As Emily in Paris captivates audiences with its fifth season on Netflix, fans of the hit series are delving into the real-life romantic history of its leading lady, Lily Collins. While viewers follow Emily's escapades in Paris, Rome, and Venice, many are just uncovering the actress's highly publicised past relationship with a fellow Netflix superstar – Stranger Things icon Jamie Campbell Bower.
From City of Bones to Calling it Quits
Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower's romance began over a decade ago, long before either actor reached their current levels of fame. The pair first met on the set of the 2012 fantasy film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Their connection sparked a relationship that would play out very publicly, captivating fans throughout the 2010s.
Their initial romance lasted until 2013, when they parted ways. However, in a twist worthy of a screenplay, the couple rekindled their relationship in 2015. Collins famously marked their reunion with an Instagram post showing the pair kissing, accompanied by the caption: "Life works in mysterious ways..."
An On-Again, Off-Again Love Story
Despite fan support for the couple, their reconciliation was short-lived. Reports indicated they had split once more by the end of 2015. Yet, the story wasn't over. In January 2018, they appeared to patch things up again, engaging in flirty exchanges on social media.
Their final split came in the summer of 2018, with sources describing the breakup as amicable. By this time, Bower's career was on the cusp of a major shift, soon to be propelled into the global spotlight with his chilling portrayal of Vecna in the fourth season of Stranger Things.
Love at First Sight and a New Chapter
Today, Lily Collins's love story has a very different leading man. The actress is now married to filmmaker Charlie McDowell, son of actors Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen. The couple met in 2019 on the set of Gilded Rage, where McDowell was directing.
Collins has described their meeting as "one of those cheesy-but-true love-at-first-sight things." Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, she expressed surprise that their paths hadn't crossed earlier, given their shared industry and both having parents in the entertainment world.
Their relationship moved quickly. They got engaged during a 2020 road trip in New Mexico and married in 2021. The couple expanded their family in January 2025, welcoming a daughter, Tove Jane McDowell, via surrogacy.
Meanwhile, Jamie Campbell Bower's career continues to soar following his standout role in Stranger Things, proving that for both stars, life after their headline-making romance has been filled with both professional success and personal happiness.
