Latest news with #CharlieMcDowell
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lily Collins cuts a chic figure in a stylish embroidered dress as she and husband Charlie McDowell enjoy a break from parenting duties at day seven of Wimbledon
They became proud parents to a baby girl earlier this year. And Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell enjoyed a well-earned break from parenting duties as they joined a slew of stars at Centre Court on day seven of the Wimbledon Championships on Sunday. Heading to London's famous All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, the Emily In Paris star, 36, was dressed in a stylish striped sundress with an intricate embroidered bodice, teamed with gold flats. Attending as guests at the Emirates suite, the couple posed for snaps together as they joined names including Andrew Garfield and Poppy Delevingne at the tennis. Earlier this year in January, Lily and Charlie announced that they welcomed their baby girl to the world via surrogate - and the director later clapped back at 'unkind' surrogacy comments. Sunday saw Sonay Kartal's fine Wimbledon run end with a fourth-round loss to Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while Cameron Norrie narrowly secured victory over Nicolas Jarry in a five-set thriller. At the time, the actress took to Instagram to share a picture of the newborn who was resting in a tiny bed with a white blanket hanging over the edge that had their daughter's name on the front. 'Welcome to the center of our world Tove Jane McDowell,' the Mirror Mirror actress wrote. '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…' Collins has since given updates to her fans on social media as she continues to enjoy motherhood. Not long after Lily and Charlie revealed that they have become parents, McDowell soon hit back at criticism over the decision to have their first child via surrogacy. 'In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby – it's OK to not be an expert on surrogacy.' The star - who is the son of A Clockwork Orange actor Malcom McDowell - added, 'It's OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It's OK to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume. 'And it's OK to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people's lives.' Charlie concluded with, 'That's all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper.' Collins had previously opened up about her desire to have a family - and revealed that dream had helped her in overcoming an eating disorder. During a past interview with Us Weekly in 2017, she explained: 'Everyone has a different form of recovery. I never had an "aha" moment.' 'My reason to finally start talking about [my eating disorder] was the moment I realized I wanted a family. I wanted kids. I didn't want this to be something I bring into that.'
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- The Guardian
Travels in Moominland: summer in Tove Jansson's Finland
It's after 10pm and the sky has only just lost the high blue of the day. Sitting by the Baltic Sea, toes in the water, I gaze at distant, tree-covered islands as gentle waves lap over the long, flat rocks. I follow a rough, winding path back to my cabin, through woods so quiet you can hear the pine needles fall. I'm in Santalahti woods, near Kotka on the south-east coast of Finland, on the trail of Finnish author, novelist, painter and illustrator Tove Jansson (1914-2001). Best known as creator of the Moomins, and for her love of island living, Jansson also wrote for adults. Last year, her first novel, The Summer Book, was made into a film starring Glenn Close and directed by Charlie McDowell. One film critic has described it as 'an ode to Finnish archipelago nature'. The Summer Book is a series of 22 vignettes on island summer living, featuring a young girl, Sophia, and her grandmother. I first read the slim volume in the early days of the Covid lockdown. During that uncertain, fearful time, and every year since, reading it has been a balm, a reminder to slow down and pay attention. I've come to Finland to explore Finnish summer living, fill my lungs with archipelago air and try to find a little of the stillness and wonder that Jansson's writing gives me. In Finland, summer is to be savoured. The south of the country receives just six hours of daylight a day in winter, and in the far north the sun remains below the horizon in December. It's this darkness that makes Finns revere and celebrate summer. Schoolchildren get a 10-week summer holiday, and most Finns take July off work. Summer is mostly spent in one of the half a million summer cottages, known as mökki, usually by a lake or on one of the tens of thousands of islands scattered along the coastline. Amenities vary, but there's a deep affection for traditional rustic cabins: off-grid, without electricity or running water, and definitely no wifi. Cottage living, or mökkielämä, is focused