Tales From A Costume Designer – ELIZABETH LAIL (Actor)

Host: Whitney Anne Adams
Guest: Elizabeth Lail
Release Date: April 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging conversation, professional costume designer Whitney Anne Adams sits down with actor Elizabeth Lail (known for You, Five Nights at Freddy’s 1 & 2, Once Upon A Time, and more) to discuss the intertwined journeys of acting and costume design. They explore Elizabeth’s early inspiration, collaborative artistry on set—especially relating to her character Vanessa in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2—and the crucial role self-care plays in sustaining a creative and demanding career.

Throughout, they share personal anecdotes and wisdom about craft, collaboration, and the unpredictable nature of life in the entertainment industry—always with warmth, candor, and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elizabeth’s Beginnings as an Actor

• Early Inspiration & Overcoming Shyness
  • Elizabeth always wanted to act, even before she knew it could be a real job, experiencing emotional catharsis at community theater as a child.
  • Her mother nudged her into auditioning for local musicals despite her shyness.
  • “My parents would take me to see, like the local community theater. And I just remember being blown away by the experience… the emotional catharsis of it felt really worthwhile from a very young age.” (01:31, Elizabeth)
• Memorable Early Roles
  • Fond memories of being Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Kandi Kane in Wagon Wheels West, and playing an old lady in Arsenic and Old Lace (channeling her grandmother for the voice).
  • “What's really funny is… the play I just did last summer, I was also doing, like, a rendition of my grandmother, but, like, a younger version.” (06:15, Elizabeth)

2. Training & Growth

• Arts-Focused Education
  • Attended North Carolina School of the Arts, first for senior year of high school, then for college—reigniting her passion for acting.
  • “Once I was in an art school, I felt… really alive and fulfilled and inspired... I was, like, on fire for acting.” (07:31, Elizabeth)
• Embracing Learning Curves
  • Both Whitney and Elizabeth share stories of improving with practice, whether in acting, costume design, or even learning to play guitar.
  • “You get a little. A little bit better every day.” (09:21, Elizabeth)

3. The Actor/Costume Designer Collaboration

• Transformation Through Costume
  • “We do have the power of translating through the medium of clothes, people can do anything we want. And that's why I think we're a very important part of the whole cinema product project.” (00:15, Elizabeth)
  • Both agree costumes are crucial for both the performer’s transformation and the audience’s initial perception.
  • “Costumes… they do so much heavy lifting.” (11:13, Elizabeth)
• Vision Boards & Creative Input
  • Elizabeth loves seeing designers’ vision boards—their ideas often expand her own sense of the character’s style.
  • “I get much more excited about what's brought to me than what I myself can create in my head.” (25:16, Elizabeth)
• Fittings—A Collaborative, Emotional Process
  • Fitting rooms are a place for creative play, emotional sensitivity, and sometimes, self-doubt or insecurity.
  • “You start everybody and you're like oh, is this what I look like? Is this what I'm going to look like?” (32:53, Elizabeth)

4. Working on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

• Returning as Vanessa & Costume Evolution
  • More freedom exploring Vanessa’s look after mostly wearing a police uniform in the first film.
  • “I loved what we landed on… I can even see it as a Halloween costume.” (29:32, Elizabeth)
  • Costume choices echoed Vanessa’s journey—structured, neutral pieces that reference the police look, showing her ongoing struggle to find herself.
  • The “date” outfit—a teal early-2000s vintage dress—was an emotional and aesthetic standout.
  • “It almost feels like something she would have, you know, impulse bought as, like, a dream or...something that reminded her of her mom… it felt like something special, even though it's still very muted.” (31:53, Elizabeth)
• Stunts, Doubles & Physicality
  • Every stunt presents unique challenges (driving scenes, harnesses, action with puppets/animatronics).
  • Elizabeth appreciates her stunt doubles and finds power in physical storytelling.
  • “My favorite stunt… is when Mangle's hands are coming in to grab me… that's all acting. It's like puppet acting and me acting. And I get so pleased when I'm like, oh, it looks like it's really grabbing me… but I'm in total control.” (38:33, Elizabeth)
• On-Set Atmosphere
  • The team’s camaraderie and talent made the process joyful.
  • Costume department anecdotes—Elizabeth and Whitney joking about coveting and sometimes acquiring set wardrobe as keepsakes for their personal closets.

