American accent to fit in after enduring constant teasing from her classmates in Los Angeles. Kelly Clarkson kicked off the conversation with a lighthearted question:

Is it true that, like, when you were a kid you had to really practice to lose your accent and why? It’s so cool.

Lily Collins in Emily in Paris | Credit: Netflix

Collins, with a smile, responded, “It is true.” The host couldn’t resist throwing in a joke: “You could have been like the Harry Potter of the school.” To which the actress replied:

Believe me, I was obsessed with Harry Potter.

Who wouldn’t want to wave a wand and make those bullies disappear?

But then the mood shifted as the actress revealed, “Yeah. Everyone made fun of me.” Collins reminisced about that tricky age—around five or six—when kids can be downright ruthless, saying:

They’d be like, ‘Wait, you can’t say your R’s?’ So, I started watching movies to replicate accents. I would watch Peter Pan over and over again and stand in front of the mirror, saying, ‘Peter Pan, Peter Pan,’ until it stuck.” 

She laughed, adding, “And now I sound like this.”

And just like that, Collins transformed herself from the little girl struggling with her accent to a star who effortlessly embodies the characters she plays—no magic wand required!

Lily Collins Can Also Speak French 

Now, while Emily Cooper may struggle with her French skills in Emily in Paris, it turns out Lily Collins has a few tricks up her sleeve. In a candid chat with Grazia, the actress revealed her surprising French background:

It’s very weird. I grew up speaking French in school, and my little brothers are half-Swiss, so I started speaking French with them at a young age. I started dreaming in it and reading it. 

However, the plot took a twist when she stopped practicing, leading to a dip in her confidence. She added:

Then my little brother’s English was far better than my French, so I kind of started to give up.

But when it came time to embody Emily Cooper, Collins decided to roll up her sleeves and make French a priority again:

I was like, ‘OK, I am going to make it my mission to speak French fully’. Emily is so bad at French, and I am playing a character who is the most American I think I have ever felt in my entire life. It was very difficult to decipher between the two. So, my French I think got worse.

With her charming personality and determination, she’s proof that even when life gets a little ‘lost in translation’, you can still find your way—with a lot of courage and perhaps a few lessons in between.

Lily Collins Will Always Be Her Parent’s ‘Little Girl’

Lily Collins in Emily in Paris | Credit: Netflix

Lily Collins, who, despite her dazzling stardom, will forever be known as Phil Collins and Jill Tavelman’s “little girl.” Growing up in a household with a legendary Genesis drummer and an American mom, Collins’ childhood was anything but ordinary.

While she is the apple of her parents’ eye—being their only child from a decade-long marriage—she’s got a whole clan of siblings on her dad’s side. “We’re all super close,” she shared with The Guardian in 2012.

Her relationship with her parents has certainly sparked some tabloid chatter over the years, but she takes it all with a grain of salt:

I know the truth and I know how it was for me, and I know how much I love my family—and that’s all that really matters.

From her standout performances in The Blind Side to her enchanting role in Mirror Mirror, Lily Collins has shown she can handle any character like a seasoned pro. And let’s not overlook her impressive journalism chops—she’s penned pieces for major publications like Teen Vogue and Los Angeles Times.

Meet Charlie McDowell: The Man Who Captured Lily Collins’ Heart

Lily Collins in Emily in Paris | Credit: Netflix

Speaking of her love life, Collins tied the knot with American film director and writer Charlie McDowell in 2021. Now, let’s talk about how this love story unfolded. After getting engaged in 2020, Collins couldn’t resist sharing her joy on social media. She flaunted her stunning square diamond ring, custom-made by jeweler Irene Neuwirth.

In a chat with Extra, Collins shared:

I think we’re just, you know, totally soaking in being engaged and still celebrating with people that we can, in a way that is safe…Eight months of being together in quarantine has definitely felt like the most incredible way of getting to know someone.

So, who is this lucky guy inspiring all those glowing Instagram posts and heartfelt declarations from our favorite Emily in Paris star? McDowell isn’t just a pretty face—he’s a talented writer and director in his own right! With a filmography that includes directing The One I Love (2014), plus episodes of Silicon Valley and Dear White People, he’s certainly made his mark.

Stream Emily in Paris on Netflix.