Lily Collins' Husband Charlie McDowell Is the Son of Two Legendary Actors – All We Know About Him

English native Lilly Collins and her husband, Charlie McDowell, hail from families brimming with talent. They've collaborated on a few creative projects and have been open about their relationship since going Instagram official in 2019.

Although Lily Collins gained international recognition for her roles in 2012's "Mirror Mirror" and 2013's "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones," the actress initially pursued her passion for journalism. In her teens, Collins began writing for well-known publications such as Elle Girl, Seventeen, and LA Times.

She also worked as a presenter and reporter several times before gearing her focus into the film world. As a gorgeous actress, Collins dated other Hollywood heartthrobs, including Taylor Lautner, Zac Efron, and Nick Jonas, until she finally found her forever; a creative like herself, Charlie McDowell.

Who Is Charlie McDowell, Lily Collins' Husband?

Born to long-time actors Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowell, Charlie McDowell drew his first breath in Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 1983. He followed in his parents' footsteps but remained behind the scenes as a director, writer, and producer.

McDowell is best known for directing 2014's "The One I Love," writing and directing 2017's "The Discovery," and most recently, co-writing and directing 2022's "Windfall." According to Elle Magazine, he's also credited for directing episodes on TV shows, including "On Becoming a God in Central Florida" and "Dear White People."

The outlet reported another one of McDowell's earliest projects, a comedy short he created in 2006 titled "Bye Bye Benjamin." He published the book "Dear Girls Above Me: Inspired by a True Story" in 2013, based on the conversations he overheard from the two women who lived in the apartment above his.

Although the jokes he made in that book sparked some backlash, McDowell continued to be a comic on his socials. The writer was born to Steenburgen, yet because of his last name, fans mistakenly assumed his mother was another Hollywood legend, actress Andie MacDowell.

Instead of correcting them, McDowell started a long-running joke where he would post throwback pictures of the young Andie MacDowell every Mother's Day, tagging his real mom. Beginning in 2014, he captioned a photo of MacDowell, saying she'd given birth to him 31 years back.

According to Elle Magazine, his sister, Lily McDowell, ran with the joke and commented:

"I love when mom wears her hair like this."

McDowell took it to the next level in 2020, involving both Steenburgen and MacDowell. The actresses were happy to continue the jest; MacDowell seemed to accept that McDowell was her "honorary" son, and Steenburgen simply appreciated his sense of humor.

How Did Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins Meet?

During an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in January this year, Lily Collins noted that she met her husband, Charlie McDowell, "randomly." The couple initially had a working relationship, and while it remains maintained, a romance still flourished between them.

Despite being in the same industry, having family in the industry, and even being in the same rooms a bunch of times, the couple didn't officially meet until they were on the set of Gilded rage in 2019. Collins mentioned how it was love at first sight, and they eventually started dating.

According to People, Collins and McDowell sparked romance rumors in July 2019. A month later, the couple went Instagram official with their relationship while together in Paris. Later that year, they adopted a cute pup and named him Redford.

McDowell introduced Redford to his followers on Instagram and penned a touching message to his late dog, Marvin. The following year in January, he and Collins attended a basketball game together in Los Angeles, making it their first public appearance as a couple.

When Did Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins Get Married?

On an episode of "Live with Kelly and Ryan" in October 2020, Lily Collins revealed the details of her engagement to Charlie McDowell. Her now husband had secretly planned a romantic proposal with her family.

The actress – who also dated former co-star Jamie Campbell Bower – was "completely surprised" when McDowell went down on one knee at one of their stops during their road trip in New Mexico. She FaceTimed her family afterward, who admitted how difficult it was to keep the proposal a secret.

On September 25, 2020, Collins and McDowell took to their socials to announce the good news, showing off her gorgeous ring. According to People, Irene Neuwirth was the ring's designer. She created it with a thin gold band and a rose-cut diamond in a bezel setting.

Co-host Kelly shared that wedding or engagement bands with a rose-cut diamond "yield the longest marriages." That knowledge aligned with Collins's feelings, as the actress said she knew she wanted to be McDowell's wife since the day she (officially) met him.

The couple privately married on September 4, 2021, in Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado, a venue they'd found only a day before their wedding. They announced the good news on Instagram a few days later, alongside a stunning photo in their wedding attire.

During Collins's interview with Ellen DeGeneres earlier this year, the actress divulged details about her honeymoon with McDowell. One of the activities the couple enjoyed was a "foodie adventure tour" around Scandanavia. They also learned how to call a moose in the wilderness.

As another testament to the couple's love for nature, they stayed in a Swedish tree house in the Swedish Lapland. However, they had no plumbing or ablution facilities and used paper bags to do their business. The last activity Collins recalled was a "calming spiritual experience" when she swam with a mother whale and her baby.

Last month, the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary, and Collins shared a gorgeous black and white wedding photo on September 4, along with a sweet message for her forever. They both continue to make regular appearances on each other's social media.

Collins and McDowell have also collaborated on McDowell's "Windfall," where the actress stars as Wife. The crime thriller premiered on Netflix in March. Opening up about his experience directing the movie, McDowell confessed to being taken aback when he witnessed the kissing scene between his wife and actor Jesse Plemons.

On the other hand, Collins could draw the line between their romantic and working relationships so well that she would forget her then-fiancé was behind the camera. Still, this didn't deter their relationship, and they insisted on how much fun they had during filming.

Does Lily Collins Have a Kid with Charlie McDowell?

Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell currently have no children. However, Andi MacDowell's faux daughter-in-law once tried pranking her fans on April Fools in 2019. She posted a 2014 photo of herself with a prosthetic pregnant belly.

The actress wore the prosthetic when she played Rosie Dunne in the film "Love, Rosie." Fans immediately recognized that it was a photo taken on the film set and joined in on the joke while appreciating Collins's sense of humor.