AT&T’s Lily faced sexual harassment online — then she got a call of support from Progressive’s Flo
If you don’t know the actor Milana Vayntrub by name, then chances are high that you would recognize her face.
If you don’t know the actor Milana Vayntrub by name, then chances are high that you would recognize her face.
Since 2013, Vayntrub has been the on-and-off again star of many AT&T commercials as the character Lily, a jolly AT&T employee who has comedic interactions with customers. Vayntrub’s Lily was the face of a national AT&T campaign for three years before she took a hiatus and revived the character in 2020 for a series of pandemic-themed commercials.
Vayntrub is the subject of a new profile from The New York Times, in which she reflects on the highs and lows of her tenure playing Lily. She auditioned for the character as a 26-year-old and “dressed like I imagined a friendly girl would dress.” When the pandemic hit, Vayntrub herself pitched Lily’s return to AT&T.
Per The Times: “This time, Lily would be working from home. AT&T greenlit the proposal. Vayntrub directed the spots herself. She filmed the national ads in her own house, recreating Lily’s hair and makeup herself under the remote supervision of a professional.”
But stepping back into the national spotlight as the face of AT&T came with unexpected results, mainly online sexual harassment and unwarranted attention from internet trolls.
Rating: 5