Phil Collins’ Tarzan tribute to daughter Lily Collins will always be in her heart — and she can’t wait to pass the legacy onto her children.
“Still saying ‘That’s my dad!’ 25 years later,” Lily, 36, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, June 15, sharing throwback footage of Phil, 74, discussing his contributions to the animated film. “But now, I get to play the film for my own daughter, who will one day point at the screen and say ‘That’s my grandpa!’”
She added, “Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you and forever proud to be your daughter.”
The retired Genesis musician notably recorded the soundtrack for Disney’s 2002 animated movie Tarzan, which featured the ballad “You’ll Be in My Heart” — a tribute to Lily. The single later won Best Original Song at that year’s Oscars.
“She calls me up and goes, ‘It’s all over the radio,’” Phil recalled in an Entertainment Tonight interview, which Lily shared on Sunday. “[She adds], ‘I go to school and it’s all over the billboards.’ So, she’s really thrilled about it. When she went to the cinema with her mum, a trailer came up [and] she stood up and said, ‘That’s my dad!’”
Lily is Phil’s daughter with ex Jill Tavelman. He also shares children Joely and Simon with Andrea Bertorelli and sons Nic and Matthew with Orianne Cevey. Nic, 24, responded to Lily’s tribute on Sunday with a pair of red heart emojis.
The Emily in Paris star recently became a parent herself, welcoming daughter Tove via surrogate in January.
“Happy first Father’s Day @charliemcdowell. Tove is the luckiest little girl in the world to be yours,” Lily gushed via Instagram on Sunday, referring to her husband, Charlie McDowell. “Seeing you with her is the most beautiful thing. You certainly were born to be a dad and you continue to amaze me every single day with the countless ways you protect and nurture her, make her laugh and shower her with adoration.”
She added, “Thank you for taking the best care of our little T and of course big brother @redforddog. What would we do without you? We love you so so SO much.”
McDowell, 41, feels the same about watching Lily raise their little girl.
“Happy first Mother’s Day @lilyjcollins,” he wrote via Instagram last month. “You bring joy, laughter, warmth, and kindness to our family every day. Tove’s happiness comes from you being her mother. She could stare at you all day long. It’s a beautiful thing to witness. We are very lucky.”