on slow living in harmony with nature: time in the woods, in the sea, picking berries, and relaxing in the sauna. I begin my journey on Pellinki, in the Porvoo archipelago, about an hour east of Helsinki. This part of Finland is bilingual. (Like 80% of Pellinki residents, Tove Jansson was a Swedish speaker; in Swedish the island is called Pellinge). It's a quick hop across the water on a free ferry into a different, slower pace of life. Through the woods I spy dozens of cute red and yellow painted cabins, each by a stretch of water. Tove spent many childhood summers on Pellinki, and she drew her first Moomin cartoon here – on the wall of an outhouse – as a teenager. To generate extra income, island families would rent their homes for the summer, moving into an outbuilding. Tove's family rented the home of the boat-building Gustafsson family. Abbe Gustafsson, the same age as Tove, became a lifelong friend and the children turned their daily chore of milk collection into an elaborate challenge: there were trees to be navigated in one direction, streams to jump over and 'evil' cracked rocks to sprint past. This childhood game was the inspiration for The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My, which has been adapted into the puzzle-solving outdoor Island Riddles trail. Clues are in rhyme, and I try a few, filtering water to make the next clue rise to the surface in a small well, and hunting for a red umbrella in the trees. 'You just have to play like a child and use your imagination,' Erika Englund, a local who devised the trail, tells me. From the woods you can see the small island of Bredskär, where the Jansson family built a house in 1947. Craving further solitude, Tove built a cabin on the even tinier island of Klovharun in 1964, where she spent 28 summers with her life partner, graphic artist Tuulikki Pietilä. The couple lived a very simple life here, with the island, each other, and their vast imaginations for company. The landscapes of Pellinki, Bredskär and Klovharun are easily recognisable throughout Tove's work in all mediums. The sea and the weather play a central role: storms rage, belongings are lost and found in the sea, and life is lived with respect for the elements. Porvoo is the nearest town to Pellinki and a stopping point on the way to the archipelago. The old town is one of the best preserved in Finland, built after a catastrophic fire in 1760. I wander through the winding streets, admiring the colourful wooden homes and learning about the town's history as a salt trading port, with Birgitta Palmqvist from Porvoo Tours. I stay at the handsome art nouveau-style Runo hotel in the town centre. The building has been a bank and the town library, and now has 56 minimal, Finnish-style rooms, changing art displays and an award-winning breakfast. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion On the outskirts of Porvoo I visit Kannonnokka, where a sauna has been partly built into rock deep in the woods. Sauna culture is essential to Finns: in 2020, Unesco recognised Finnish sauna culture as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and there are an estimated 3.3 million saunas in a country of 5.6 million people (though everyone I speak to gives a higher number). Even in the tiny cabin on Klovharun there was a sauna in the cellar (more important than running water). Kannonnokka sauna is kept at 60C for longer, laidback sessions, with dips in the cold plunge pool and gently warm whirlpool bath. Afterwards, the young couple who run the venue cook delicious pancakes over the fire. As a young artist, Tove painted murals for local buildings in towns along the Finnish coast. In Kotka, 50 miles east of Porvoo, a huge fairytale mural remains on show in the town's youth work department. It's a delight, with layers of stories, hidden Moomin characters and gemstone embellishments. In Hamina, a neighbouring town, panoramic fantasy scenes decorate the walls of the town hall: mermaids flirt with cadets under water and shipwrecked treasure fills Hamina harbour. In Kotka, I visit Maritime Centre Vellamo, where Courage, Freedom, Love! A Moomin Adventure launched this year (it runs until March 2027) to mark 80 years since the first Moomin book was published. Children can play inside a replica Moomin house, clamber on the rocks surrounded by an animated sea, and dress up in a little theatre. Also on display is Tove and Tuulikki's boat, Victoria, built for the couple by Abbe Gustafsson. From Kotka I catch a free ferry to Kaunissaari (90 minutes). The island's name translates to 'beautiful island' – fitting, given its pine forests, long white beaches and pretty marina. The harbour is a cluster of red wooden cottages with wildflower gardens, and boat sheds with spooled fishing nets outside. There's a fascinating island museum, packed to the rafters with memorabilia from centuries of hardy island living. I follow winding paths through the trees