From Winter Issue 64
As Emily in Paris unfurls its fifth season, British actor Paul Forman talks to Glass Man about his character in the show, challenging himself and his latest creative venture
In a lot of film and television, we see new versions of familiar characters regularly taking shape at full throttle. Although the crown keeps getting passed on, we’ve fallen in love time and time again with the same heartthrobs and rolled our eyes at the same narratives.
When I begin my conversation with British actor Paul Forman, it’s easy to see he’s looking for more of a challenge. “For now, I’m focused on roles that challenge me and on stories that feel meaningful,” he says with an easy grin. It’s the kind of reflection that comes with momentum – the restless, purposeful longing of a young star right on the cusp of his career.
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
Forman is in his London apartment when we connect on Zoom, snuggled in a hooded sweatshirt and enjoying the rare calm before another busy stretch. “It’s been a transformative year, to say the least, both professionally and personally,” he continues, with no signs of peacocking braggadocio on display. “Lots of change, lots of growth and a lot of clarity about the kind of work I want to do next and which path I’d like to take. I feel excited, hungry and grounded at the same time.”
Born into a world of numbers that saw him start off on an entirely different path (in short, he took a degree in mathematics before his acting career began), curiosity, playfulness and being “odd” were the perfect triptych that moulded his identity. “Even at school, I was just a weird kid, goofy and different,” he admits. “I’m an odd kid, but you have to be [that] for what I do, right? Because you’ve got to throw yourself in.”
In 2016, Forman graduated from the Drama Studio London, a place where he honed his burgeoning craft. “I joined the drama society at university for what I think were mostly social reasons – I didn’t realise that becoming an actor was even an option,” he tells me. “I didn’t have any access to that world, nor did I know anyone in the industry. Nothing in my life was set to lead me there, but I think I had a crush on someone there or something. We did a play and something clicked.”
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
At the time, Forman knew he couldn’t ignore the feeling it gave him. “I felt completely at home for the first time,” he reflects. “And it was like the final piece of the puzzle dropping into place for me. So from that moment, I knew I wouldn’t do anything else in my life.”
Forman had grown up watching all kinds of shows with his parents in London. “We had countless movie nights together and it was one of our ways of bonding as a family,” he remembers. “Looking back, those two ingredients, in retrospect, were all I needed. So that set me up to do that play at university and to realise what my element was.”
After drama school, Forman “took on every “glamorous” gig you can think of.” However, those were the very moments that shaped him. “These jobs teach you resilience and how much you really want it. And you love them because you get to act, which is rare and scarce, especially early in your career.” Forman had always been obsessed with the complex craft that shapes the multifaceted film industry. “It’s not through work that I developed that hunger and passion,” he says. “I definitely had it before, but I didn’t know that I could do this because my life wasn’t set up for me to ever enter this industry.”
From Paramount+’s comedy series Stags (2024) to Amazon’s drama Riches (2022), Forman’s credits could spark pangs of envy from his peers, newcomers and established actors alike. So I can’t help but wonder how starring in these sorts of productions feels. “Every project feels like a small miracle,” he reflects. “Someone believed in you and trusted you with a story. Stags, for instance, was such a wild ride. Full of heart and a truly wonderful cast, who are friends of mine to this day.
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
“And Riches was a really meaningful project for me. It wasn’t just another job and it felt important. It was a show that centred on Black families, Black success and Black joy, which is still too rare in mainstream British television. So to be part of a story that focused on that perspective without relying on stereotypes or trauma felt really significant,” he explains.
For Forman, being surrounded by the cast and the creators who were telling something personal felt special: “You feel this kind of responsibility to get it right. And it made me more aware of the kind of stories I want to tell going forward. It’s surreal sometimes to think of that weirdo at school and where I’ve been fortunate enough to go.”
His big career break landed when he was approached for Emily in Paris, the acclaimed Netflix series about Emily Cooper – led by Lily Collins – a marketing executive from Chicago who moves to Paris for a job, bringing an American viewpoint to a French marketing firm. Since its third season, Forman has become known for his role as Nicolas de Leon, who acts as a competitor to Emily’s company. Since he got that call, it’s been a whirlwind.
“Going back in time, it all happened so quickly that I didn’t really have time to be nervous,” he recalls. “I got the offer on a Thursday night and three days later I was in Paris starting that journey three and a half years ago. I’m grateful it happened like that, because there was no time to overthink and no pressure building up. I just went hyper-focused and threw myself into it.”
Forman deems the journey really incredible from the moment he stepped on set. “Especially with this last season, it feels like Nicolas gets to reinvent himself a little, and that was a gift for me as an actor – to return to a character with a new direction to explore.”
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
Forman and the character he embodies share nothing in common, but that’s where the strength lies. “He does feel like a character who’s quite far from who I am,” he says, adding, “I put on an accent, make him older, more grounded, and less goofy than I am.” For Forman, that’s always fun. “It’s so important to stretch myself and not play roles that are similar to me. It’s part of me to find the truth in every moment and everything that he does. But I am aware of his disposition, and certainly his actions are very different from mine.”
