Elizabeth Dean Lail is an American actress who gained widespread recognition for her role as Guinevere Beck in Netflix’s hit psychological thriller You, for which she was nominated for Best Actress in a Streaming Television Series at the 45th Saturn Awards. She is also known for her role as Anna in ABC’s Once Upon a Time. 

Elizabeth Lail Biography: Age, Early Life, Education

Elizabeth Lail was born on March 25, 1992 (Elizabeth Lail age: 33) in Williamson County, Texas. Lail grew up in Asheboro, North Carolina, after her family moved, where she spent most of her childhood. Her mother, Kay Lurene Surratt, is a homemaker, and her father, Dean Franklin Lail, is a businessman. She has an older sister, Kathryn Dean Lail. 

At the age of 14, Lail played a small role in a community theatre production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which sparked her passion for acting.  

Lail attended and graduated from Asheboro High School in 2010 and went on to pursue acting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2014.

Elizabeth Lail Biography: Career

Lail began acting in student productions such as Model Airplane (2011) and Without (2014), and later moved to New York City, landing a role in ABC’s fantasy series Once Upon a Time, as Princess Anna, soon after graduating from UNCSA in 2014. 

This role marked her breakthrough in the industry. She then went on to star as Amy Hughes in a supernatural-horror series, Dead Summer (2016), rising to popularity with the role of Guinevere Beck in Netflix’s popular show, You (2018-2025), alongside fellow cast member Penn Badgley. Lail has also acted in two other horror shows, Countdown (2019) and Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023), which went on to become commercial successes. She has since appeared in Ordinary Joe (2021-2022) and Gonzo Girl (2023), and is also a part of the cast of HBO Max’s reboot of Gossip Girl (2021-2023). 

In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Lail and her fellow cast member, Dustin Milligan, revealed their experience working with award-winning American actress, Diane Keaton, for their roles in the 2022 dramedy, Mack & Rita. 

“You know, the whole thing is so surreal,” Milligan confessed. “I think all of us were just truly blown away that this got to be our lives for like, a month and a half or whatever we were shooting for. And so that’s, uh, that surreal aspect of it was carried through all the way up to the first scene that I had with her, where I was just seated at a table in California Pizza Kitchen”, Milligan said, with a slight chuckle, sharing a playful look with Lail.  

He described Keaton’s presence, stating that “she walked in and was wearing the full, like, what you’d expect Diane Keaton outfit with this white flowy pant suit and a wide-brimmed white hat and it was just such an incredible picture of exactly what you would expect her to be like,” Milligan told uInterview. “But then, as soon as she spoke, she was instantly like joking around and very self-deprecating and also outwardly deprecating to me, trying to build the rapport. There was this kind of back-and-forth, kind of flirty banter between the two of us, and I was immediately put at ease. And yeah, then we just sat down and ate some pizza together over the next few hours, which just, honestly – so, so, so strange but something that I think will be with me for a while.”  

“Now, Elizabeth, you get to the experience of actually being Diane Keaton, on screen at least,” commented Erik Meers, founder of uInterview. “What sort of behind-the-scenes moments did you have with her, and like, any advice that she gave you?”

“I think she said, good luck,” Lail said, cackling. “I think we both, it was just very surreal, kind of what Dustin said, where I’m in the same costume, I’m looking at Diane, I’m giving her the belt, it’s like we’re sharing outfits or our accessories at the very least, and it’s just…Yeah, it’s surreal and it’s a privilege, and I think I was, and I know I think we all were just bursting with gratitude to be there,” Lail smiled.

Both actors were then asked if they had a favorite scene they had to work on in the film.

“I mean, I don’t know if I have one favorite in particular –  we were just talking about a scene that you and I had,” Milliagan said, looking at Lail, “which is, kind of towards the end of the movie. It was one of the moments where I got to see Elizabeth’s mastery of keatonisms, and I saw just, sort of, how she wove Diane’s essence, but then still, kind of [made] it her own thing – into this wonderful moment,” Milligan smiled, praising his co-star. “And it really was just truly a moment where, and it played in the scene but where I was just kind of like, oh wow. Wow, this is good. You’re really good,” Milligan said, eliciting a chuckle from Lail, revealing the friendly bond they shared with each other. 

“I agree, I loved that scene,” Lail said, smiling and nodding. “And I had one scene that was fun for me, where I come back out of the tanning bed as myself, and there was just something really joyful about looking in the mirror and being like, oh my god, I’m so happy to be me!” Lail exclaimed happily. “And of course I’m acting, but that kind of works on you in a way where you’re like celebrating your body. And I remember just being like – man, we should do this every day, right?” she commented. “That’s a great idea,” Milligan said, laughing. “We should look in the mirror and be like, yes!” Lail said, smiling. 

In conversation with uInterview at the premiere of her hit show, You, in May 2025, Lail expressed her excitement at the positive public response.

“I’m so happy for the creators and for Penn that it’s just been this huge success, and I’m really honored to be a part of it.”

When asked about her thoughts on the Joe Goldberg’s character, played by Badgley, this is what she had to say:

“You know, he’s so beloved – which just speaks to our collective psyche and how interested we are in a man saving a woman. It’s about time we put that to rest.”

Lail shared her experience filming for the first season with an easy smile. “I felt very kindred to Beck. I remember I would get to walk to work on days it was in Williamsburg, and I made some of my dearest friends working on it. So the whole time was such a delight.”

Elizabeth Lail Biography: Personal Life

Lail is an animal enthusiast and a vegan. She loves to travel and actively participates in charity works, supporting organizations such as the American Red Cross. 

In April 2021, she got married to Nieku Manshadi, a pediatric dentist, at Hasbrouck House in Stone Ridge, New York. 

Lail also starred as Tiffany in the play Pretty Perfect Lives, which began performances at The Flea Theater in August 2024. She is currently acting in a play by Tennessee Williams titled Not about Nightingales, which will be presented at the Williamstown Theatre Festival from July to August of 2025.   

Like
Like Love Haha Wow Sad Angry
4
Read more about:

Elizabeth Lail News