Exclusive Interview: Lily Collins and Emily Cooper's Bond
“Emily in Paris” must be at the top of most of our ‘guilty pleasure’ lists. So what is the situation like for the actors of a series that we have bonded with for four seasons? L’Officiel and Lily Collins, who plays our main character Emily Cooper, got together and got a bird’s eye view of the bonds she has established with her character.
If Emily was your best friend in real life, what would you say to her?
Just breathe and take a second. Slow down a bit, put your phone away and just enjoy the moment!
So, do you think Emily is being too hasty?
Actually no. In fact, I think in the fourth season, she learns to put her phone down and live in the moment and embrace vacation mode. But she has a structure that wants to do everything, fix everything and constantly move forward. But sometimes, you just have to stop and be calm... That's what Mindy tells her. It's nice to stop for a moment .
Did you gain anything personally from Emily over the four years of filming, or how did she shape you as a person?
Yes, in many ways. I mean, we are very similar, but I had to find the differences to create the character. She is a solution-oriented, independent thinker. She believes she can fix anything. I learned a lot from her about thinking quickly and navigating ideas and problems quickly. Also, Emily's vulnerability and her ability to express all her emotions allowed me to be more open about crying and asking for help. I learned from her that I don't always have to be strong or look like I know what I'm doing.
It's amazing! Emily has such a close relationship with fashion and uses it as a language of expression. Has your relationship with fashion changed after playing this character?
I've been obsessed with fashion for as long as I can remember, so this role was a dream come true for me. But I can say that because of the character, I took a lot more risks; colors, textures, patterns, shapes, designers... That encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, to pick something up and try it. If I feel like I'm different every day, to express myself, why wouldn't I try different versions of myself through clothes? Emily definitely helped me do that. I probably simplified her style a little bit and focused more on cuts. So we both benefited from each other, I guess.
"Just breathe and take a second. Slow down, put your phone away, and just enjoy the moment you're in!" - Lily Collins
In the series, we see Emily dating four men from different cultures. How do you think people from different cultures such as British, American, French and Italian affect their relationships?
I think with each one, she learns a little bit more about herself and what she needs in a partner. Alfie is British so he can be a little bit more witty and a little bit more sarcastic. Marcello is Italian so he has a more romantic side. Doug was American, Gabrielle is a bit of a mystery and a hard character to figure out. So Emily is really trying to figure out what's important to her and what's not. You can only learn that through experience. Knowing what you don't like is as important as knowing what you do like. And I think Emily realizes that.
Why do you think her relationship with Gabrielle failed, or did it fail at all?
I don't think it was a failure. I hope we get another season and explore more of what we felt at the end of this season. But I think Emily is just trying to find herself. If she had looked at all of her experiences as failures, she wouldn't be where she is now. Emily is on that path, growing and learning. I think she just needs to stop overthinking and focus on living in the moment. If someone shows you who they are, believe them.
No matter what she does, we love her. So, if it were up to you, what other cities would you like to see Emily in?
I don't want to give any spoilers, but I would love to have Emily in Tokyo. It would be incredible to have her there with the different culture and aesthetics. Emily would look at everything with fascination and try to explore everything by touching it. I think it would be really fun to see her in Tokyo.
Interview: İnan Kırdemir
Translation: Cansu Karakus
