How Lily Collins’ love of science led to her winning amazing awards

Lily Collins will present the Breakthrough Award, which will be held at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.

Shane Anthony Sinclair/BAFTA/Getty Images

“This isn’t what people expect, is it?” Lily Collins jokes about her long-standing partnership with the Breakthrough Prize, which honors scientists for their contributions in fields such as fundamental physics and mathematics. On April 13, she will return to host the awards ceremony (cheekily referred to as the “Oscars of Science”). But in fact, Collins – who has been acting most of her life, first got her start playing Sandra Bullock’s daughter in 2009. The hidden side She was a bit of a science fan during her school days. called the star THR From Paris, where she is filming the fourth season of Emily in Paristo chat about her not-so-secret love of science anymore.

So, tell us how you got involved in the Breakthrough Awards.

To be honest, I don’t know why I got my first invitation to an award ceremony. That Was After I Did (2016) The rules do not applyAnd I was fascinated. Science was one of my favorite subjects in school, and oddly enough, I got to participate in the California Science Fair. I actually won a medal one year. My topics were more psychological, based on fear and body image.

Have you learned anything surprising since you started participating in this event?

I don’t think scientists get enough credit, so it’s great to honor them in this way and draw attention to their work in an entertaining way as well. I think this will be my fifth time there, and I met more interesting people at that dinner than I thought I would – like Nobel Prize winners. I like to ask them: “What are you doing?” I had them pretend I was one of their students and explain it to me that way.

Do your creative wheels start turning when you meet these people? Got any movie ideas?

This is very funny. It’s a great idea, actually. For me, as a producer and actor, and as a curious human being, I love understanding people’s styles, processes, quirks, and interests. Being able to talk to people in different fields that are completely foreign to my own can only diversify the characters I will develop or play one day. It’s important to have conversations with people outside of what I usually know and who I usually talk to. I remember one of the first years I went, The theory of everything He was coming out and people were talking about Stephen Hawking in a way that had never been seen before in entertainment, so I think the marriage between entertainment and science is very inspiring.

What career accomplishment have you achieved that means the most to you so far?

Working with David Fincher Mank. I never thought I would be nominated for a Fincher film. I was filming the first season of Emily, flew in from Paris for screen tests or training. Filming scenes with Gary Oldman, who is now a dear friend – I don’t know if he knew it at the time, but he guided me through a very important phase of my career. I learned that I can be mentored by someone who challenges me and it won’t break me. I learned about my strengths, ability to understand and take direction.

What are you most excited about right now?

My husband (Charlie McDowell), my producing partner Alex Orlowski, and I started a company last year called Case Study Films. We developed different things, TV and film, from the ground up, which is something I’ve never done before. I’m excited to see these projects come to fruition, and I hope to spend more time behind the camera.

Who do you look to for advice about working behind the camera?

I definitely talk to Charlie, who is a director, and to all the directors I work with as an actor. on EmilyI’ve become intertwined with—and embraced by—directors, producers, and writers as well, and I’m so grateful to them.

This story first appeared in the April 10 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.