5. Character Creation & Auditioning in the Modern Era

• Process of Embodying Characters
  • Discuss the unpredictability and pressure of auditions—both self-tape and in-person.
  • “I feel like auditions are always the first pancake. They're like a little burnt on one side, maybe not quite done in the middle.” (22:33, Elizabeth)
• Role of Vanity and Preparation
  • Elizabeth likes wearing character-adjacent clothing even in auditions: “I like to dress and, and feel closer to the character.” (23:27, Elizabeth)

6. The Emotional Complexity of Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe

• Hair/Makeup Interactions
  • The final “look” can be a surprise or even unsettling if not fully communicated across teams; a lesson learned through trial and error.
  • Whitney, as a designer, over-communicates via boards and group chats to ensure actor comfort and consistency.
  • “You need to feel like the character, and you need to feel like everything is in its place... It's like having a wrong size pair of shoes. You can't do what you need to do.” (48:55, Whitney)
• Personal Insecurities & Comfort
  • Whitney notes her work is “a bit of a mind reader, a bit of a psychologist, a bit of a therapist all wrapped into a designer.” (50:34, Whitney)
  • The fitting, and the hair/makeup chair, are intimate spaces where actors’ insecurities come to the fore—requiring tact and collaboration.

7. Creative Chemistry & On-Set Relationships

• Importance of Trust
  • Building relationships with other actors, directors, and the immediate crew enhances on-screen chemistry and technical performance.
  • “There's an easiness to it that helps in the scenes, right. Where you're like, I know this person. I have experience with this person. They're not some stranger that I have to pretend that I know.” (56:33, Whitney)
• Collaboration with Camera Teams
  • Knowing camera operators and DPs can lead to subtle in-the-moment adjustments that make all the difference.
  • “A really good camera operator can just, like, whisper, like, look to the left and you could stay in the moment. And then your light catches the eye.” (51:47, Elizabeth)

8. Self-Care and Routine in a Demanding Industry

• The Necessity of Wellness Routines
  • Both Whitney and Elizabeth share the routines that keep them grounded—whether breathwork, journaling, exercise, or crossword puzzles.
  • “Outside of doing the job, the second job is taking care of myself.” (59:22, Elizabeth)
  • “I would say the thing I always, always, always do is some kind of warm up and then some kind of cool down. And I think that is, is something that is a saving grace for me that I've learned…” (59:33, Elizabeth)
  • Whitney: her day starts with a crossword in a Snuggie and a cup of coffee as a comforting, brain-waking ritual.
• Food, Sleep, and Energy
  • Both have adapted to the grueling production environment by prepping food, enforcing rest, and fitting in physical activity wherever possible.

9. Reflections on Career Longevity & Advice

• Persistence Over Perfection
  • “My biggest piece of advice is keep going. And that sounds really, really simple. But I think if you get on the path and you keep going down the path in whatever capacity you can… creative success, you will fail many times and you will try again.” (76:02, Elizabeth)
  • “The struggle never really stops… even the highest performing, greatest actors or costume designers… the inner critic is always there.” (80:04, Elizabeth)
• Adaptability and Finding Your Path
  • Both agree that, while initial ambitions may shift, consistent engagement in the creative “arena” helps you find your real place, whether in acting, writing, design, or elsewhere.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of costume:
  • “We do have the power of translating through the medium of clothes, people can do anything we want.” (00:15, Elizabeth)
• On learning and improvement:
  • “Something else you don't realize when you're young is that you get better at things.” (09:00, Elizabeth)
• On the fitting room dynamic:
  • “You're going to be thinking about it. Then you can't do your job.” (55:01, Elizabeth)
• On ‘auditions as pancakes’:
  • “I feel like auditions are always the first pancake. They're like a little burnt on one side, maybe not quite done in the middle.” (22:33, Elizabeth)
• On creative collaboration:
  • “I love to get to know the immediate crew very well because I want them to feel like they can help me in those kinds of moments.” (51:47, Elizabeth)
• On perseverance as an artist:
  • “If you keep going, it's just a... numbers game, truly.” (77:33, Elizabeth)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Elizabeth’s Early Acting & Inspiration – 01:31 to 07:00
• Training at NCSA & Growth – 07:00 to 09:57
• The Importance of Costume for Character – 11:01 to 12:05, 25:16
• Influences: Movies, Musicals & Role Models – 12:11 to 16:34
• Script Selection & Character Building – 17:22 to 18:58
• The ‘FNAF 2’ Experience & Costume Process – 27:37 to 35:13
• Stunts & On-Set Experiences – 37:26 to 41:01
• Chemistry & Crew Collaboration – 51:22 to 58:29
• Wellness, Food, Routine, and Self-Care – 59:01 to 72:00
• Wisdom for New Actors/Artists – 76:02 to 82:30

Final Thoughts

This episode is a heartfelt and practical dive behind the scenes—not just into movie magic, but into the persistence, sensitivity, and deep collaboration it takes to bring stories and characters to life. Whitney and Elizabeth’s rapport is affectionate and honest, offering industry newcomers and longtime creatives powerful reassurance: keep going, seek connection, and never underestimate the magic of a great fitting, a trusted team, or a morning spent with a crossword.