Lily Collins, the 36-year-old star of Emily in Paris, is encountering significant backlash from a segment of fans following her announcement of portraying the late Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn in an upcoming biopic. The film, which remains untitled, will focus on the production of the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany's, drawing from Sam Wasson's book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast At Tiffany's And The Dawn Of The Modern Woman.
Social Media Criticism Erupts
On Monday, Collins revealed her role via Instagram, sharing a snapshot of Hepburn as Holly Golightly and a screenshot of a Deadline article. In her caption, she expressed being "honored and ecstatic," noting nearly a decade of development and a lifetime of admiration for Hepburn. However, the announcement quickly sparked controversy on platforms like X and Reddit.
Fans Question Casting Choice
One disgruntled fan on X remarked, "Seriously? They couldn't find someone more fitting than her? This feels off." Another critic highlighted the physical resemblance between the actresses but dismissed it as superficial, stating, "Having the same eyebrows doesn't mean you have the same soul." They elaborated, "Audrey was pure grace and depth; Lily Collins is pure Emily in Paris vibes. This is lazy aesthetic casting over actual talent. A legend like Audrey deserves more than just a lookalike."
Additional comments suggested alternative casting, with one person arguing that Ariana Grande would have been a better fit, exclaiming, "This should've been Ariana. Noooooo." Others questioned the film's premise, with a skeptic asking, "Is there something specifically interesting or exceptional about the making of Breakfast At Tiffany's? I mean, I've only ever heard the story that Capote wanted Monroe to star and that hardly sounds like enough material for a movie script?"
Debate Over Hepburn's Legacy
Critics also debated whether the film focuses on the most compelling aspects of Hepburn's life. One X user commented, "I'm not even inherently opposed to biopics, but if you're going to do a film about Audrey, this is like the least interesting part of her life to focus on. She lived through the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands as a child! She saved starving children with UNICEF!"
On Reddit, a harsh assessment read, "Not even a fingernail's amount of Audrey’s charm or talent. She wasn’t a star because of only her look; she had that 'Je ne sais quoi' that only a couple of stars every couple of decades have." Another user added a personal critique of Collins' previous work, stating, "I literally stopped watching Emily in Paris because the idea that all these men would be so taken by her was so incredibly unbelievable."
Collins' Response and Film Details
Despite the backlash, Collins has not publicly addressed the criticism directly. Her Instagram post emphasized her long-standing admiration for Hepburn, writing, "It's with almost 10 years of development and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey that I’m finally able to share this." The film, based on Wasson's book, is described as the first complete account of the making of one of Hepburn's most famous films, though its release date and full production details remain undisclosed.
This casting controversy highlights ongoing debates in the entertainment industry about the balance between physical resemblance and acting prowess in biographical portrayals, particularly for beloved figures like Audrey Hepburn.
