It was a gloomy, rainy, 40-degree evening, but on a blue carpet at the French Consulate General on the Upper East Side last week for a special screening of season 3 of “Emily in Paris,” the cast was as colorful as the show .
Lucien Laviscount, who plays Emily’s British boyfriend Alfie, grinned as he strolled past the line of reporters in a neon pink suit with matching sneakers. Filipino Leroy-Beaulieu, who plays Sylvie, Emily’s French boss, shyly raised an eyebrow at the cameras as she tilted her head to show off a large silver arrow that pierced her right ear over an asymmetrical black dress.
Kate Walsh, who plays Emily’s American boss, Madeline, struck a pose in a long white dress, sticking out her left leg to show off a bold thigh-high slit above a sheer black mesh panel. She was accompanied by her fiancé, Andrew Nixon.
The star of the show, Lily Collins, appeared in a sparkling white long-sleeved minidress covered in silver bows, black tights and sparkly silver platform shoes, and the blunt bangs her character, Emily, cut in the first episode of the new season . (“Trauma bangs,” as Emily’s roommate Mindy, played by Ashley Park, calls them.)
Emily is under pressure as the third season of the Netflix series returns on Wednesday. She faces big choices at work and in love. Should she stay with her Chicago boss, Madeline, at Savoir or with her French boss, Sylvie, at her new marketing firm? And should she hold out hope for the unavailable Gabriel, played by Lucas Bravo, or embark on a long-distance relationship with her London crush, Alfie?
Ms Collins and Ms Park said they found it relatable to Emily reaching for the scissors amid crippling indecision.
“I had a life-changing haircut when I was, I think, 26,” Ms. Collins said. “I cut off all my hair — it was a pixie cut — and I went to the Vanity Fair Oscars party and people were like, ‘What happened?'”
Ms Park, who wore a purple and black zebra print dress and black latex boots, said she wanted wavy hair when she was in seventh grade. “But I got a perm, and it was way too much, so I had to wear my hair in this bun I called ‘the pineapple’ for a year!” said Mrs. Park, her dark brown eyes accentuated by bright purple eye shadow.
Jeremy O. Harris, the “Slave Play” playwright who plays designer Gregory Dupree on the show, didn’t hesitate when asked if Emily should return to Chicago.
“She just needs to get away from men,” he said, wearing a white patterned jumpsuit and a long-sleeved red bolero.
“There is too much romance in Paris,” he added. “I think she should stay in Europe, but I want to see ‘Emily in Berlin’ or ‘Emily in Italy’.”
Darren Star, who created the series, said the show will stick to the title, though – at least for this season.
“Emily is in Paris right now,” said Mr. Star, wearing a black suit. The series has been renewed for a fourth season, and he hopes it will continue.
“If they want us back, we’ll come back,” he said. “I think there’s more story to tell.”
Of course, Paris has so far proven an inexhaustible sense of entertainment for viewers as Emily navigates cultural differences like a double cheek kiss and an office that doesn’t open until 10:30am
“It was definitely funny that Emily went to the office so early,” says Camille Razat, who plays Camille, a Parisian socialite and a rival for Gabriel’s affections. Mrs. Razat wore a long-sleeved red dress and matching opera gloves. “We work to live, not live to work,” she said.
French actor William Abadie agreed. He plays Antoine, the owner of a perfume company who is a client of Savoir’s. “I live in America and I came here because I wanted to be an actor, but also because I respect professionalism,” he said.
However, the show’s French and American cast members shared one thing: an affection for the beret, the round, flat felt hat Emily wears for at least half a dozen in the show’s first two seasons.
“I have a lot of berets,” Mr. Harris said, his eyes lighting up.
“I have a winter beret, a summer beret. …” said Mrs Walsh.
The show’s French cast members had little personal experience wearing it, though they were not opposed to the idea.
“Why not?” said Mr. Bravo, wearing a black velvet suit.
“I never wear them,” Mr. Arnold said. “I think I would,” he added, “but I like my hair too much.”
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