Today, we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Guest.
Hi Elizabeth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was actually born in Eugene, Oregon, on location while my dad was doing a movie. We traveled quite a bit when I was little for various film shoots, but then he got a role on a sitcom, and we got to stay put in Los Angeles, where I grew up.
I started studying acting when I was about eight at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles, although I did my first show when I was about five years old. I was a street urchin in “A Christmas Carol” with Steve Allen. Good times! But truly. He was incredible, and I got the acting bug for sure. I also did numerous plays in middle school and high school. I got into improv when I was 15 and took the teen classes offered at Second City in Los Angeles. I then went to USC as a BFA actor but quickly switched to film school.
While I was at USC, I discovered that I love to write, direct, cast, and edit, as well as truly every aspect of filmmaking. I also really loved learning about the world through my film history classes. After I graduated, I did a few independent films, and I also started studying at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater where I ended up writing and performing in a number of sketch shows. It’s been really nice that I’ve always had an outlet in between jobs. For the past year and a half, I’ve been doing my latest show, ‘Sweeter’, at Lyric Hyperion and now the Elysian.
The next show at the Elysian is coming up on June 6th. In addition to my stage shows I made my web series ‘Guest Appearances’ which won the grand jury prize at the Austin film festival and at Nashville and a few others. It’s been a long time coming, but I finally just wrapped my first feature that I directed, wrote, and produced based on that same web series. Ed Begley Jr. reprised his role and I was fortunate enough to get an incredible cast. I’m still in shock about how lucky I was to be able to make the movie.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think being in the arts is definitely challenging. I’ve had my ups and downs. I mean, any business is tough, of course. But all I know is entertainment. Although I worked for a business manager right after college – sadly, I have dyslexia with numbers, so even though working with numbers is definitely more straightforward than screenwriting, I was clearly not made for business/accounting work.
Oh well! But gosh, I have so many examples of disappointments I’ve faced along the way it’s hard to remember them all. But I guess that’s a good sign. If they had been cemented in my memory, perhaps I would have given up at some point. So, I’m grateful that while I’ve struggled, I have been able to let it go and keep creating anyway.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on? What sets you apart from others?
I am an actor, writer, director, producer. I create mainly comedic content. I’ve made a number of digital series both independently and for companies like “Funny or Die.” I am most proud of my web series “Guest Appearances” and the fact that I just made a movie based on that series. I’m also proud of the fact that no matter what jobs have come my way, I’ve never stopped making my own stuff.
I’m about to begin post production on my feature. I’m also doing my show “Sweeter” at the Elysian theater on June 6th.
I think what sets me apart from other people is I giggle, often. Both at appropriate and inappropriate times. I also cry very easily, but usually, it’s when I’m feeling grateful. I also mainly write about my own life simply because that’s what I’ve always done, and it’s always my way into a particular story or project.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Rollerblading, playing with my Barbies (I loved acting and improvising even then), and going to New York to see theater.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lizzguest
Image Credits
Adam Baron-Bloch, Ben Solenberger, and Lynn Sellers
