Lily Collins shoots gritty back-street drug-scene for Amazon MGM comedy in Kingston

Lily Collins is trading the chic Parisian vibe of Emily in Paris for a far less glamorous street scene as she films a drug-deal moment for the forthcoming Amazon MGM comedy Close Personal Friends in Kingston, Surrey. The 36-year-old actress was photographed in a burgundy beanie, a dark denim jacket and black-and-white Adidas trainers, appearing to buy a wrap of crack cocaine in a graffiti-strewn alley beside a fancy dress and party balloon shop called Partica.

On-set observers described a scene in which Collins’ character receives the drugs from a cyclist before he pedals away, leaving the back street quiet as distant traffic and the filming crew continued into the night. The shoot took place in an insalubrious alley adjacent to Partica, a shop known for costumes and party supplies. Collins, who has become widely associated with glamorous cosmopolitan roles, was photographed smiling between takes as she held an orange bottle and conversed with crew members. The film also features Brie Larson, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding in a star-studded turn for the comedy about a couple who befriend a pair of celebrities while on a trip to Santa Barbara, California, leading to awkwardly funny moments.

Collins recently wrapped the fifth season of Emily in Paris, much of which was filmed in Rome after the character Emily Cooper moved to Italy. The star, married to film director Charlie McDowell, became a mother by surrogacy earlier this year to daughter Tove, publicly expressing gratitude to their surrogate and everyone who helped along the way. The Kingston shoot adds to a busy period of production in the region, where crews have been staging a mix of urban back streets and storefronts to match the film’s brisk, offbeat tone.

Close Personal Friends is described as a comedy revolving around a couple who befriend a pair of celebrities during a California trip, prompting plenty of awkwardly funny moments. The project is listed as forthcoming from Amazon MGM Studios, with no official release date announced. Collins’ foray into a grittier, less glamorous role marks a notable shift from her polished public-image projects, underscoring the film’s premise of celebrity culture colliding with everyday spaces.