Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty

We can feel l’amour betweenLily CollinsandCharlie McDowell.

Unlike Collins’Emily in Parischaracter, who’s searching for romance in the City of Love, the 35-year-old actress is happily married.

After sparking dating rumors in July 2019, Collins and McDowell made their relationshipInstagram officiala month later.They eventually got engagedin 2020 andtied the knota year later.

In January 2025, Collins and McDowell announced the arrival of their first child, daughterTove Jane, whom they welcomed via surrogate.

Collins is well-known for her acting roles, while McDowell is a filmmaker who’s written and directed a variety of notable works, includingThe One I Love(2014),The Discovery(2017) andWindfall(2022),which stars Collins.

Similar to his wife, whose father is legendary rockerPhil Collinsand whose mother is actressJill Tavelman, McDowell’s family is also in the entertainment industry. His dad isA Clockwork OrangeactorMalcolm McDowelland his mom is Oscar-winning actressMary Steenburgen.

From film collaborations to starting a family, here’s everything to know about Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell’s relationship.

2019: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell meet

Lily Collins/Instagram

Collins met McDowell on the set of his film,Gilded Rage, in 2019. While the couple proved to have a solid working relationship, it eventually sparked into something more.

The actress revealed onLive with Kelly and Ryan, “It was one of those situations where I knew the second I met him that I wanted to be his wife one day. So, it was just a matter of when, really.”

AfterGilded Rage, the couple worked together again onWindfall. Collins opened up toVogue Australiaabout her experience, saying, “I thought it would be harder, I have to say. I thought it would be more stressful to have to work with him, but it honestly was really amazing and freeing.”

August 20, 2019: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell go Instagram official

Collins made her relationship with McDowell Instagram official when sheposted a sweet photoof her and her beau on Aug. 20, 2019. The photo showed Collins hugging McDowell from behind with the caption, “Always got your back…”

The location of the post says Paris, France, which leads us to believe they were enjoying the City of Love together while Collins was filming the first season ofEmily in Paris.

Collins later revealed onLive with Kelly and Ryanthat McDowell would visit her on set and they would explore the city together.

“He did come out a few times. And we did roam the streets and get lost on the cobblestone alleyways a few times,” she said. “I miss that the most. The idea of being in Paris, taking a scooter, going to museums, eating and even taking the Eurostar to London and Bruges … everything is so romantic,” she added.

December 18, 2019: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell adopt a dog together

In addition to tagging McDowell in the photo, part of her caption read, “It was absolute love at first sight and I know we’re going to have so many incredible adventures ahead. Welcome to the family!”

(Did we mention the dog even has his own Instagram? You can follow him at@redforddog!)

January 13, 2020: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell make their first public appearance together

Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Collins and McDowell made their first public appearance at the Staples Center for a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 13, 2020. Since sitting courtside in L.A., the couple has publicly taken their relationship around the world.

September 25, 2020: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell get engaged

Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell.Lily Collins/Instagram

Collins and McDowell announcedtheir engagementon Sept. 25, 2020, in front of a stunning New Mexico setting.

Paired with acarousel of photos(including a close-up of herrose-cut diamond ring), Collins captioned her post, “I’ve been waiting my lifetime for you and I can’t wait to spend our lifetime together…”

McDowell also posted a photo of Collinsflashing her rockwith a sweet caption that read, “In a time of uncertainty and darkness you have illuminated my life. I will forever cherish my adventure with you.”

November 30, 2020: Lily Collins says she and Charlie McDowell are “soaking in being engaged”

Two months after getting engaged to McDowell, Collins toldExtrathey were still"totally soaking in being engaged."

Collins added that until she got engaged she never wore rings on her left ring finger. “It wasn’t like I was superstitious, I was just like, ‘I’m saving that finger.'” she said. “Even in photoshoots, I’d be like, ‘No, no, no …’ I was always saving it, so now it’s like, ‘Oh, right, like, it has its place, it’s finally found the right ring to put on.'”

