It feels like forever ago that we first saw Emily Cooper trip over the cobblestones of Paris in those impossibly high heels. Honestly, when Netflix dropped that first season back in late 2020, nobody knew if it was going to be a total cringe-fest or a massive hit. Turns out, it was both. But looking back, the emily in paris cast season 1 is really what kept us all clicking "Next Episode" during those long lockdown nights.
You’ve got the bright-eyed American, the "mean" French boss, and the chef who launched a thousand thirsty tweets. But who are these people, really? Let’s get into the weeds of the actors who populated Savoir and Emily's apartment building before the show became a global phenomenon.
The Leading Lady: Lily Collins as Emily Cooper
Lily Collins basically is the show. Before she was Emily, she was already kind of a big deal, but this role turned her into a household name. She plays Emily Cooper, the Chicago marketing whiz who gets sent to Paris because her boss, Madeline (played by Kate Walsh), gets unexpectedly pregnant.
Emily is... a lot. She’s optimistic, she’s loud, and she wears things that most Parisians wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Lily plays her with this manic energy that makes you want to root for her even when she’s being totally oblivious to French culture. Remember the scene where she sends the steak back? Cringe. But Lily makes it work.
Fun Fact About Lily
She’s actually the daughter of music legend Phil Collins. You might have known that, but it’s still wild to think about. She’s also a producer on the show now, which shows she’s got more in common with Emily’s ambitious side than we might think.
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The "Hot Chef" Phenomenon: Lucas Bravo as Gabriel
If you were on the internet in October 2020, you couldn't escape Lucas Bravo. He plays Gabriel, Emily’s neighbor who lives on the floor below her. Their whole relationship starts because Emily doesn't understand that the French count the ground floor as "zero," so she keeps trying to break into his apartment.
Gabriel is a chef at a local bistro, and he’s basically the ultimate "boy next door"—if your neighbor happened to be a French model. Lucas Bravo was actually a sous-chef in real life before he got famous, which explains why he looks like he actually knows what he’s doing with an omelet.
"In France, they don't want good-looking. They want broken faces." — Lucas Bravo, talking to The Times about being labeled a heartthrob.
Honestly, he’s been pretty vocal about how much he dislikes being "the pretty boy," but in season 1, that was exactly the vibe.
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The Boss From Hell (Who We Secretly Love): Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu
Sylvie Grateau is the character everyone ended up obsessed with. Played by the iconic Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Sylvie is the head of Savoir and Emily’s constant critic. She’s chic, she’s mean, and she smokes like it’s a competitive sport.
Philippine was actually told she was too old for the part initially—the casting directors wanted someone in their 40s. But she killed her audition, and now it’s impossible to imagine anyone else in those high-slit skirts. She brings a layer of sophistication that the show desperately needs to balance out Emily’s bubbly American-ness.
The Best Friend We All Need: Ashley Park as Mindy Chen
Mindy Chen is the soul of the show. Ashley Park plays the billionaire heiress who ran away from Shanghai to be a nanny in Paris. She meets Emily in a park, and they’re instant besties.
Ashley is a massive Broadway star (she was in the Mean Girls musical!), so when Mindy starts singing in the streets of Paris, that’s actually her. No lip-syncing here. Her performance of "Chandelier" and "La Vie en Rose" in season 1 were absolute highlights.
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Why Mindy Matters
Mindy isn't just the "sidekick." She’s the one who actually explains France to Emily. She’s the bridge between the two worlds, and frankly, she has better lines than almost anyone else.
The Rest of the Savoir Crew and Camille
You can’t talk about the emily in paris cast season 1 without mentioning the people who make Emily's work life a nightmare (or a dream).
- Samuel Arnold as Julien: He’s Emily’s theatrical co-worker who starts off hating her but eventually becomes a reluctant ally. His side-eye is legendary.
- Bruno Gouery as Luc: The quirky, slightly eccentric colleague who actually likes Emily from the jump. He’s the one who tells her that "to work is to live" is a very American (and wrong) way of thinking.
- Camille Razat as Camille: The "cool girl." She meets Emily at a flower shop and becomes her friend, only for us to realize later that she’s Gabriel’s girlfriend. Ouch. Camille Razat is a French model and actress, and she brings a genuine sweetness to the role that makes the whole love triangle way more complicated.
- William Abadie as Antoine Lambert: The wealthy client who owns a perfume company and is having an affair with Sylvie. He’s charming, a bit creepy, and very French.
Why Season 1 Still Hits Different
Looking back at the original lineup, the chemistry was just there. The show faced a lot of criticism for its stereotypes—Parisians being rude, Americans being loud—but the cast handled it with a wink and a nod.
The first season was really about the "culture shock." We watched Emily struggle with the language, the "Le Vagin" marketing campaign, and the sheer audacity of her French colleagues taking two-hour lunch breaks.
The Supporting Players You Might Have Forgotten
- Kate Walsh (Madeline Wheeler): Emily's boss in Chicago. She only appears briefly but she's the reason Emily is in Paris at all.
- Jean-Christophe Bouvet (Pierre Cadault): The flamboyant, aging designer who calls Emily "ringarde" (basic). It’s one of the most iconic moments of the season.
- Charles Martins (Mathieu Cadault): Pierre’s nephew and a brief love interest for Emily. He was wealthy, handsome, and... ultimately doomed because he wasn't Gabriel.
What to Do Now If You're a Fan
If you’re just finishing a rewatch or checking out the show for the first time, here is how you can actually dive deeper into the world of the cast:
- Follow the French actors on socials: Guys like Lucas Bravo and Camille Razat post a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that feels way more "real" than the polished show.
- Watch "Call My Agent!": If you loved Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Sylvie), you have to watch this show. It’s on Netflix and it’s a much more grounded, witty look at French talent agents. She is fantastic in it.
- Check out Ashley Park’s Broadway clips: Go to YouTube and find her performing in Mean Girls or The King and I. It’ll give you a whole new respect for Mindy’s vocal chops.
- Visit the real filming locations: If you're ever in Paris, you can actually visit "Place de l'Estrapade." It’s the square where Emily’s apartment, Gabriel’s restaurant (called Terra Nera in real life), and the bakery are all located.
The emily in paris cast season 1 really captured lightning in a bottle. Whether you love the show or love to hate-watch it, you can't deny that these actors brought a specific kind of magic to the screen that kept us all talking.