Lily Collins is making serious waves as of late as she stars in the Netflix hit, Emily in Paris. Yet while her titular character lives a relatively carefree life, things behind the scenes for Collins aren’t always so easy-breezy.
In her 2017 memoir, titled Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, Collins got vulnerable with fans about the complex relationship she shares with her father, Phil Collins. The former frontman of “Genesis” divorced the To The Bone star’s mother, Jill Tavelnan, when Collins was just five years old. He then moved from their home in England to Switzerland, where he ended up living for 20 years.
As Collins shared in her memoir, the move caused a serious strain on their relationship, and she grew up feeling “angry” and “insecure” about her father’s constant absence. According to the Mirror, Mirror actress, her parents’ divorce was a contributing factor to her eating disorder, which she reports struggling with on and off since her teenage years. “I began limiting my happiness by controlling my eating habits,” Collins confessed in Unfiltered (via The Daily Mail.) She later wrote, “Many of my deepest insecurities stem from these issues with my dad.”
As most people know, Phil Collins was one of the biggest musicians of the 80s and 90s. As a result, the “Genesis” frontman was constantly recording music, on tour, and engaging in rockstar behavior that took him further and further away from his parenting duties.
Unsurprisingly, this left The Blind Side actress heartbroken and deprived of the typical father-daughter relationship.
The ‘Emily in Paris’ Star ‘Forgives’ Father For His Past ‘Mistakes’
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Although the Love, Rosie actress got raw about the frequent struggles she faced in her youth due to her father’s absence, she was adamant about wanting to build a closer bond with him.
In an attempt to extend the olive branch to the “You’ll Be In My Heart” crooner, Collins wrote a chapter in Unfiltered, in which she addressed her father head on. In the chapter titled “A Letter To All Dads,” the actress wrote a deeply personal message to the “Turn it On Again” singer, which she hoped her young fans could use to mend their own personal relationships with their fathers, should they need to.
In the heartfelt letter, Collins wrote, “I accept and honor the sadness and anger I felt toward the things you did or didn’t do, did or didn’t give me. I forgive the mistakes you made. And although it may seem like it’s too late, it’s not. There’s still so much time to move forward.”
Where Do Lily Collins and Phil Collins Stand Today?
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Although the British-American actress admitted in a 2022 Instagram post that she and her father “may not spend time together that often,” she loves and admires him deeply.
Most recently, Collins praised the “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” singer in a heartfelt Instagram Post, which she released on Father’s Day, 2024. Alongside an adorable picture of the Tarzan musician holding the Emily in Paris star as a child, she captioned the post by writing, “Happy Father’s Day, dad. I’m sending more hugs to you than ever and I’m beyond grateful for you today and every day. My words won’t be able to do it justice but… you know. I love you to the moon and back again…”
Is Lily Collins’ Daughter’s Name an Homage to Tarzan?
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Eagle-eyed fans of Collins reacted with pure nostalgia and joy over the fact that the Emily in Paris star named her daughter Tove Jane, specifically concentrating on the “Jane” of it all. Many fans have speculated that this might be a reference to the main character, Jane, in the Disney film Tarzan, in which her father Phil Collins composed the iconic score.
Although Lily Collins hasn’t publicly revealed whether her daughter’s name is a reference to the classic Disney film, she has shared a telling Instagram video which shows the Emily in Paris star playing Phil Collins’ music for her baby. “Tove beginning her musical education,” she wrote in the caption, as she sang along to her father’s music (per ABC News.)
Which of Lily Collins’ projects are you most looking forward to next?
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