On-screen she stars as the enigmatic Emily Cooper, with multiple love interests and an intoxicating Parisian dating life on Emily In Paris. In real life, she’s recently married to her partner Charlie McDowell – another child of famous Hollywood parents.
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Who is Charlie McDowell?
While fans probably know that Lily is the daughter of famous musician Phil Collins (at the very least, you’ll know him as the iconic man behind the Tarzan soundtrack – he popped off on that one) they may not know that Charlie is the son of the legendary actress Mary Steenburgen (Step Brothers, The Proposal) and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Halloween).
He’s also brother to Lilly McDowell Walton and step-brother to Kate and Alexis Danson, after his mother married actor Ted Danson (Cheers, The Good Place) in 1995.
Like the offspring of many Hollywood stars, Charlie also works in the film industry. But, unlike his famous parents, he’s more comfortable behind the camera working as a writer and director.
He served as executive producer and director of the 2014 film The One I Love, and has worked on shows including Dear White People, Silicon Valley, On Becoming A God In Central Florida and Dispatches From Elsewhere.
Thanks to his surname, many fans have actually assumed in the past that Charlie is the son of actress Andie MacDowell, despite the different spelling.
Because of this, Charlie’s got a long-running joke on Instagram that he is the son of Andie and regularly wishes his “mother” happy birthday. In 2020, Mary shared a video of her son face-timing Andie on Mother’s Day…
How did Lily Collins meet Charlie McDowell?
The 33-year-old actress and 39-year-old filmmaker were first seen together in July, 2019. They were photographed walking arm-in-arm through Los Angeles, with internet sleuths determining they met a few months earlier.
The couple went Instagram-official in August 2019, with Lily sharing a photo from a trip to Paris. He was literally not even visible in the snap, but it was the first time she shared an image featuring Charlie and captioned it “always got your back”.
From then, the pair became more and more social media friendly – posting snaps from special events, vacations and, eventually, their stunning engagement in 2020.
When did Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell get engaged?
Lily announced their engagement in September 2020, sharing a series of photos of her “one-of-a-kind rose-cut diamond” custom-made ring by jeweller Irene Neuwirth.
“I’ve been waiting my lifetime for you and I can’t wait to spend our lifetime together,” she wrote on her Instagram page. “The purest joy I’ve ever felt.”
“In a time of uncertainty and darkness you have illuminated my life. I will forever cherish my adventure with you,” Charlie added.
Charlie popped the question out amid stunning scenery in New Mexico, the perfect proposal location for the outdoorsy couple. While the engagement was met with joy from fans, the greatest response came from Charlie’s mother Mary.
“These two sweet hearts got engaged yesterday! Our family is over the moon to welcome Lily into our midst. Truthfully, she had us all at hello,” Mary wrote on Instagram.
“As a mom, this is what you dream of for your children…..to find a soulmate in life that gets you and wants you to be the best you can be. The two of them radiate joy and they make even this moment in time shine with hope and promise and laughter. I can’t stop smiling!”
When did Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell get married?
“We officially became each other’s forever!” Lily excitedly declared on Instagram in September 2021, after tying the knot in Dunton, Colorado.
The ceremony took place at Colorado’s Dunton Hot Springs, a luxury ranch situated in a former 1800s ghost town. Lily wore a custom long-sleeved Ralph Lauren gown for the wedding, with intricate white lace and a hooded cape.
“I’ve never wanted to be someone’s someone more than I do yours, and now I get to be your wife. On September 4th, 2021 we officially became each other’s forever. I love you beyond,” she said. “What started as a fairytale, is now my forever reality. I’ll never be able to properly describe how otherworldly this past weekend was, but magical is a pretty good place to start.”
Once again, a supportive message from Charlie’s mother was shared – and it’s sweet enough to bring a tear to your eye!
“Charlie, my son, and Lily, my daughter-in-law!” Mary wrote on Instagram following the wedding. “Thank you for letting us all bask in the sheer beauty of your love for each other. My heart is overflowing and it almost feels like the last few days were some sort of beautiful dream. But it is all real, and I feel like the luckiest mother in the world.”
Where did Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell go on their honeymoon?
After becoming engaged and tying the knot in outdoorsy locales, the couple enjoyed a suitably adventurous honeymoon through Scandinavia. Hitting up the Lofoten Islands in Norway, the rugged wilderness of Swedish Lapland and the city sights of Copenhagen in Denmark.
“Our Scandinavian honeymoon may be over but the adventure definitely is not,” Lily wrote on Instagram after their enviable trip.
“I can’t imagine a more memorable, magical first trip as newlyweds and way to officially begin our lives together. There’s no one I’d rather airplane hop and road trip with. Here’s to the many more epic experiences to come.”
Is Charlie a fan of Emily In Paris?
Mais oui! Not only has Charlie been a vocal supporter of his wife’s hit Netflix show, but he and the family actually travelled to France when filming began for season two in 2021.
Joined by Mary and Ted, Charlie stayed in Paris with Lily while she spent four months in the European city. Lily’s mother, Jill Collins, also joined them for part of the stay.
“I feel so lucky to have spent these last few months in this beautiful city,” Lily said. “I’m leaving here filled with so many amazing memories, special moments with my family, endless appreciation to our incredible dedicated and talented crew, and another season officially wrapped! Very excited to share it with you all soon. We’re heading home, but keeping a little piece of us here until the next time.”
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