Elizabeth Olsen used to be one of those celebrities without any social media presence. She didn’t have Twitter, Instagram, whatever. Then she got Instagram last year, and she recently made it public. Why the change? Because she got the role of Taylor Sloane in Ingrid Goes West, an indie film where Olsen’s character is a “social media influencer” as a real job. Like, Olsen’s character Instagrams for a living. She Instagrams her perfect, slightly lux-hipster Cool Girl life in California. So, obviously, a lot of Olsen’s promotion for this film is about social media and what she thinks of it. Mostly, she worries that the food she’s photographing doesn’t look all that appetizing.
She’s bad at Instagramming: “I’m bad at it. I’m bad at the lighting. I’m bad at the framing. I’m bad at the editing. When I look at my food, it looks pretty. When I look at it on a phone, it looks not pretty.”
Because of Marvel commitments, she’s had to turn down a bunch of indie films: “There have been things more in line with the career arc I’d like to create that I had to turn down due to scheduling conflicts. You want to create a personal canon.”
Why she finally made her IG public: “I decided to join because I realized I was only taking something away from myself. It’s so funny that people like to pretend that they’re maybe or maybe not getting paid to post something. Financially, it’s a brilliant opportunity. Like, I’d really love to be a brand ambassador. I’d love to do a campaign. I think sometimes working with brands or different cosmetic companies — that can help people recognize your face and then they go see your movies. I was only hurting my opportunities by not participating.”
She tried being old-school: While some young Oscar winners like Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone have held out on joining the platform, it has increasingly become commonplace for even serious actor types — Anne Hathaway, Brie Larson, Shailene Woodley — to open up on social media. Before, Olsen says, she was “being old-school about it” — something she learned from her sisters, who she acknowledges are “notoriously private people.” But even they supported her launching an Instagram account. And besides, she’s not good at being “super mysterious.” She’s too chatty for that.
She loves stalking other people’s IGs: “There are so many times I’ve seen a picture and thought, ‘Oh, God, how do they make those flower arrangements look so great all the time?’ Or: ‘How expensive are those chairs I’m looking at on Pinterest? Did they find them at some place I’ve never heard of? How do you have that kind of eye?’”
I think it’s interesting that this really is the new model for actresses and celebrities. Their personal brand as a celebrity is tied to how well they can do social media, and their social media is the reason they’re a celebrity (like a snake eating its tail). Personally, I like it when a celebrity isn’t so precious about participating in social media, but of course there are people who are too engaged or weird about it. I had a good creep on Olsen’s Instagram and she seems to be doing okay – there’s nothing really newsworthy there, but she’s not just posting endless selfies either. Plus, I think it’s interesting that she admits this: “Financially, it’s a brilliant opportunity. Like, I’d really love to be a brand ambassador. I’d love to do a campaign. I think sometimes working with brands or different cosmetic companies.” Usually, actresses don’t say that out loud.
Photos courtesy of Instagram, WENN.
Kudos to her for being open and honest about it, unlike many other celebs who pretend to join social for their fans.
“that can help people recognize your face and then they go see your movies. I was only hurting my opportunities by not participating.”
But doesn’t this go against the whole concept of trying to have a normal life? One of the reasons beyond money that motivates actresses, in particular, to do advertising or become the face of a brand is public recognition that yes, hopefully, can encourage a new audience to go see their films, but… on the other hand this means consequences to their private lives as their profile and notoriety increases.
I’m not saying this is because of social media (it depends on how they use it), but because advertising and a close relationship with brands always imply more media exposure on a bigger scale.
But she still has control over what shes posting. She doesnt have to post the most intimate moments of her life. Plently of celebrities post photos from events or from set, but keep their home life out of it.
I don’t like her face so happy not to see her in print ads.
I don’t either!
I think she’s lovely. She looks so healthy and strong, in stark contrast to her sisters. I’d buy something she’s selling. She has an attainable quality to her looks. Very girl next door.
I have major respect for actresses who straight-up admit they do social media for career reasons instead of fronting as if it’s “just sharing” their lives. I remember even Kirsten Dunst said something similar, that having an instagram was something she did to raise her profile and get work, and that fashion and beauty contract money was what allowed her to do the indie films she wanted.
So kudos to Elizabeth for being honest, at least. Though I notice that it’s only actresses who are seen as having some talent/substance who will admit to this, their images won’t take the hit from openly admitting commercial intent, that someone like that Emily boobs girl or any random Disney starlet, would do. (I think at this point Zendaya could get away with it, though).
Yep, exactly!
And thank you!
About your last point, I think it’s more about how they use their social media. If you are professional about it and focus on work and maybe share just a little bit it’s ok, but if you follow the route of overexposure and “famewhore” like Emily does, then it won’t reflect well on your profile. How she doesn’t get this totally baffles me.
I’ve worked on social media management and every brand communicates differently, but whatever they do, they must be consistent with how they want to be perceived and sharing content that reflects this is essential. It’s no different for celebrities.
Why modeling? Olsen has a very decent acting career going. (Not quite A-list yet.) Very decent CV. Don’t cheapen yourself, lady!
Most instagram “models” don’t just “model” but they kind of make a living as a “model” without clothes in a bed with a stranger who leaves a generous “tip” on the table next to the bed.
I don’t understand the title of this post because she doesn’t talk about modeling, but being a brand ambassador which several actresses are. That’s very different from being an instagram model…
BRUSH YOUR HAIR.
Personally, I like a bit of bed head. Très chic. Très French.
I admire her honesty cause most celebs won’t admit this kind of thing even though almost all of them like making extra money from their social media accounts. I’ve seen Chris Evans promote Las Vegas casinos on his Twitter account lol even though he obviously makes much more than Elizabeth. She’s good looking I don’t know why she never got any beauty/fashion campaigns. Maybe it’s because of her hair colour? her old brunette look used to separate her from that trademark Olsen look, now she looks like Ashley Olsen or mostly generic.
I don’t like that staring-straight-into-camera-I’m-lost-in-a-dream look. It’s fake and unappealing. But I suppose that’s what most perfume ads look like, so if that’s the kind of product she wants to promote… These kinds of campaigns have never ever influenced me to buy a perfume or anything else. I’m drawn to happy photos and people who are smiling. Not “I’m so intense” bs.
This photo of her reminds me of the Childlike Empress in the Neverending Story.
One would think she’d be a shoo- in to be a brand ambassador for Elizabeth & James, considering that she is the Elizabeth in question.