Lily Collins has offered a rare glimpse into her experience as a new mother, candidly sharing that she is “still learning how to manage everything” nearly 11 months after welcoming her first child.

The 36-year-old actress announced in February that she and her husband, Charlie McDowell, had welcomed a daughter named Tove Jane through surrogacy.

In an eye-catching photo shoot for ELLE Spain, Lily expressed that motherhood has been a lesson in embracing imperfection, teaching her she “doesn’t have to be perfect anymore.”

Lily is also gearing up for her role in the highly anticipated fifth season of “Emily In Paris,” set to premiere on Netflix on December 18.

Reflecting on her new maternal role and its parallels with her on-screen character, Emily Cooper, Lily traded Emily’s quirky and colorful fashion for a series of bold outfits, including a plunging black bralette and a leather trench coat.

When asked if she still considers herself an “extreme perfectionist,” Lily responded, “Having a baby shifts your priorities and perspective on many things. When you return to work or other pursuits, it’s more appealing to let go of perfection because you can no longer be hyper-focused solely on yourself.”

Lily Collins has shared rare insight into her life as a new mother, admitting she’s ‘still learning how to manage everything’ as a new parent, nearly 11 months after the birth of her first child

Posing for a striking shoot with ELLE Spain , Lily admitted that becoming a mother has taught her that she ‘doesn’t have to be perfect anymore’

‘This, interestingly, has calmed my nerves because I’ve discarded the idea of ​​an ideal version of myself. Now, what’s important is that I can be present for my family and my work, and I’ll do the best I can, but perfection doesn’t count, it doesn’t matter.’

The star went on to say: ‘I’m still learning how to manage everything. I’m new to motherhood, but my goal is to be present wherever I am. If I’m at home, I want to be 100% there, but I also want to be present at work. 

‘So I make sure I choose projects I’m truly passionate about, because they’re going to take me away from home, which now has a much deeper meaning.’  

Earlier this year, the Netflix sensation announced the birth of her first child with a simple post showing the baby resting peacefully.

She wrote in a caption for her 29 million followers to read, ‘Welcome to the center of our world Tove Jane McDowell.

‘Words will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way. We love you to the moon and back again…’ 

While the actress was inundated with congratulations from fans, she has also faced criticism for joining the ranks of Hollywood stars who have welcomed a baby via surrogacy.

Some social media users attacked the actress and her spouse for taking part in the ‘unethical trend,’ which, critics argue, involves ‘rich people renting women’s bodies.’

While reflecting her new role as a mother with her on-screen alter-ego Emily Cooper, Lily also swapped her character’s quirky and colourful looks for a string of sexy outfits

The star went on to say: ‘I’m still learning how to manage everything. I’m new to motherhood, but my goal is to be present wherever I am’

Some have evened likened it to ‘human trafficking.’

Others speculated that Lily, along with other A-list celebrities, might have chosen to ‘opt out’ of pregnancy to preserve their looks.

McDowell, 41, hit back at the critics, writing online: ‘In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby – it’s OK to not be an expert on surrogacy.

‘It’s OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It’s OK to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you assume.

‘And it’s OK to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people’s lives. That’s all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper.’

Read the full interview in ELLE Spain, on sale now.