Lily Collins has shared rare insight into her life as a new mother, admitting she’s ‘still learning how to manage everything’, nearly 11 months after the birth of her first child.
The actress, 36, revealed in February she’d welcomed a daughter named Tove Jane with her husband Charlie McDowall via surrogate.
Posing for a striking shoot with ELLE Spain, Lily admitted that becoming a mother has taught her that she ‘doesn’t have to be perfect anymore’.
The star is also set to star in the upcoming fifth season of Emily In Paris, which will be released on Netflix on December 18.
While reflecting her new role as a mother with her on-screen alter-ego Emily Cooper, Lily also swapped her character’s quirky and colourful looks for a string of sexy outfits, including a plunging black bralet and a leather trench coat.
Asked whether she still views herself as an ‘extreme perfectionist,’ Lily said: ‘I think having a baby changes your priorities and your perspective on so many things that, when you go back to work or other activities, it’s more appealing not to be perfect because you can no longer be hyper-focused solely on yourself.Â
Lily Collins has shared rare insight into her life as a new mother, admitting she’s ‘still learning how to manage everything’ as a new parent, nearly 11 months after the birth of her first child
The actress revealed in February she’d welcomed a daughter named Tove Jane with her husband Charlie McDowall via surrogateÂ
Posing for a striking shoot with ELLE Spain , Lily admitted that becoming a mother has taught her that she ‘doesn’t have to be perfect anymore’
‘This, interestingly, has calmed my nerves because I’ve discarded the idea of ​​an ideal version of myself. Now, what’s important is that I can be present for my family and my work, and I’ll do the best I can, but perfection doesn’t count, it doesn’t matter.’
The star went on to say: ‘I’m still learning how to manage everything. I’m new to motherhood, but my goal is to be present wherever I am. If I’m at home, I want to be 100% there, but I also want to be present at work.Â
‘So I make sure I choose projects I’m truly passionate about, because they’re going to take me away from home, which now has a much deeper meaning.’Â Â
Earlier this year, the Netflix sensation announced the birth of her first child with a simple post showing the baby resting peacefully.
She wrote in a caption for her 29 million followers to read, ‘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…’Â
While the actress was inundated with congratulations from fans, she has also faced criticism for joining the ranks of Hollywood stars who have welcomed a baby via surrogacy.
Some social media users attacked the actress and her spouse for taking part in the ‘unethical trend,’ which, critics argue, involves ‘rich people renting women’s bodies.’
While reflecting her new role as a mother with her on-screen alter-ego Emily Cooper, Lily also swapped her character’s quirky and colourful looks for a string of sexy outfits
The star went on to say: ‘I’m still learning how to manage everything. I’m new to motherhood, but my goal is to be present wherever I am’
Some have evened likened it to ‘human trafficking.’
Others speculated that Lily, along with other A-list celebrities, might have chosen to ‘opt out’ of pregnancy to preserve their looks.
McDowell, 41, hit back at the critics, writing online: ‘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.
‘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. That’s all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper.’
Read the full interview in ELLE Spain, on sale now.