September 4, 2021: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell get married

Chrlie McDowell, Lily Collins.Cedar & Pines Photography

About one year after announcing their engagement,Collins and McDowell wedon Sept. 4, 2021, in Dunton, Colorado. The couple shared photos of their beautiful, fairytale-looking ceremony along with romantic Instagram captions about each other.

Collins shareda photo of them kissing at the altar, writing, “I’ve never wanted to be someone’s someone more than I do yours, and now I get to be your wife. On September 4th, 2021 we officially became each other’s forever. I love you beyond @charliemcdowell…”

Meanwhile,McDowell captioned his post, “I married the most generous, thoughtful, and beautiful person I’ve ever known. I love you @lilyjcollins.”

October 2021: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell honeymoon in Scandinavia

Lily Collins Instagram

On Oct. 12, Collinsshared stunning picturesfrom herrecent honeymoon with McDowellon Instagram, including a photo of the newlyweds kissing. She wrote in the caption, “Our Scandinavian honeymoon may be over, but the adventure definitely is not.”

Collins continued in the caption: “I can’t imagine a more memorable, magical first trip as newlyweds and way to officially begin our lives together. There’s no one I’d rather airplane hop and road trip with. Here’s to the many more epic experiences to come…”

The previous day McDowell alsoshared several photosof the trip on his Instagram, writing in the caption, “We love you, Scandinavia. Thank you for an adventure and honeymoon of a lifetime. See you next time.”

Charley Gallay/Getty

McDowell directed hisfiancéein the 2022 Netflix filmWindfall. In an interview withVogue Australia, Collins said that working together on set wasn’t a challenge.

“Honestly, it was so easy working together. I would forget that it was him,” Collins said, jokingly adding, “He just said, ‘I haven’t heard the word genius yet.'”

“I thought it would be harder, I have to say,” Collins said. “I thought it would be more stressful to have to work with him, but it honestly was really amazing and freeing. It was great, and I’m really, really proud of the movie, and I’m proud of him. It’s a different type of role for me.”

However, McDowell said there was one aspect of directing Collins that he found “a little distracting,” and that was “whenJesse Plemons, who’s a very good friend of mine, is picking her up and kissing her.”

“I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. There’s something off about this. My good friend is kissing my then-fiancée,'” he toldEntertainment Tonight.

March 22, 2022: Lily Collins says Charlie McDowell “believes” in her during interview

Lily Collins/instagram

In an interview withCBS Morningsto promoteWindfall, Collins, again praised working with McDowell as a director.

“He treats everyone the same, and there were very few of us in the cast so we all had a very intimate, collaborative experience that sometimes I would forget that it was my Charlie as opposed to Charlie-my-director,” said Collins. “It was so fun.”

Collins also attributed the praise received for her role to McDowell’s continuing support.

“I honestly attest so much of it to Charlie,” said Collins onCBS Mornings. “There’s something very specific that he saw in all of us, we all play against type. But for me, specifically, that he saw in me, and he got out of me that I haven’t been able to do. [He] creatively believes in me sometimes, maybe more than I believe in myself.”

Collins added, “Again, as a spouse and a director, you want that person to say, ‘No, you can do this,’ and push you creatively.”

September 4, 2022: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary

Collins marked her and McDowell’s first anniversary with a sweet post onInstagram.

The actress shared black-and-white photos from her wedding, including snaps of her and McDowell walking arm-in-arm and another of the happy couple dancing.

She added, “And I love you with the deepest parts of my soul…”

McDowell acknowledged the milestone with his ownpost, sharing a photo of his wife smiling. “A year ago I married my hero. You make every place shine brighter and better,” he wrote. “I am in awe of your kindness and beauty every single day. I will try to keep up.”

He finished the caption with, “I love you forever @lilyjcollins.”

September 28, 2022: Lily Collins shares sweet note from Charlie McDowell on final day of filmingEmily in Paris

Back in June,McDowell wrote Collins a handwritten noteon her first day of shootingEmily in Parisseason 3. The actress then shared it on Instagram to mark her final day of filming.