Touching on the thrills of his role, he speaks with joy. “To see Nicolas’ development over the seasons has been a gift for me. As I said, in this upcoming season, he gets to rewrite himself. And that’s really fun. I’m very lucky to be able to do that, to explore a completely new direction and to be returning to the same character. That’s been the thrill of it.”
Forman felt a mix of nerves and excitement when he first read the script for the Emily in Paris’ latest season. “You want to know where the character is going, where the general story is heading, and you want to be surprised. But I am nervous because what can be difficult with returning as a recurring character in a show is that, as an actor, you have absolutely no say in what your character does. It’s up to the writers and which direction the story is heading in that year, so you have to empathise and commit.”
It was a commitment that felt like embracing both the new and the familiar. “It felt like coming home but also like a reset,” he adds. “You return more experienced, more focused, seeing the character with new eyes. It’s comforting and invigorating at the same time.”
The show has a dedicated fan base, especially on social media. Despite being grateful, Forman tries to stay away from people’s general perceptions. “I’m genuinely so moved by the support for the show. It’s incredible to see how invested people are,” he states. “But I also try to keep a healthy distance because I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring your value by digital tractions, and I try my best to dip in and appreciate, but not to live there. I do wish people were better at separating the character and the actor. But that’s just part of the territory and all I can do now is work and hope the right people tell the difference.”
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
The takeaways and emotions have featured aplenty throughout Forman’s participation in the show, but what he has realised is that scale doesn’t change the essence of a job. “Whether it’s a tiny indie or a blockbuster, I really love it just the same,” he says, his face filled with excitement. “I love to act. And from the cast to the crew, the friendships, the moments between takes, this show brought extraordinary people into my life that I carry with me. I think I will for the rest of my life, and everything else, all the noise around that.”
Often, the realm of acting is associated with all things glamour and glitz. However, not many unpack the downsides of the industry, which Forman unfurls with unguarded honesty. “I think no actor has a smooth journey,” he exclaims. “I can’t speak for others, but mine has been full of no’s, almosts and roles that slipped just out of reach. But you learn to metabolise the setbacks that make you sharper and oddly more appreciative of the moments that do land. So I still feel like I’m at the beginning of all of this, as there is so much I haven’t done yet that I want to do, and characters I want to explore. I really believe that I have more to give. But yeah, I think for everyone, speaking for everyone, it’s never smooth.”
Our conversation then latches onto self-worth or, to be more precise, lack of it. “I don’t think anyone in the industry escapes that feeling – the key is to just not let uncertainty define you. You learn to show up anyway and to protect your mental health,” he says. “Your uncertainty is part of the job. It hits you sometimes harder than you expect. But it’s normal to have moments where you question everything, from your direction to whether you’re enough.” What’s helped him personally is finding stability outside of work. “Through routine, friendships, projects I can build for myself,” he says. “That’s been very comforting for me, and vital too.”
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
Moving onto lighter territory, Forman is reaching new heights with an equally new venture – his first play Raindrops, which “explores grief and the kind of conversations that we avoid until life forces them out of us.” Elaborating, he adds, “I feel it’s honest, a bit raw and it’s very, very close to my heart. Writing has been such a grounding experience for me. Acting is about stepping into someone else’s truth but Raindrops is the first time I feel I’ve articulated something of my own, which is scary.”
The play was inspired by several moments in his life and the lives around him. “I won’t go into it too much, but I’m really excited to see where it leads,” he says. “The stage is also something that’s very important for me, so I’m really excited to be putting on a play and getting back on it.”
It’s always refreshing to speak with an actor who is multi-layered, dynamic and soulful in equal measure – no easy feat in a world of stilted Zoom conversations. After a deep chat, I’ve grasped how much the 31-year-old longs to stretch his roles and identity beyond all manner of conventions. “I’m excited to take on roles that challenge the perception that people have of me and I want to step into characters that feel a little heavier, that feel layered,” he tells me. “I’m interested in the right story with the right filmmaker more than anything, and I feel like I’m drawn to stories that feel human but still have scale.”
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
Leaning on hopes, he wishes to keep surprising people, including himself. “Maybe that’s what scares me the most – how I’m going to surprise myself and which direction I’m going to stretch for further roles,” he declares.
As we come to the end of our conversation, I ask Forman one final question, about what comes next. His reply, naturally, is a mix of gratitude and hope. “Just from talking to you and talking about past and future projects, I feel incredibly grateful for where I am,” he concludes. “But I feel even more energised about where I’m heading, because this next chapter feels like a clean page, personally and creatively. And choosing work that continues to challenge me and inspire me is exactly what excites me about this direction.”
by Chidozie Obasi
Emily in Paris Season 5 is available to stream on Netflix from 18 December.
Photographer: Jamie Salmons
Stylist: Sophie Casha
Groomer: Charlie Cullen
Photography Assistant: Jack Sproston
Talent: Paul Forman
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