Q&A: Lily Collins is ‘Emily in Paris,’ Rome and Barcelona

ROME (AP) — First Paris, now Rome and next Barcelona — Lily Collins is taking on two more European cities.

As the star and producer of “Emily in Paris,” she’s been playing the unlucky-in-love marketing executive, breaking hearts (including her own) in France for the past three seasons of the Netflix show.

That changes in part two of the fourth season when, in her usual dramatic fashion, Emily heads to Italy. The cast, including Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Lucas Bravo, Ashley Park and Camille Razat, were all in Rome this week to premiere the new episodes releasing Thursday. Getting away from Paris is something there might be more of in future seasons, as writer and creator Darren Star says he’s happy to take this show on the road.

Although he rules out changing the title.

“No, it’s ‘Emily in Paris,’” says Star. “But Emily can have experiences in other cities and I think Rome is a part of the show now. It really is.”

Barcelona comes into play this October when Collins makes her West End debut opposite Álvaro Morte of “Money Heist” in a stage thriller named after the Spanish city.

Luckily, filming “Emily in Paris” in public places has helped give the actor the boost to become a leading lady on the stage.

“It did give me a bit more confidence, an understanding of performing in front of a large crowd this year,” Collins says. “It just ironically happened to be the year that I would then be doing theater right after.”

In a recent interview with The Associated Press in Rome, Collins explains why it’s the right time for her London stage debut and how filming in Rome allowed her to channel Audrey Hepburn’s on-screen Italian adventure in “Roman Holiday.” It has been edited for brevity and clarity.

COLLINS: Yes. I mean, I love her. There is no ever replicating her, but she is someone that I’ve grown up admiring.

COLLINS: No, I think those were (the) two. “Roman Holiday” — there’s an essence of her the whole time. Because if you’re here — how can you not, you know?

COLLINS: Stunning.

COLLINS: We went around so many times, which was funny because then tourists, of course, are noticing that there’s this massive machine and then a car with a Vespa attached to it. And then we are going on an actual Vespa. But then there’s also the transport vehicle. So like, what are they filming? And then once they figured out it was our show, it was fun.

It was also surreal because you’re going around the Colosseum and everything in Rome is beautiful and ancient. And I was pinching myself, but it was amazing to be able to explore another city. I’d been to Paris before the show, so playing (Emily) who was coming to it fresh, was a character. Whereas this time, I’d been to Rome but never fully explored or been here for a long period of time. So it was a whole new adventure, but genuinely for me as well. And it was more of a vacation mode for Emily, which I was happy for her. I was like, “You go, girl. You get a little vacay.”

COLLINS: I definitely hope so. We’re just, you know, waiting (crosses her fingers). But it would be really nice to explore more of Italy. I think there’s so much here. But I don’t know.

COLLINS: I’m very excited. But of course, I’m also nervous. And it’s a whole new world for me. I did theater as a kid, but this is something I’ve been dreaming of my whole life. And the West End is the West End. But it really feels just surreal and I love my team that we’re working with. I think it’s a beautiful, beautiful script. And the theater is one of a kind, I love the Duke of York (Theatre) and our director (Lynette Linton). It’s a wonderful, wonderful group.

COLLINS: Yes exactly (laughing). All the different cities around Europe.

COLLINS: It’s all about timing as well because ... doing theater is something I’ve always wanted to do. But it is a time commitment that when you’re doing something like “Emily in Paris,” that is also the biggest time commitment. It’s making sure that it fits in at the right time. But it also isn’t just about that. It’s the project. When I read “Barcelona,” I went, “This is it.” And, “How do I make this happen? What time do we have? How do we make it happen with the theater?” You know? So it was a bit of a Tetris-type of thing, but to me it’s a different medium, it’s a different skill set, it’s a different experience.

This season, because “Emily in Paris” is more known, when you’re out and about in the streets, it does become a bit of live theater because you can’t control people watching all the time. And so sometimes there are scenes, when you’re near (Emily’s) apartment building or you’re in Rome or you’re in the mountains skiing, where there’s hundreds of people that just show up to watch. And so it is a bit like theater. You are performing for an audience that weirdly doesn’t know the storyline, though, so it’s a little bit the same and a little bit different. It’s like, “But you won’t see this for a few months, so please don’t spoil it!” Whereas with theater, it’s in the moment.

Actress Lily Collins arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Lily Collins arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actresses Ashley Park, left, and Lily Collins arrive at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Lucas Bravo and Camille Razat arrive at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Camille Razat arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actor Samuel Arnold arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actor William Abadie arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actor William Abadie poses as he arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

From left, actors Paul Forman, Ashley Park and Lily Collins arrive at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actor Bruno Gouery arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actor William Abadie arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The cast of "Emily in Paris" poses before the premiere in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Lily Collins arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The cast of "Emily in Paris" poses before the premiere in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Ashley Park arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Lily Collins arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actors Paul Forman, left, and Ashley Park arrive at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Lily Collins arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The cast of "Emily in Paris" poses before the premiere in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actress Lily Collins arrives at the premiere of "Emily in Paris", in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

TURIN, Italy (AP) — New Zealand dominated Italy everywhere except the scoreboard in a tour-ending 29-11 win in autumn rugby on Saturday.

The All Blacks wanted to sign off 2024 in style and send off departing stalwarts Sam Cane and TJ Perenara with a flourish after five weeks in Yokohama, London, Dublin, Paris and Turin.

But Italy, humiliated by the All Blacks 96-17 last year at the Rugby World Cup, gave a passionate, committed effort to restrict New Zealand to its lowest score in this matchup in 15 years.

New Zealand was held to 17-6 until the last 10 minutes when it conjured tries for backs Mark Tele'a and Beauden Barrett while Italy was down to 14 men.

But those tries were split by Italy's one and only try, to Tommaso Menoncello served up by his center partner Juan Ignacio Brex.

New Zealand carried for more than twice as many meters, beat 31 defenders, but suffered from 18 handling errors, only one more than Italy.

Italy saved its best for last this autumn after being thrashed by Argentina and struggling past Georgia.

The Italians, privileged to play the first non-football match in a sold-out Juventus Stadium, were on it from the outset, and Paolo Garbisi and Beauden Barrett traded penalties.

Moments after All Blacks captain Scott Barrett was sin-binned for a dangerous clearout, scrumhalf Cam Roigard snuck through the middle of Italy's ruck defense for the first try in the 24th minute.

Monty Ioane typified Italy's defense when he made a try-saving tackle on Will Jordan from behind, got up, and made another try-saver on Wallace Sititi, forcing a forward pass.

But Jordan typified the All Blacks' class, as Italy ran out of defenders and his 38th try in 41 tests passed Jonah Lomu on their all-time try-scoring list.

After the All Blacks survived Italy's siege of their try-line after halftime — though repeated fouls saw center Anton Lienert-Brown sin-binned — Italy then repelled 16 phases by New Zealand at the expense of replacement prop Simone Ferrari's yellow card for too many fouls, too.

Ferrari helped the All Blacks, but they also got a lift from their bench, notably from Perenara, who had led his last All Blacks haka. As he came on, fellow World Cup winner Cane departed to wide applause after his 104th and last test.

Italy's defense led by No. 8 Ross Vintcent with 21 tackles and Menoncello's 14 continued to swarm while a man down, but the All Blacks ruthlessly exploited the advantage to give the scoreline a flattering look.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand perform the haka head of the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan, left, and Italy's Ange Capuozzo compete for the ball during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Mark Tele'a makes a break during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs at the defence during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

New Zealand's Will Jordan is tackled by Italy's Monty Ioane during the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match between Italy and the All Blacks at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)