Meet Lily Collins’ fellow nepo baby husband, Charlie McDowell: the Emily in Paris actress – and Phil Collins’ daughter – met Malcolm McDowell’s director son on the set of Gilded Rage in 2019

Aug 15, 2024

Charlie McDowell with his wife Lily Collins and their dog; Charlie McDowell in a recent Instagram post. Photos: @charliemcdowell/Instagram

While Emily in Paris’ lead character’s romances are very much all over the place, Lily Collins’ real-life relationship with her husband Charlie McDowell is the epitome of couple goals

He’s the son of English actor Malcolm McDowell and American actress Mary Steenburgen, and previously dated Kristin Chenoweth, Rooney Mara and Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke

The fourth season of Emily in Paris is set to come out this summer, with the first five episodes airing on August 15, and the second set releasing on September 12, as reported by British Vogue.

Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell attend an event in Los Angeles in August 2021. Photo: GC Images

We already can’t wait for Lily Collins to return to the screen in the titular role of PR guru Emily Cooper and find out what’s in store for her character’s love life – as well as what eccentric fashion numbers are in the line-up.

While Emily Cooper’s romances are very much all over the place – as we learned at the end of the last season – Lily Collins’ real-life relationship with her husband Charlie McDowell is the epitome of couple goals. Here’s what we know about the British-American actress’ hubby.

Charlie McDowell also has famous parents

You may be aware that Lily is a nepo baby herself, being the daughter of English musician Phil Collins, but her husband Charlie McDowell also hails from Hollywood roots. He is the son of English actor Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Halloween, Time After Time) and American actress Mary Steenburgen (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Proposal, Step Brothers).

In a 2014 conversation with Interview Magazine, McDowell talked about his upbringing. “My parents are in the business – they’re actors – so I kind of grew up on a film set, which was a funny place to grow up.” He recalled, “My mom was in this film called Parenthood (1989) with Steve Martin and a bunch of people. I was a little kid – I think I was six or something – and I was an extra in the party scene where Steve Martin is dressed up like the cowboy. I was sitting there in the blazing-hot sun, and I remember thinking, ‘This is the worst job in the entire world. Why would anyone want to do it?’”

He’s a film director and screenwriter

Charlie McDowell and wife Lily Collins after enjoying a meal at Noma in Copenhagen, in 2023. Photo: @charliemcdowell/Instagram

McDowell, 41, has since formally joined the world of showbiz, but works behind the camera as a director and screenwriter. He has made films including The One I Love with Elisabeth Moss and Windfall with his now-wife Collins, and TV series like Dear White People.