EXCLUSIVE | 'Emily in Paris' star Elizabeth Tan calls creator Darren Star a 'genius', praises show's diversity
Netflix's 'Emily in Paris' follows Lily Collins as a young twenty-something American who moves to the City of Lights after unexpectedly bagging a dream job. In the new land, we follow the adventures and small misfortunes that Emily embarks on. Coming from 'Sex and the City' creator Darren Star, 'Emily in Paris' sets out to tell a similar story: a woman can indeed have it all, or at least pretend to till the next big thing. Throughout the course of 10 episodes, Emily sees the best of Paris and more.
For actress Elizabeth Tan, the show is "an absolute feast for the eyes." Talking to MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) in an exclusive interview, the actress says, "With its incredible insights into Paris life, the fashion, the beautiful Parisian landmarks, ['Emily in Paris'] at its heart [tells] beautiful stories of new adventures, new romances, heartwarming friendships, and the usual corporate demands and cultural mishaps of going overseas for work. It's just what we all need at the moment -- a giggle and some fun escapism!"
Tan plays the role of Li on the show, making an appearance in the episode titled 'Family Affair'. Li is friends with Ashley Park's Mindy Chen and is visiting the city and her friend in Paris. Mindy had practically fled to Paris after becoming a public spectacle in China. It is Li, who pushes Mindy to get bury the past and move on from the incident. "My character, Li, is an incredibly vibrant and fun character. Li loves to party but she is also very intelligent and has a heart of gold. She cares deeply for her friends and her weakness is that she does love to drink a lot of very expensive champagne!" she tells us.
Working with Star was a great experience for the actress, but so was sharing scenes with the protagonist. "Darren Star is a genius and a very beautiful storyteller. The show has also brought together the most talented people, who also have incredibly warm hearts and fun souls. No money can buy that kind of onset magic and chemistry. And Lily Collins is just truly fantastic, kind, talented and generous in every way."
Tan, who is also well known for her recent role in the ITV drama 'The Singapore Grip', remarks that the creator brings his signature style to the table. Drawing a comparison between the popular 'Sex and the City' and 'Emily in Paris', she says, "At their core, it's still the very beautiful and realistic storytelling of female characters. He's [Darren Star] also managed to bring in Patricia Field (designer for 'Devil Wears Prada', 'Sex and the City') who is another genius in creating the world and the incredible fashion."
When she first received the script, Tan was impressed by the diversity on the show. "I was blown away by how much diversity there is in the show both in front and behind the camera. This is another reason I feel Darren Star has kept on top of his game; he is always keeping his storytelling very relevant."