to find a long, sandy beach, which I have all to myself. I can't resist a swim – even without a sauna to plunge into. I warm up at Kaunissaaren Maja restaurant, where the simple salmon soup recipe has not changed in 70 years. Near Kotka I stay in my own little summer cottage. The amenities are basic: a kitchen diner and one bedroom, but of course a sauna. I set it to heat then spend an hour walking through the woods and around the bay, watching the sunset. The long daylight hours are perfect for happihyppely, a Finnish concept translated literally as 'oxygen hopping': taking a short walk for fresh air and exercise. Back at my cabin I jump between the heat of the sauna and dips in the icy Baltic Sea. I exhale, with the night, the light and the summer stretching out in front of me. I can see why Tove Jansson loved this coastline: all I need for a dreamy summer is right here. The trip was provided by Visit Finland. Runo Hotel in Porvoo has doubles from €171 B&B. Self-catering cabins at Santalahti resort start from €89 (sleep two); sauna cottages from €198 (sleeps up to four)
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lucien Laviscount praises Lily Collins for balancing motherhood with Emily in Paris filming
It's all action - and a bit of fizz - on the Emily in Paris set as Lucien Laviscount gives us the inside scoop on what it's really like filming the hit Netflix show with new mum Lily Collins. Now in its fourth season, the cast are currently shooting in Rome before heading back to Paris - but according to Lucien, the real star of the show is Lily, who's juggling motherhood with her leading-lady duties like a total pro. 'She's doing everything,' he tells us. 'She's got a newborn, she's doing it all — and she's doing it with such grace… I'm gonna use the word 'paza'. I've never used the word paza in my life, but she's got that.' Lily welcomed her first child, Tove Jane McDowell, on January 31, 2025, via surrogacy with her husband, Charlie McDowell, sharing the good news on Instagram at the time. READ MORE: The One Show's Alex Jones rushes daughter to hospital again as she shares update READ MORE: Where's Liv Dingle star Isobel Steele now after heartbreaking Emmerdale exit Lucien, 32, who plays heartthrob Alfie in the series, says reuniting with the cast has been like no time has passed at all. 'It's so bizarre… life's been going on for everyone, but it only feels like a couple of weeks,' he says. 'We're getting the scripts through, it's like, 'Oh sh*t, this is crazy.' It's going off!' He also had us laughing talking about his Schweppes campaign — a cheeky nod to his Caribbean roots and growing up with ginger beer at his grandma's. 'Schweppes was like the fancy stuff we bring out at Christmas,' he shared, adding with a grin, 'It was like a perfect little match, to be honest.' Filming continues over the summer with plenty of drama ahead - both on screen and off - and Laviscount promises this season is one to watch. 'Everyone's really excited about what's to come,' he says. 'It's all there to play for, really.' Fizzing with energy, we say! After months away from filming Emily In Paris, Lily's return to set was always going to be a welcoming affair. But Netflix star brought the entire set to a standstill as she returned to work with her four month old daughter in tow. Back in January, Lily and Charlie welcomed their daughter via surrogate. Sharing her happy news with her 29 million followers, Lily posted: "Welcome to the center [sic] 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…" Unfortunately, both Lily and Charlie were criticised by a few people on social media for using the aid of a surrogate to fulfil their dreams of becoming parents, as they claimed they had bought the privilege. While others likened surrogacy to "human trafficking." This forced Charlie to publicly address the comments and labelled the comments as "unkind." He wrote: "It's OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It's OK to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume." A month after the birth, Lily took to Instagram once again to share with fans how Valentines Day took on a new meaning for her now that she was a mother. On February 14, she wrote: "I truly can't imagine feeling more love. Valentine's Day (and every day) just got a whole lot sweeter.' Lucien Laviscount is Schweppes' brand ambassador - starring in two short films, featuring its new purple Tropical Soda, to inspire more of those special social moments with loved ones this summer.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lily Collins says Charlie McDowell 'was born to be a dad'
