Since its debut on Netflix on October 2, season one of Emily in Paris has divided audiences all over the world. Like Bridgerton and Normal People, Emily in Paris became so popular with viewers that season two has officially begun filming.
Despite being a frivolous rom-com, the show received a lot of flak for its improbable premise, dependence on cultural stereotypes, and astounding repetition of every single American-in-Paris cliché ever. Supporters, meanwhile, enjoyed the show’s light touch and complete absence of realism.
Love it or loathe it, chances are you’ve watched it and are eagerly anticipating the release of season two. Here are 10 of the most fascinating facts you probably never knew about Emily in Paris.
» Gabriel used to be a chef in real life
Early in the series, Emily is impressed by Gabriel, the hot downstairs neighbor, for his cooking skills, which actor Lucas Bravo was able to draw from his own experience. In an interview, he stated, “A few years ago, I was a sous chef in a restaurant. “When I first got the scripts, I was like, ‘Oh, wow, this is definitely for me, I’m definitely going to use these skills.'”
» Emily can't speak French but Lily Collins can
Because she doesn’t know any French, Emily has trouble getting by at work. By the end of the show’s 10 episodes, she had learned little more than bonjour, merci, and where the library is. “I used to speak and dream in French, read in French, and was pretty fluent,” she told Glamour. But after that, I quit practicing.
» Ashley, Lucas and Samuel lived together during filming
Lucas Bravo, who plays Gabriel, Ashley Park, who plays Mindy, and Samuel Arnold, who plays Julien all moved in together during production. “We moved in together and it was just so much fun,” Bravo told Cosmopolitan.
» It was filmed entirely in Paris
All of the renowned landmarks you see were actually photographed on location because the series was totally shot in Paris. Only one scene was filmed outside of Paris, and that was when Emily, Camille, and Gabriel traveled to Camille’s ancestral home in the Loire Valley. The team stopped by a local winery for a wine tasting while the set was being built, according to Bravo’s statement to EW.
“It was a lot of fun to see people exchanging glasses and buying boxes of wine while we were actually working.”
» This is why Lily was drawn to the role of Emily
Emily resonated with Collins because “she sees ‘no’ as a comma, not a period”, the actor shared. She revealed that she was constantly told no and lost out on lots of auditions early on in her career. “If I had just accepted those ‘no’s,’ I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today.” Collins added that she’s also a huge Star fan and “when I was in high school, we devoured all of Sex and the City.” She went on, “Darren has a sharp eye for creating fantasy worlds in which audiences love to disappear into while also tackling relatable and humorous issues.”
» Emily is at least 25 years old, even though Lily Collins believed she was 22.
Despite Emily possessing a Masters degree and appearing to have the necessary expertise for an international move, actress Lily Collins told British Vogue that she believed the character was probably approximately 22 years old. She said: “I don’t believe we’ve ever given her a specific ‘number’ for her age, but I believe that she’s pretty fresh out of college. Her first year after graduating may be this one. She is, roughly speaking, 22 years old. She has worked at her Chicago-based company long enough to command the respect of her employer. She is incredibly intelligent and inventive, and this is not her first time performing what she does. She has completed internships and gone to school for this.
» It was created by Sex and the City's Darren Star
You wouldn’t be mistaken if you were watching the show and thought, “This dress looks very similar,” as Darren Star rehired SATC costume designer Patricia Field to work on Emily in Paris. According to Field, Emily’s tulle skirt at her first significant work party is a nod to Carrie’s tulle skirt in Sex and the City’s season finale. Her “Emily” earrings also pay homage to Carrie Bradshaw’s well-known “Carrie” necklace.
» Mindy is really singing, its real
Ashley Park plays Emily’s best friend Mindy, a nanny and aspiring singer. Her significant Broadway achievements include her debut in Mamma Mia! in 2014, The King and I in 2015, and most famously her portrayal of Gretchen Wieners in the Mean Girls musical, which earned her a Tony Award nomination in 2018. Her resume also includes a long list of other notable roles.
» The opera moment took everyone's breath away on set
Collins pays homage to Audrey Hepburn while out on a date with a problematic man, whom she subsequently dumps so she may apologize to fashion designer Pierre Cadault. Speaking about the scene, Bravo told EW: “She was stunning and everybody in the room stopped breathing. It was a unique occasion.”
» The writing team lived in Paris as part of their research
Creator Darren Star told Glamour that in order to write a more realistic plot, he had the entire writing staff live in Paris. “I knew it would inform their writing since some of the writers hadn’t experienced Paris,” he said. “In this manner, it would assist them in reflecting Emily’s experience and discovering the intricacies and realities of the circumstance.”
Wowww..Had no idea about these facts😍
Really enlightening😍
THANK YOU ANUJA THAT WAS HELPFUL