McDowell says he doesn't watch Emily in Paris but backs Lily Collins

Malcolm McDowell has made a blunt personal confession about Emily in Paris: he does not watch the Netflix comedy-drama, but he remains unequivocally supportive of his daughter-in-law, Lily Collins. In a candor-filled interview, the 82-year-old actor said the show is not his cup of tea, yet he praised Collins as “one of the great actresses,” noting a “beautiful quality” and a magnetic on-screen presence that he believes sets her apart. He also suggested that Paris, guided in large part by Collins’ global profile, has benefited from her work, adding that tourism to the city may have increased as viewers decide to visit.

The comments come as the family at the heart of Emily in Paris continues to intersect with its on-screen career. Collins is married to McDowell’s son, Charlie McDowell, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Tove Jane, earlier this year via surrogacy. McDowell described his relationship with Lily and Charlie as loving but noted that geography keeps them from frequent in-person visits, with the family largely based in Europe while he resides in the United States. Despite the distance, he emphasized pride in Collins’ achievements and the...