Actor Lily Collins
She started acting when she was two years old (in BBC comedy-drama Growing Pains), and has a series of serious acting credentials under her thespian belt, but Vogue Arabia’s November cover star has only recently been the talk of Hollywood thanks to her controversial Netflix series Emily in Paris, about a marketing exec from Chicago who goes to Paris to offer the American point of view. The show, which she co-produced, has been criticized for its cliches and stereotypes of French living, but love or hate the show, Collins is getting the global attention she deserves.
Here are eight things you didn’t know about our cover star Lily Collins:
Her Dad Is Famous
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
It’s hard to believe many don’t know this already, but her dad is eighties and early nighties hitmaker Phil Collins. Her mother (the musician’s second wife) is an American actor and former president of the Beverly Hills Women’s Club, Jill Tavelman.
She Was Actually Born In England
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
Despite her American accent, Collins was born in Guilford, England. However, she moved to Los Angeles with her mother when she was five years old, following her parents’ divorce.
She’s A Trained Journalist
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
She studied broadcast journalism at the University of Southern California and had a regular column called NY Confidential with British Elle Girl and contributed to Seventeen, Teen Vogue, and the Los Angeles Times. In 2017 she also wrote a book, Unfiltered: No Regrets, No Shame, Just me.
She Wears Many Hats
Lily Collins in the music video for M83’s Claudia Lewis
While her curriculum vitae already has author, journalist and actor, Collins is also a successful model – she’s the global beauty ambassador for Lancôme. She has also worked as a TV presenter for Nickelodeon and starred in music videos, including M83’s Claudia Lewis.
She’s A Big Philanthropist
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
The actor works with several charities, and causes including Unicef and various cancer foundations. She sits on the board of The Maple Counseling Center (TMCC), which provides mental health care services, and even designed a collection with designer Mary Norton with proceeds going to TMCC.
She’s Engaged
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
Collins is engaged to writer and producer Charlie McDowell, best know for the movie The One I Love. The couple have been dating since 2019 and announced their engagement in September 2020.
She’s A Harry Potter Fan
Photo: Instagram/@lilyjcollins
A proud bookworm, Collins devours books and is a huge J.K Rowling fan. She also loves Jane Austen, citing Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet as one of her favorite characters.
She’s At One With Nature
She’s a lover of the great outdoors. Not only is she good at water sports – she recently picked up surfing – but is also a competent water skier. She once boasted, “I’m good! I’ve been water skiing since I was four and a half.” The star is often posting about her outdoor adventures, camping and explorations on Instagram.
Checkout Lily Collins’s exclusive interview and shoot in the November issue of Vogue Arabia.
Read Next: Lily Collins Just Stole The Show At Her Latest Premiere In a Gown by this Arabic Designer
