Lily Collins’ Most Memorable Roles Before Emily In Paris

She's one seriously talented actress.

lily collins emily in paris

by Bonnie McLaren |
Updated on

We absolutely adored Lily Collins in Emily In Paris. While some critics might have been less than impressed by the cliche filled series, we were captivated by Collins' Emily, her quick ideas and wit, her fashion sense, her questionable romantic decisions and her even more questionable social media account. And her eyebrows. We were also obsessed with her eyebrows. (We loved her eyebrows so much we even wrote an ode to them.{ =nofollow})

But obviously, this is far from Lily's breakthrough role, with the actress appearing in many films beforehand. (Did you know she started acting at the age of two, starring in BBC series Growing Pains?) Here we take a look at some of her most memorable roles.

Mirror, Mirror

In the same year that Kristen Stewart played Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman, Lily took on the fairytale princess in the lighter, more comedic interpretation Mirror, Mirror. Prince Charming was played by Armie Hammer, and Julia Roberts chewed the scenery as The Evil Queen. The New York Times said Lily Collins was 'armed and suited for action' in the role.

To The Bone

lily collins
©Netflix

Lily lost a substantial amount of weight to star in To The Bone, a film about eating disorder treatment, in probably her most controversial role. Even though she was understandably 'apprehensive' about taking part in the film, Lily said yes to playing the role of Ellen, a 20-year-old suffering from anorexia due to her own past battling with bulimia and anorexia in her teenage years.

She stars alongside Keanu Reeves, a doctor who specialises in eating disorders. It's painful to think how much weight she lost for the film, but her performance was incredible.

Mortal Instruments

In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray - that's Lily Collins - learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters - half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces.

The actress starred alongside Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan and Lena Headey in the urban fantasy film, based on the first book of The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.

Rules Don't Apply

Lily played the lead Marla Mabrey in this romantic comedy drama set in 1958 Hollywood. The actress is under contract to the infamous Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) meaning she isn't allowed a relationship with any of his employees. But then she meets her driver Frank Forbes, and they're put to the test as both of them are from religiously conservative backgrounds. Shhe was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes for the role.

Love, Rosie

Another rom-com for Lily. When best friends Rosie and Alex (Sam Claflin) are suddenly put to the test when Alex and his family move from Dublin to America. Critics weren't so happy with the cliches throughout the film, but they were able to forgive the leads' performances, with Rotten Tomatoes saying the pair were 'were appealing, and they give it their all, but they're undone by Love, Rosie's silly, clichéd storyline'.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Lily collins in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
©Netflix

Another controversial film, Lily starred in last year's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile which saw Zac Efron play serial killer Ted Bundy. In the movie, Collins plays Bundy's girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer - and she said that she believed she was visited, prior to filming, by the ghosts of Bundy’s victims. 'I would go downstairs and have a cup of tea, trying to figure out why I had woken up again,' she said, speaking to the Guardian. 'I started being woken up by flashes of images, like the aftermath of a struggle.'

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