Heralding from rock royalty, Lily Collins has spent much of her career quietly determined to be known for her own work, not just as the daughter of Phil Collins.
It’s a path that has proven fruitful, with nominations for the likes of Emmys, MTV Awards, and Golden Globes, most notably for her leading role in the Netflix show, Emily in Paris.
“It’s a challenge to be in the limelight when you are the offspring of someone who has done so much,” she admits. “Of course, things were different growing up and that’s undoubtedly given me a different perspective on life, but the passion I have to do something important and impressive is no different to that of someone who didn’t grow up with such an obvious inspiration around them.
“I’ve made a very conscious effort not to ask my father for support. I didn’t want that to be a factor. I adore him and he’s really my best friend, but I wanted to feel that whatever success I’ve achieved, I earned it on my own. I would never even use my father’s name to get into parties in Los Angeles. I just don’t want to be that person.”
For Lily, the drive to perform is innate.
“In my heart, I would say you are either driven about drama and performance, or you aren’t,” she continues. “It’s inherent and you can’t change that.”
Now, Collins has returned as Emily Cooper in season five of Emily in Paris, which expands the show’s glamorous footprint to Italy, too. “This season is a tale of two cities: Rome and Paris,” creator Darren Star says, offering fresh romance, high fashion and another bold chapter in Emily’s ever-evolving story.
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