LILY COLLINS CRASH 70

By Crash redaction

LILY COLLINS IS A RISING STAR WITH A FACE EVERYONE WILL RECOGNIZE AND NONE CAN FORGET. DAUGHTER OF LEGENDARY SINGER PHIL COLLINS, THE LOVELY 25 YEAR-OLD BRUNETTE WAS BORN IN THE UK BUT MOVED TO THE US AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. MOTIVATION, HARD WORK AND PASSION HAVE PROPELLED LILY ON HER WAY TO A FINE CAREER. AFTER LANDING THE LEAD ROLE AS SNOW WHITE IN TARSEM SINGH’S “MIRROR MIRROR”, SHE IS NOW OUT IN FRONT ONCE AGAIN AS THE FACE OF SCOTTISH CASHMERE HOUSE BARRIE KNITWEAR, PART OF CHANEL MÉTIERS D’ART. NO DOUBT SHE WILL BE ONE TO WATCH FOR YEARS TO
COME! WITH HER UNDENIABLE CHARM AND INFECTIOUS ENTHUSIASM, LILY MET WITH US TO TALK ABOUT HER CAREER, HER LATEST ROLE IN CHRISTIAN DITTER’S “LOVE, ROSIE” AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK WITH WARREN BEATTY…

Did you always want to be an actress? How did it all begin for you?

I always knew I wanted to become an actress. Growing up, I loved telling stories and dressing up. I was a very creative kid, so I think working in the arts was inevitable for me. Like everybody, I auditioned a lot and I was told no many times. still, I continued to work hard and eventually I got my first role in “The Blind side” by John Lee hancock. I’m still
auditioning for parts. It’s essential to keep on working hard.

What was the most decisive moment of your career? Or your favorite moment?

I would say it was the day that I got the part of snow White in “Mirror Mirror”! I actually auditioned just the day before. I was in my hotel with my mom, I got a phone call and they told me I had been chosen for the role. I remember just crying and crying, I was so happy! It really was the role of a lifetime for me.

In “Mirror Mirror” you got to work with Julia Roberts, and you also acted alongside Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”. How does working with such renowned actresses influence your acting?

It’s such an incredible experience to be able to work with them and I find it very empowering. The fact that they are both also mothers and that they brought their children on set is very inspirational. It gives me hope that, one day, I can have a family and continue doing this job that I love. On set, I used to watch them, how they engage, and pay attention to the questions they ask the director. It’s always such a great inspiration!

You quickly emerged as a fashion icon when you were named the new face of Lancôme. You’ve collaborated with other fashion brands, too. Is fashion a particular interest of yours?

I’ve always been obsessed with fashion since I was little. My mom and I share this same interest. I love vintage clothes and I’m really interested in learning about the designers. I got to work with Karl Lagerfeld, which was such an incredible experience. I never thought I would get the chance to work with him in my life! The collaborations I did in fashion were such humbling experiences, and I actually wanted to become a fashion designer when I was younger. I did model for a while, and as I mentioned, I love to dress up. Sometimes I get more excited meeting photographers than actors or directors!

You’re now the ambassador of Barrie, the Scottish knitwear brand. What was it like to shoot the first two campaigns with Karl Lagerfeld? And how did the project with Barrie first take shape?

I met Karl about six years ago. I absolutely adore him. he’s just so lovely and so funny but you can tell he has an old soul. he knows what he wants. he’s aware of every detail and has such an endless creativity. It was an absolute dream to work with him. I already posed in front of his camera for Harper’s Bazaar, and I feel so lucky to have been able to work with him again. With Barrie, it all began as I was attending the chanel Paris-Dallas show last season. I saw Karl there and a few days later, chanel contacted me and asked me to be the face of Barrie, owned by chanel Métiers d’arts. I couldn’t believe it! I was so thrilled that I said yes right away.

What do you like about Barrie?

I love to be comfortable in my clothes while still having this element of chic. Barrie is the perfect marriage of those two elements of my style – that’s why it was a fairy tale for me to have the opportunity to embody this beautiful brand. I was also so happy to shoot the second campaign with Karl, the team was great and everyone was so lovely. shooting Barrie for crash was great as well. I really loved working with the French team: it’s way more laid back and relaxed than in the Us. The styling was so cool and very much what I like to wear. It was understated chic!

Who are your inspirations in fashion and film?

I love great actresses like Meryl streep, Natalie Portman, cate Blanchett, Jessica chastain. I love them both for what they’ve accomplished as actresses but also for their fashion sense. I’m always in love with their red carpet appearances and their glamorous style. I adore helen Mirren; I think she is so captivating on screen. It’s funny because I notice now that my fashion and film inspirations go hand-inhand. They are women who are not afraid to be themselves. They are strong empowered women who have this incredible ability to fully commit to their characters.

How would you define your personal style?

I’m only 25 so I guess I’m still experimenting with my style. I want to keep things fresh and young but still try to look classic and chic. I love the style of iconic old hollywood
actresses like audrey hepburn and Katharine Hepburn. Quite a Parisian style actually! I also try to have an edgy, new side to my style, and for that my stylist is incredible. he sometimes selects items that make me think, “are you sure about that?” But he understands me so well that he always makes it work for me and
it turns out beautiful. But the two most important elements of my style are definitely comfort and chic.

You’ve obviously been traveling a lot for work. What are your favorite destinations?

I’m going to Taiwan in a few weeks for Lancôme, and then I’m taking off to Tokyo for the promotion of “Love, rosie”. I really love asia, there’s so much energy! I’m also going back to rome whenever I can, which is a city that I truly love.

Europe has a special place in your heart. Do you have any favorite French movies, actors or directors?

audrey Tautou and Marion cotillard are two of my favorite French actresses and I love their films. I used to study French at school and I really liked it. We were studying old French films by Jean renoir or Jean-Luc Godard, so I came to love this black and white, poetic aesthetic those movies have. It really breaks with the action movies we have here in the Us and Los angeles in particular – I find that very refreshing. When I was studying French, I was so into it that I used to even dream in French! I would absolutely love to do a foreign movie, and to star in a French movie would be a dream!

“Love, Rosie” is your latest movie. It’s already a worldwide success and it will soon be released in France. What appealed to you about the script?

I’m a big fan of romantic comedies! One of my favorite movies is “Love, actually”, and I think “Love, rosie” pretty much has the same tone. also I love the character of rosie. she’s a young girl going through life. We get to live her tribulations with her, from high school to becoming a mom and her relationship with her best friend. I really like that I got to portray a subject like teenage pregnancy, and show a deeper side of my character in themovie. Not only was I thrilled by the script but it was incredible to work with christian Ditter, the director, and I got along so well with my co-star sam claflin. It was pivotal to feel that chemistry, and it was just great to work with him.

What are your next projects for the big screen?

I just finished an untitled movie project by Warren Beatty, which is currently in postproduction. I also have a couple other things on the horizon…