Lily Collins thinks Charlie McDowell was "born to be a dad". The 36-year-old actress took to social media on Father's Day (15.06.25) to heap praise on her husband, thanking Charlie for "taking the best care" of their daughter Tove. The brunette beauty - who announced in January that they'd welcomed a baby girl via surrogacy - wrote on Instagram: "Happy first Father's Day @charliemcdowell. Tove is the luckiest little girl in the world to be yours. Seeing you with her is the most beautiful thing. You certainly were born to be a dad and you continue to amaze me every single day with the countless ways you protect and nurture her, make her laugh, and shower her with adoration. Thank you for taking the best care of our little T and of course big brother @redforddog. What would we do without you? We love you so so SO much… (sic)" Lily recently revealed that she "couldn't be more grateful" to be a mother. The actress took to Instagram in May to celebrate her first Mother's Day. Alongside a photo of Lily cradling her baby girl, the Emily in Paris star wrote: "My first Mother's Day. No words can describe this new journey, this new life. I love you with all of my heart Tove, with all of the parts of it that have grown deeper since the day you were born and all of those I never even knew existed. You have expanded my world, broadened my horizons, and widened my smile more than I knew was possible. And to think, it's only the beginning. I couldn't be more grateful or honored to be your mum… (sic)" Lily - who is the daughter of music star Phil Collins - announced the arrival of her baby girl via an Instagram post earlier this year. The Hollywood star - who has been married to Charlie since 2021 - wrote at the time: "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… (sic)"
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Lily Collins channels her Emily In Paris alter-ego with a chic beige look as she takes a break from filming season five to attend the 2025 French Open Men's Final at Roland Garros alongside Natalie Portman
Lily Collins took inspiration from her Emily In Paris alter-ego as she watched the much-anticipated Men's Final at the 2025 French Open on Sunday. The actress, 36, who is the midst of filming season five of the Netflix hit, cut a chic figure as she wore a black knitted jumper which she layered under a beige blazer. Lily accessorised her look with a pair of frameless black-tinted sunglasses as she watched Carlos Alcaraz go head-to-head with Jannik Skinner at Roland Garros. For the outing, Lily showed off her classy sense of style as she styled her shiny raven tresses into a sleek straightened bob. Lily appeared to be in top spirits for the outing as she was cheering and clapping alongside her husband Charlie McDowell. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Charlie cut a casual figure for the outing as he stepped out in a navy blue and red striped YSL shirt. Also present was Natalie Portman who looked in great spirits as she kept a low profile in the stands in a Christian Dior straw sun hat and shades. Keeping it stylish she paired a white shirt with a pink skirt while smiling during the match. Meanwhile, Adèle Exarchopoulos cut a casual figure in a blue denim shirt Lacoste jacket and kept a low profile with a pair of black sunglasses. Natasha Andrews and Pierre Garoos looked elegant in white as they opted for similar outfit aesthetics. Izabel Goulart looked incredible as she stepped out in an oversized structured blazer and orange-tinted eyewear. She was joined by Kevinn Trapp who looked handsome in a navy two-piece suit which he layered over a black T-shirt. Antione Dupont opted to add a hint of glamour to his look as he wore a navy buttoned up Louis Vuitton shirt. She kept the sun off her face with a designer Christian Dior straw sun hat and shades Lily appeared to be in top spirits for the outing as she was cheering and clapping alongside Charlie McDowell Charlie cut a casual figure for the outing as he stepped out in a navy blue and red striped YSL shirt layered over a black T-shirt Marisa Abela kept it casual in a pair of straight cut jeans and navy cardigan Adèle Exarchopoulos cut a casual figure in a blue denim shirt Lacoste jacket and kept a low profile with a pair of black sunglasses Alongside him Iris Mittenaere looked stunning in a grey double-breasted trench coat and oval sunglasses. The French Openis a major tennis tournament that is being played on outdoor clay courts and held at the Roland Garrosin Paris from 25 May to 8 June 2025, comprising singles, doubles, mixed doubles play, junior and wheelchair tournaments. Coco Gauff conquered Roland-Garros for the very first time after coming from behind to defeat the top-ranked Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. This marked the second Grand Slam of Gauff's career, having also claimed the 2023 US Open title. The world No 2 became the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. To tee up Saturday's showdown, Gauff beat Lois Boisson in the semi-final, while Sabalenka edged past world No 5 Swiatek. And in an ungracious press-conference after the final, Sabalenka argued that Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had she progressed past the semi-final.
