Emily in Paris is finally back and so are the over-the-top fashions and ever-present drama between Emily and her work, relationships and friendships. Season 2 ended with Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins) struggling to figure out where her loyalties lie at work — would she return to her Chicago marketing firm or follow her French colleagues at their new company? Luckily, season 3 answers that question and gives fans much more will-they-won’t-they drama between Gabriel and Emily and many more memorable scenes with the entire ensemble cast, which includes Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Sylvie), Lucas Bravo (Gabriel), Ashley Park (Mindy), Camille Razat (Camille), Bruno Gouery (Luc), William Abadie (Antoine), Lucien Laviscount (Alfie) and Samuel Arnold, who plays Julien, Emily’s snarky and chic colleague.
GRAZIA USA caught up with Arnold, whose character comes to a crossroads this season, about what it’s like playing the judgmental but lovable character, what he thinks of season 3’s major cliffhangers and more. Warning, spoilers ahead for season 3.
The new season begins with Julien, Luc and Sylvie starting their own marketing firm after quitting Savoir and discovering the balancing act Emily was trying to play between both companies. As always, Julien is in-the-know with all the best brands to work with but as Emily continues to upstage him in pitch meetings, he reaches his limit.
“Personally, this season I was very, very pleased with where they took my character and the fact that he’s showing a side of himself that the audience have never seen before,” Arnold tells GRAZIA USA.
Viewers have seen Julien be judgmental and let’s face it, rude, to Emily before, but Arnold saw something bigger change between the colleagues’ dynamic in season 3. “I feel like Emily’s behavior really started to be, in my sense, only annoying from season 3. I think in season 1, Julien was more in the wrong. He was a bit jealous, and felt threatened by Emily, so that’s why he has this little rivalry, which was just childish and nothing serious. But, in season 3, I think Julien decided to work hard and decided to be a valuable member of his team. He literally felt overshadowed by Emily’s talent.”
While Arnold doesn’t know anything about season 4 (he says the cast is only given scripts two at a time while filming on set), as a fan himself, he thinks Julien is ready to move on. “I think he will [leave]. I don’t know, because [production] keeps us in the dark, but I think he will,” says Arnold. “There are so many cliffhangers at the end of this season. There are so many doors that have been opened. And I’m like the audience, I just can’t wait to know what’s going to happen, and I just can’t wait to know what’s next for Julien.”
For Arnold, the best part of playing a character like Julien is the ability to portray someone vastly different from himself. “The way he is, this character, and his behavior, it’s so far from me, so it was a bit of a challenge, but it’s so, so, so enjoyable for an actor to be able to create a character like that,” he explains. “And to be able to play him for three seasons, and to be able to dive more and more and more into the psyche of another human being is so fascinating and it’s so fulfilling as an artist. I feel just so lucky to play that character.”
Another huge perk of the job is acting alongside his stellar cast mates. “I have to say, I feel very grateful and lucky to have ended up in that cast, because they’re all so amazing. I’m not afraid to say that we’re like a family now.”
Arnold continues, “Obviously, we’re with each other while filming, but we’re all scattered around the world, so wherever I am, there’s always one member of the cast that I can see. I was in Vegas with Lucien, spent some time in L.A. with Ashley Park. I was in London with Bruno and I spent a lot of time in Paris with Bruno as well. We stick together, which I love.”
In fact, when asked what his favorite scene of the season was, he says one of the most memorable was when Luc wears a tuxedo to a lunch with Julien and Sylvie. “My character was supposed to be upset. But, me, Philippine, and the rest of the crew, we couldn’t stop laughing, because of Bruno. So when we did my coverage with the camera, the director had to come to Bruno, and say, ‘Please, can you be less funny, so Samuel can do his lines?'”
He calls Gouery the “funniest guy I know” and says the cast is so proud of him for also starring in the other smash-hit show, The White Lotus season 2. “It’s just amazing. He’s on two of the biggest shows in the world right now, at the same time. Can you imagine? We are all so proud. Go Bruno, for real.”
A conversation about Emily in Paris has to, of course, mention the fashions. During their promo tour, the whole cast has been stepping out in outfits that could have been plucked right off set (see their premiere looks here!). “We are on one of the most fashionable shows in the world right now, so we’re just trying to live up to the show,” Arnold notes.
As far as his personal style, he uses his looks to bring out his personality. “I think that style and fashion is a form of art, and a form of expression, and I’m just trying to express myself through that, as much as I’m expressing myself through acting, or through dance, or whatever I do,” he explains. “I’m influenced a lot by hip-hop myself, but I can wear anything, as long as it matches my mood and my feelings and I feel comfortable in it.”
Arnold credits the amazing work of costume designer Patricia Field for helping him develop the character of Julien thanks to his wardrobe choices. (Field has since passed the baton to Marylin Fitoussi for season 3.) “I think Patricia is a true, true, true stylist, because she has the capacity to understand the characters, no matter what their background is, no matter what their style is, and she’s able to create a wardrobe that would bring the character to life. For me, working with her was amazing and it was as important as the script. The garments, the clothes, it really helped bringing Julien to life.”
He adds, “This character is very far from me. I don’t move like that. I don’t speak like that. I don’t behave like that. And she really made it easy with all of the clothes. Just wearing his suits already completed 50% of the work to help me feel like the character.”
The star knew the show was going to be success with the likes of Collins and creator Darren Star attached, but he’s still amazed by the extent of its popularity. “Last week, [the cast] was on top of the Empire State Building lighting it in pink for the series. I could have never imagined that a show could take us there. No matter what country we set foot in, people know the show, and they love it.”
He feels the success personally, and says he has “way more opportunities” coming in. “It definitely changed professionally. When I go out, people stop me to take selfies and stuff like that. Everything is different since the show, I’m not going to lie, it’s just night and day.”
He’s riding the wave and will make his executive producer debut with his own short film, due to start production soon, which he’ll also star in. “I would love to act, produce, direct, do everything that I can with my time on Earth. I really view myself as an artist, and I think that storytelling is the best thing an artist can do.”
Netflix has green-lit season 4, but Arnold says the word’s still out on when filming will start. “I have no idea. I haven’t been told anything yet. I’m just waiting to hear the news.”
So does he think Emily and Gabriel will finally get together now that Camille called off the engagement? “Well, honestly, I trust Darren and the writers to make it exciting, and to make it happen in the best way possible. In my opinion, I think that Gabriel was Emily’s number one from day one, and that it should be the end goal. But if season 4 is the last season, then maybe she’s going to end up with him in season 4. And if we do 14 seasons, then maybe they’re going to run after each other for 14 seasons.”
He adds, “I have no idea but I trust the creative team. They’ve been amazing so far, and they’ve been trumping themselves over and over again. And no matter what happens, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be good.”
We couldn’t agree more!
Emily in Paris season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.
