In an industry often defined by its polished surfaces and gatekept opportunities, Elizabeth Guest is finding success by rewriting the rules, literally. Growing up on the Paramount lot and watching her father on sitcom sets, she didn't just inherit a love for comedy, she inherited a relentless "DIY spirit.

From her award-winning web series Guest Appearances to her feature Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, she has embraced the philosophy that "the way to get to the next level is by writing your way in." Whether she is navigating the overwhelming culture of dating apps or guest-starring on major hits like 9-1-1 and A.P. Bio, she continues to maintain a grounded perspective on the craft. For her, the creative process isn't just a career path, it's a necessity. "I just do it because I have to," she says, "it's just part of who I am." We sat down to discuss the challenges of directing family, the magic formula for real dialogue, and why finding your voice is the only thing that truly matters.

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Growing up in a family of comedic legends. Was there a specific moment you realized you wanted to follow in their footsteps?

I have very fond memories of various celebrations after movies were completed. Premieres used to be really family-friendly; I remember running around the Paramount lot. I also remember my dad was on a sitcom for a few years when I was in elementary school, and I would go to the taped dress rehearsals on Mondays after school. I remember a giant bowl of gum and craft services, but mostly I remember that the whole cast and crew felt like a giant family and the actresses were really sweet to me. I think that was the real moment I knew I wanted to be an actor.

You've worked with legendary comedic directors and actors. Who has given you the best piece of advice that you still use today?

A really good question. I did have a particularly sweet moment with Nancy Meyers a few years ago, she watched my web series and wrote me an email saying “ the way to get to the next level is by writing your way in…and you can do that." I try to remember her words whenever I am experiencing any sort of doubt. And then a family friend, Chris Long, told me when I was shadowing him on an episode of The Mentalist, that you have to have a number of projects in the works because you never know which one is going to take off. I really liked that advice because I tend to be working on multiple things at the same time and it’s nice to know that I’m actually supposed to be doing that.

**Left:**
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**Right:**
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Pocket Square by Stylist Own

In Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, you wrote, directed, and starred. What was the biggest challenge of being the boss while also being the lead actress?

The biggest challenge was just the sheer amount of responsibility, of course. I think as a director and producer, your job is to make sure that everybody else can do their work, so it was a lot to manage, but at the same time, it was very rewarding. I had a friend work on the movie for just one day, and he said it was the most fun set he'd ever been on. That feedback made me very happy because I wanted everybody to have a good time and, of course, be proud of the work they did. Also, as far as being the lead actress goes, I think if a set is run well and people are enjoying themselves, the acting feels a lot casier. In taking care of others, I also took care of myself. It was a win-win.

Let's Call The Whole Thing Off features your father and other family members. What is the dynamic like when you are directing your own family on set?

I really love working with my parents and other family friends who feel like family at this point. There's a comfort level and, therefore, a level of honesty. I never felt like I couldn't be truthful about what I wanted or needed in a particular scene, and I think that's really important, especially at the indie level.

There really isn't time to guess what people want; whoever is in charge just has to be able to say what it is.

Your character Lydia is "addicted to love." What do you think makes her story relatable to audiences today?

I think the fact that Lydia is "addicted to love" is a perfect way to describe what dating is like today.

Because of dating apps and the culture of endless swiping, I think people often feel like they have to be on a constant search for the perfect person, or it can be tempting to wonder, 'What if I just swipe one more time?" The character was inspired by my own feelings of being overwhelmed by dating apps and the fear of hurting one person because there might be a stronger connection with someone else.

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You've performed at Second City and UCB. How does that improv background help you when you're on a professional TV set like 9-1-1 or Superstore?

Improv has absolutely helped me on TV sets, usually more for comedies, but that improvisational spirit has helped me in dramatic roles as well, especially when changes are being made on the fly. As an actor, you're really not in control of the bigger picture, so going in with a willingness to improvise can only help you.

You were named one of MovieMaker Magazine's "25 Screenwriters to Watch." What is your magic formula for writing dialogue that feels funny and real?

I'm not sure that I have one, but I am a very observant person. I tend to write well for pcople I know, but I also wind up creating characters based on people I've interacted with very briefly. You never know when inspiration will strike. I do think that being an actor makes me better at dialogue because I know personally what kind of lines I would want to say. At the end of the day, you just have to tickle yourself; if you're enjoying writing it, someone's probably going to enjoy saying it.

Having won major awards for your web series Guest Appearances, what advice would you give to student filmmakers at USC today who are trying to get noticed?

Advice I would give to any filmmaker, in film school or not, is to make as much as you can. The possibilities are really endless now in terms of creating content, so the more you study, take classes, write, record, and perform, the better your material will be. The more you do it, the faster you will find your voice, and that's what matters most of all.

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**Right:**
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Blouse by Ramy Brook
Pocket Square by Stylist Own

Having worked in drama, sitcoms like A.P. Bio, and indie comedy, is there a specific kind of role or genre you are itching to try next?

I would love to do another rom-com. Right now, I'm imagining Sandra Bullock in The Proposal type of character, you know, the classic workaholic who needs to stop and smell the roses once in a while. It's hard for me to turn my work brain off sometimes, so that would be fun to make fun of myself.

Between your guest roles on big shows like 9-1-1 and A.P. Bio, you've never stopped making your own indie projects. Why is it so important to you to keep a "DIY" spirit as your career progresses?

I love being in the middle of a creative process and the rest as is. I personally am so much happier when I'm creating things. I don't even know if I would say I do it because it's "important" to me. And it's fun! I love being in the middle of a creative process. It makes me want to get out of bed in the morning and seize the day, after I've had my coffee, of course.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Elizabeth Guest
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Michael Creagh
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair: Corey Tuttle for Exclusive Artists using R+Co
Makeup: Marc Cornwall at Artists By Timothy Priano using ILIA
Assistant Makeup Artist: Marisol Raymundo
PhotoBook Assistant to Creative Director: Mia Aponte
Retoucher: Luka Ukropina
Fashion Stylist Interns: Cooper Certain, Emma Morales
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Lily Kalbasz, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

The Evolution of Elizabeth Guest: From the Paramount Lot to the Director Chair