When we last saw Emily Cooper, her life was kind of in shambles. Rattled by Camille calling off her wedding to Gabriel and revealing that she’s pregnant, Alfie breaks up with Emily, and her relationship with Gabriel is left up in the air. When Emily in Paris season 4 begins, the Paris transplant still has a big decision to make between Alfie & Gabriel and though she makes one, things get quite complicated.

Complicated is Emily’s middle name, though. She juggled friendships and relationships with ease — most of the time. Emily in Paris season 4 sees her tackling more than ever before, including a big ad campaign featuring her and Alfie, her efforts to get Gabriel a Michelin star, and her own career at Agence Grateau.

Collins has played the plucky Parisian for over 4 years now and the star is more excited than ever for the series that she has become synonymous with. Screen Rant sat down with Collins to discuss all things season 4, part 1, including how much Collins sees herself in Emily, whether she’s happy with Emily’s decision between Gabriel and Alfie, and how her friendship with Camille will develop.

Lots Of Things Are Changing For Emily Cooper

Lily Collins Is Very Happy For Her, Though

Collins has become arguably even more famous after portraying Emily for four seasons and the actor sees a lot of herself in the character as they’ve grown together over the years. “Sometimes when I’m not working on the show, I say things that are very Emily, and I have to shake it off,” she says, “I’m like, is that me, or is that Emily?” Luckily, Collins has loved Emily from day one as she’s learned from the character:

I do think that we both share a constant optimism and a trusting persona, before we distrust somebody. We’re very mindful of a schedule. We’re a little type A at times, but we also really love our friends and honor a safe space with [them]. So I really think that there’s a lot of qualities about Emily I loved reading from day one, and there’s things we taught each other. I think I’ve learned more about time management between a work-life balance.

While work-life balance is always important, Emily has sometimes found that her personal life can be just as chaotic, if not more so, than her job. This season, she has to choose between Gabriel or Alfie, if the latter even decides to take her back. When it comes to that choice, Collins says, “I’m always ‘Team Emily make the right choice for you,'” As for the choice she makes? Collins has this to say:

I’m happy that she makes a choice in the first five episodes and that you get to really see an exploration of feelings and also the repercussions of making a choice, because that’s real life. Sometimes it goes in your favor, sometimes it doesn’t. But what happens when things go left? I think that’s important for Emily to experience and to feel the feelings and embrace the vulnerability this season. I’m excited for Emily to just keep sticking to her guns and not flip-flopping.

Emily In Paris Season 4 Deals With Choices And Their Consequences

How Emily’s choices have affected her friendship with Camille has been on the show’s primary concerns and after the disastrous wedding scene at the end of season 3, her relationship with Gabriel’s ex is more complicated than ever. “I think Emily genuinely wants the best for Camille,” Collins says, “She really values her friendships… And so whatever support that entails, Emily is willing to give from herself.”

“She’s a real girl’s girl, and I don’t know if the relationship can ever go back to exactly the way it was, but she’s definitely dedicated to wanting the best for her.”

Still, depending on how things shake out, Emily could switch it up. “If it’s better that the situation changes within Emily’s relationship in that triangle square, I think she’s willing to back out if it’s for the betterment of Camille’s situation.” What’s best for Camille remains unclear — after Emily’s friend had an affair and broke things off with Gabriel, she may be more lost than ever. But Emily will be there every step of the way even if things are different now: “She’s a real girl’s girl, and I don’t know if the relationship can ever go back to exactly the way it was, but she’s definitely dedicated to wanting the best for her.” 

A key scene between Camille and Emily takes place at the Monet House, one of the many fabulous locations in Emily in Paris. The cast and crew got to film at the iconic artist’s former home, and it left Collins stunned: “I couldn’t believe we had the ability to go film there, let alone row a boat on the water. I was like screaming inside.” Being on Monet’s water lily pond was a “surreal” experience for Collins, especially since it held special memories for her.

“I visited there as a kid with my mom so many times [and] I studied Monet in school,” she says, “So to have been there in the water was shocking to me.” As for the most special location she’s filmed in, though, nothing tops what happens in part 2 when Emily in Paris heads to Rome: “I definitely think just taking the crew to Rome was utterly amazing and like so special.”

As for what happens in Rome, Collins stays tight-lipped: “I can say that she switches her vacation mode on and her work mode off for a little bit. She puts her phone down, which is very rare for Emily, and she goes on a little Roman Holiday.”

About Emily In Paris Season 4, Part 1

 After the dramatic events of Camille and Gabriel’s misbegotten wedding, Emily is reeling: She has strong feelings for two men, but now Gabriel’s expecting a baby with his ex, and Alfie’s worst fears about her and Gabriel have been confirmed. At work, Sylvie is forced to confront a thorny dilemma from her past for the sake of her marriage, and the Agence Grateau team navigates personnel shakeups. Mindy and the band prepare for Eurovision, but when funds run dry, they’re forced to get thrifty. Emily and Gabriel’s chemistry is undeniable as they work together towards a Michelin star, but two big secrets threaten to undo everything they’ve dreamed of. 

Emily in Parisseason 4 part 1 begins streaming tomorrow on Netflix. Part 2 premieres on September 12.

“I visited there as a kid with my mom so many times [and] I studied Monet in school,” she says, “So to have been there in the water was shocking to me.” As for the most special location she’s filmed in, though, nothing tops what happens in part 2 when Emily in Paris heads to Rome: “I definitely think just taking the crew to Rome was utterly amazing and like so special.”

As for what happens in Rome, Collins stays tight-lipped: “I can say that she switches her vacation mode on and her work mode off for a little bit. She puts her phone down, which is very rare for Emily, and she goes on a little Roman Holiday.”