The note read: “Have a great first day, Emily. You show those high heels who’s boss! [Love] C”

When sharing the well-wishes from McDowell, she added her own note. “From the first day until the last day, thank you for supporting and encouraging me @CharlieMcDowell,” Collins wrote. “It’s almost time to hang up the heels again.”

October 8, 2022: Lily Collins says she can “conquer anything” with Charlie McDowell

“We can kind of conquer anything,” Collins toldE! News. “We’ve been through so many changes globally, personally, and to be able to have a partner next to you that makes you laugh in times when you need it the most and helps you emotionally get through things, like moving to a foreign country for four months.”

TheEmily in Parisstar continued: “I just feel so grateful that I have someone next to me to be able to accomplish that and your best friend with you all the time.”

October 16, 2022: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell attend the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles

Collins and McDowell stopped to take a few photosbefore entering the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. TheEmily in Parisstar stunned in a sheer black top and a floral Dior skirt with a thigh-high slit, while McDowell looked dapper in a Ralph Lauren tuxedo.

December 6, 2022: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell attend the season 3 premiere ofEmily in Paris

The couple walked the red carpet together at the Paris premiere of Collins’ hit Netflix series. McDowell looked handsome in a tweed suit that complemented his wife’s camel-colored gown.

“Last night was nothing short of a dream. I couldn’t have asked for a more stunning Paris premiere filled with so much love and celebration,” Collins wrote onInstagram.

February 8, 2023: Lily Collins shows off pictures from a trip to Scandinavia with Charlie McDowell

Collinsshared photos on Instagramfrom a trip with McDowell to Scandinavia, where the pair went on their honeymoon two years earlier. TheEmily in Parisstar included a picture of herself snacking on a boat as well as a sweet shot of her and McDowell kissing on the street.

“Smitten in Scandinavia…” she wrote in the caption.

May 6, 2023: Lily Collins has engagement and wedding rings stolen

While at the Edition Hotel spa in Los Angeles, Collins’ engagement and wedding rings werestolen from a secured locker. A source told PEOPLE that there was no evidence of forced entry. The police report valued the items at “over $10,000.”

September 4, 2023: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell celebrate two years of marriage

In honor of their wedding anniversary, Collinspenned a sweet poston Instagram about McDowell.

“Two years today and a lifetime to come. I remember this moment, this day, this excitement as vividly as if it were yesterday. And I feel the love, the support, and the magic 100 times more,” she captioned photos from their wedding day. “I adore you @charliemcdowell and I couldn’t be more grateful to be your other half in life and in love.”

February 27, 2024: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell attend Paris Fashion Week

Laurent VU/SIPA/Shutterstock

The couple enjoyed a “date night” at the Yves Saint Laurent show duringParis Fashion Week. Collins turned heads in low-rise floral pants and a black vest, while McDowell looked chic in an all-black ensemble.

September 4, 2024: Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell celebrate three years of marriage

In honor of their third wedding anniversary, Collins penned a sweet post on Instagram about McDowell.

“Happy anniversary to the man who makes me laugh harder than anyone,” she wrote. “Three years held in your arms has beenthe greatest gift. I adore you @charliemcdowell. More than I know how to say. And to think, the best is still to come…”

McDowell responded with his own post, writing, “Happy third anniversary to the best person there is. Love you so much.”

October 27, 2024: Charlie McDowell says working with Lily Collins is a “really special experience”

Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins in 2024.Dave Benett/WireImage

Dave Benett/WireImage

While talking to PEOPLE, McDowell had nothing but positive things to say about working alongside his wife on film projects.

“Lily and I have an amazing relationship as a couple and then that always bleeds into a working relationship,” he said. “Whatever story we’re telling, it is really exciting to be able to work and be creative with your partner. It’s areally special experience.”

January 31, 2025: Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins announce the arrival of their first child

Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins; Daughter Tove.Gettty;Lily Collins/Instagram

Gettty;Lily Collins/Instagram

The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Tove Jane, via surrogate.

McDowell and Collins announced the happy news onInstagram, writing, “Welcome to the center of our world Tove Jane McDowell. Words will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way. We love you to the moon and back again…”

source: people.com