Spotlight sat down with actress Cornelia Guest to hear all about her fabulous life. Guest discusses what it was like being debutant of the decade, her Cannes debut for ‘Oh, Canada,’ and her commitment to animal rights.
Check out the exclusive Q&A below!
1. You were born into a powerful family being the goddaughter of King Edward VIII and cousin of Winston Churchill. You were even photographed for Vogue at merely one-years-old. What was your New York upbringing like?
I grew up on Long Island surrounded by horses and dogs. I was up every morning taking care of them. My mom was a stickler for discipline. I was always up very early and this is a tradition I still have till this day.
2. By 22 years old, you were named “Debutant of the Decade.” What was your reaction to this honor?
It was a wonderful time and a great honor. I met a lot of people and made a lot of friends, who I am lucky to still keep in touch with today.
3. How did you initially get into acting? What was your first project?
I’ve always loved film and theater. I did a lot of high school plays. I took classes at Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. My first project was a SouthSide Johnny music video!
4. You were photographed countless times alongside friends like Andy Warhol and Truman Capote in the 1980s. Can you tell us one of your fondest memories from that time?
I made so many lifelong friends during that time. There are too many special memories to count. I was so lucky to be friends with so many talented people.
5. It’s fashion month, so we have to talk about NYFW. How are the shows different now than they were when you first started attending?
There used to be a lot more glamor. It feels a little bit more corporate these days. The best part was how present everyone used to be versus now. Now, there are always a bunch of phones out at shows, which makes me sad!
6. We saw you walk in the Dennis Basso show in 2023. What was this like?
It was so wonderful! Dennis [Basso] is an old friend and I got to wear a beautiful dress. It was lots of fun.
7. We have to talk about your most recent project ‘Oh, Canada’ and your Cannes debut! What was it like working alongside Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, and Jacob Elordi?
It was fantastic. Paul [Schrader] is always one of my favorite directors so to be able to work with him was a dream come true. It’s always a great experience working with such wonderful actors.
8. We know you’re also extremely committed to animal rights. What advocacy projects are you working on right now?
The wild mustangs that are on our federal lands and are being horrifically tortured through helicopter roundups.d. They are majestic creatures and deserve better. I’m currently working with American Wild Horse Conservation, who are doing a wonderful job in this ongoing fight.
10. What’s next for you?
Many wonderful things!
