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Collecting is hardly uncommon among celebrities. We’re used to glimpsing sprawling art collections, sleek vintage cars, and rare objets d’art gracing the pages of glossy magazines. Yet there’s something irresistibly charming about those who collect from the heart. Lily Collins is one such collector. With an enduring love of Scandinavian design, her home is a haven of Märta Måås-Fjetterström rugs, Hans Wegner chairs, and whimsical touches by Kay Bojesen. But it’s her devotion to the magical world of the Moomins that truly captures our imagination.
A British Heart with a Nordic Soul
The journey to Moominvalley began early in Collins' life. Growing up in the English countryside (as the daughter of singer Phil Collins) , she stumbled upon Tove Jansson’s illustrated books and was immediately captivated by the vivid stories and magical illustrations. The tales seemed to whisper of kindness, curiosity, and courage, themes that Collins has always held close to heart.
The tales about the round white trolls became more than just bedtime stories. In interviews, Collins has often spoken about how Jansson’s world shaped her view of the world. “There’s something so comforting about the Moomins”, she said in The Moomin Phenomenon, a podcast she co-hosts with comedian Jennifer Saunders. “They remind us that it’s okay to feel lost sometimes - that love and curiosity will always lead us home”.
From Fandom to Family
She shares her admiration for Jansson's work with her husband, together they have directed a movie based on Jansson's book The Summer Book. When she and husband Charlie McDowell welcomed their daughter in 2024, they named her Tove Jane McDowell. Naming their daughter after the Finnish Moomin author wasn't just a gesture to show their fandom of the book series but also to pass on the Moomin philosophy to the next generation.
At home, that devotion is tangible. Visitors to the Collins-McDowell household might spot Moomin figurines nestled among art books, or framed prints inspired by Jansson’s illustrations. Each piece, Collins says, “brings a little bit of peace and playfulness into our everyday life”.
The Summer Book (Swedish edition).
The Moomin Phenomenon
In 2023, Collins and Saunders teamed up to explore the enduring appeal of the Moomins in their podcast, The Moomin Phenomenon. Through laughter, interviews, and genuine curiosity, the series delves into why Jansson’s characters continue to resonate across cultures and generations.
For Collins, the project was a full-circle moment, a chance to revisit the stories that once shaped her imagination and to share their wisdom with a global audience. “Tove Jansson’s writing is deceptively simple”, Collins reflected. “It’s about nature and family, yes, but also about identity, loneliness, and acceptance. It’s everything we still need today”.
The Moomin Phenomenon on Youtube , Spotify, Moomin-webpage or where else you find podcasts.
Together with her husband, Charlie McDowell, Collins helped bring one of Jansson’s beloved stories to the screen, translating the whimsical, heartfelt world of the Moomins into cinematic form. Off-screen, she has traveled extensively to Moomin-related locations around the world, from the enchanting Moominvalley Park in Japan to sites connected to Jansson’s life and art, fully immersing herself in the Moomin universe. Whether portraying complex characters, celebrating storytelling, or exploring Moomin-inspired landscapes, Collins mirrors Jansson’s ethos of honesty, imagination, and heart.
Lily Collins celebrating her birthday visiting the Moomin Valley park in Japan.
A Life Inspired by Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson was not only an author but a painter, poet, and lifelong seeker of authenticity. Her life is defined by independence, artistic courage, and deep connection to the natural world and offers a blueprint that Collins finds deeply inspiring. “Tove lived with such integrity”, she said. “She created her own universe and invited everyone in. That’s the kind of artistry I admire”.
Collins’s own creative path reflects the same spirit. Whether she’s bringing complex characters to life on screen or celebrating the quiet power of storytelling, her artistry embodies Jansson’s philosophy of living with honesty, imagination, and heart.
Artist and writer Tove Jansson in 1956. © Wikimedia Commons
The Enduring Power of the Moomins
What keeps Collins and millions of others returning to the Moomin stories is their timeless humanity. The tales speak softly but powerfully about love, nature, and belonging. They remind readers that it’s okay to wander, to wonder, and to change.
Tove Jansson created something eternal. Every time I open those books, I feel like I’m home.
For Lily Collins, those lessons are more than literary. They’re a guiding philosophy. In a world often defined by speed and spectacle, she finds solace in the Moomins’ slower rhythms, a reminder to savor beauty, seek simplicity, and remain curious.
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