Lily Collins Reflects on ‘Falling in Love’ with Husband Charlie McDowell While Filming “Emily in Paris” Season 1 (Exclusive)

Deirdre DurkanTue, April 14, 2026 at 4:15 PM UTC

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Credit: Lily Collins/Instagram -

Lily Collins says she and Charlie McDowell were “falling in love” while filming Emily in Paris season 1

She recalls romantic behind-the-scenes moments in Paris, including overnight shoots

Season 6 heads to Greece and Monaco as production begins next month

For Lily Collins, Emily in Paris wasn’t just a love story onscreen, it was the beginning of one in real life.

While reflecting on the romantic spirit of the hit Netflix series during an interview with PEOPLE at PaleyFest in Los Angeles on Friday, the actress, 37, revealed that some of her most meaningful memories from the early days on set had nothing to do with Emily Cooper’s love life — and everything to do with her own.

“My husband and I were falling in love while I was filming season 1,” Collins recalled fondly. “So for me, so many of the behind-the-scenes moments were with him, and the Royal Opera House, and being able to experience that with him, like on an overnight shoot, was so amazing.”

Collins met filmmaker Charlie McDowell in 2019 on the set of his film Gilded Rage, and their relationship quickly blossomed while she was in Paris shooting the first season of the beloved series. The couple went on to get engaged in 2020 and married in Colorado in September 2021. In January 2025, they welcomed their first child, daughter Tove Jane, via surrogate.

Lily Collins seen above in ParisCredit: Lily Collins/Instagram

Looking back, Collins says the show’s romantic DNA extends far beyond its central love triangles.

“In general, the show is a love letter to exploration of oneself, and I think a lot of that’s also done through the female friendships and the work relationships and the female camaraderie,” she explained. “So it’s a romance with the city, it’s a romance with oneself, and it’s about finding oneself.”

And while Emily in Paris may have amplified that energy, Collins insists her romantic side was always there.

“I think it’s always been there — maybe just there’s a new version of it, because I’ve been able to spend more time in Paris,” she added.

The actress’ reflections come as Emily in Paris gears up for its next chapter — one that promises even more romance and new breathtaking destinations.

The upcoming sixth season, which begins production next month, will take Emily to Greece and Monaco — two locations that feel tailor-made for the show’s signature blend of escapism and romance.

Collins and husband Charlie McDowell picturedCredit: Lily Collins/Instagram

“You know, last season, Gabriel was in Greece and sent Emily a post card, so there was a little bit of a promise that she would see him there,” creator Darren Star told PEOPLE at the event. “And I just think Greece is a place that I love — it’s so beautiful. It’s a nice place to take our characters.”

Director Andrew Fleming echoed that sentiment, noting that the show’s travel choices are always rooted in fantasy and aspiration.

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“The whole point of the show is it’s kind of at least having, like, the dream life,” he said. “So she’s going places you would want to go.”

As for Emily’s complicated love life, particularly when it comes to Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), fans shouldn’t expect resolution anytime soon.

“Well, their journey has many more chapters,” Fleming teased.

The series, which follows a young American marketing executive navigating life and love in Paris, has become a global sensation since its debut.

Collins posing for a selfie by the Eiffel TowerCredit: Lily Collins/Instagram

When season 5 dropped in December 2025, the beloved series racked up 26.8 million views in just 11 days and landed in Netflix’s Top 10 in 91 countries, hitting No. 1 in 24 of them, including France.

And if the creative team has its way, Emily’s story is far from over.

When asked how long the show could continue Fleming joked "for 200 years."

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During the Emily in Paris Q&A panel at PaleyFest — moderated by PEOPLE’s Editor-at-Large Janine Rubenstein — Collins shared the powerful advice she would give her character.

“Don’t underestimate yourself. I think Emily always believed in herself, but there was that slight, like new-kid-at-school vulnerability that sometimes got in her own way,” she said. “And I would encourage her not to underestimate her own voice. Even though you don’t speak the language, own the language that you do speak loudly.”

All five seasons of Emily in Paris are streaming now on Netflix.

on People

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