Lily Collins performed her first screen role at age two in the BBC sitcom Growing Pains, beginning a career that bridged childhood appearances with adulthood stardom in film and television. Her trajectory spans major studio productions, indie features, and global streaming projects, establishing her as a versatile presence in contemporary visual media throughout the 2010s and 2020s.
Background and Education
Born in Guildford in 1989, she is the daughter of English musician Phil Collins and American Jill Tavelman. Following her parents' divorce in 1996, she relocated to Los Angeles. Her education included time at the Harvard-Westlake School and the University of Southern California, where she studied broadcast journalism. In 2007, she participated in the Bal des débutantes in Paris.
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In the late 2000s, she transitioned into more frequent acting and modelling work. Her breakthrough arrived in 2009 with a supporting role in The Blind Side, which became the highest-grossing sports drama in history. Early film credits include the thriller Priest, the action film Abduction, and the 2012 fantasy film Mirror Mirror, where she also performed the song I Believe (in Love).
Critical Recognition and Diverse Performances
Her performance in the 2016 film Rules Don't Apply earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She portrayed an individual living with anorexia in the 2017 drama To the Bone, a performance that drew critical praise for its vulnerability. Her work in biopics includes roles in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Tolkien, and Mank.
Television and Producing Work
She starred as Fantine in the BBC miniseries Les Misérables from 2018 to 2019. Since 2020, she has portrayed the lead character in the Netflix series Emily in Paris. This role resulted in further Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including recognition for her work as a producer. In 2017, she published her memoir, Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.
Fast facts
- Born: 18 March 1989, Guildford
- Citizenship: United Kingdom, United States
- Education: Harvard-Westlake School, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- Memoir: Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me (2017)
- Notable TV Series: Emily in Paris (2020–present)
- Religion: Christianity
Questions readers ask
Did Lily Collins write about her personal life?
Yes, she wrote a 2017 memoir titled Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, which covers her experiences with mental health and body image.
Has she received major award nominations?
She has received nominations for a Golden Globe Award for her performances in Rules Don't Apply and Emily in Paris, as well as a Primetime Emmy nomination for her production work.
Achievements
- Worked as actor, model and film actor
