Lily from the AT&T commercials told us all about those family plans and savings we could make, but there was something different about her. It turns out the actress behind her, Milana Vayntrub, has made quite the name for herself in the world of acting since her time as Lily, but in recent years a lot has come to light about the terrible abuse she has suffered due to her popularity. Here’s her full story:
Lily Adams from the AT&T commercials was an instant hit
Everything changed for actress Milana Vayntrub when she landed the part of Lily Adams in the AT and T commercials. All of a sudden, the nation fell for the star of the commercials as she helped any family in need – especially when it came to learning about the family plans on the market. The ads helped boost AT and T sales like never before.
That wasn’t all. Many people fell for the new commercial characters as Lily found herself in all kinds of situations. From basketball stars to Mark Cuban and everyone in between, Lily has helped all kinds of families find a plan that works for them. Many fans quickly wanted to learn all about Milana, the face of the new hit commercials.
The creator of the commercials wanted Lily to be a well-rounded character
Hank Perlman was the brains behind the new commercials. The screenwriter created Hungry Man Productions, a company that has been voted as one of the top-five commercial production companies on the planet. It wasn’t long before Hank was asked to take the reins of AT and T’s commercials as the company wanted something new to bring to the table, and so, Lily was born.
Hank wanted to create a character who was multidimensional, something Milana brought to life with ease. Hank also wanted to try and make the character funny as well as “strong, smart, and human” to try and make Lily as relatable as possible. The commercials might only last for 30 seconds, but many agree that Hank did just that.
People started posting objectifying comments about Milana on AT and T’s social media posts
Hank might have succeeded in making Lily funny and relatable, but that’s not all people see when they watch AT and T’s commercials. It seems that a selection of viewers have taken to making unpleasant remarks about the character’s appearance. Of course, this means that their comments are also aimed at Milana.
The problems came to AT and T’s attention in August 2020 when a ton of users posted objectifying remarks on one of the company’s social media posts. The comments focused on Vayntrub’s chest, with people leaving milk emojis and saying things they’d probably never dare say to her face. The video ultimately attracted more than 1.6 million views, but it’s unclear how many of those views were from users genuinely interested in its content.
AT and T fought back against the comments before switching them off entirely
A few rude remarks here and there can be hard to pick up, especially if your notifications are always full of new likes and comments. However, AT and T wasn’t simply getting a handful of people objectifying Milana. The inappropriate comments were everywhere, making them impossible to miss. Fortunately, AT and T didn’t just sit back and claim ignorance.
They started responding to some of the awful remarks about Vayntrub, saying that they don’t condone harassment and that people’s overshares “aren’t welcome here.” They did what they could to try and clean up the inappropriate behavior, but there was too much for them to tackle. So, they did the only other thing they could think of and switched off the comments. That way, no one could say anything bad.
Vayntrub expressed sorrow and pain at what the remarks were putting her through
The remarks about Milana were so prevalent that it was impossible for the actress herself not to realize what was going on. Of course, it wasn’t just that one post that people were commenting on. Many of the online trolls were saying the same things on her own social media posts, ensuring she couldn’t get away from them.
She later did a live stream on one of her accounts to talk about the situation and share her feelings on the matter. Milana revealed that the drama hurt her feelings and confirmed that she didn’t consent to anything she was being put through. Some people supported her at that moment, while others told her to get thicker skin and acted like it was her fault these remarks were being made.
She was surprised by the controversy and the support that she received
With the controversy being so significant, Milana’s troubles soon attracted media attention. She eventually gave an interview with Insider, where she discussed what she was going through. It was here she revealed her surprise about the experience. Vayntrub told the publication that she was stunned by both the level of offensive remarks and the support she’d received.
She also criticized the fact that people expect her to “go to unreasonable lengths to avoid harassment.” Unfortunately, she knows she’s far from the only person in this position. She shared that many others, mostly women, go through the same thing and are somehow blamed for the comments they receive, despite being the victims. Sadly, there’s no indication that things will change for the better anytime soon.
Milana has an estimated net worth of $3 million
It turns out that Milana hasn’t just worked as Lily Adams from the AT and T commercials over the years. The model and actress has also appeared in several TV shows, movies, and web series, too. Her time as Lily merely helped to propel Milana’s career to new heights. According to Celebrity Net Worth, all of this work means it’s estimated that Milana has a net worth of around $3 million.
Although this number seems relatively small compared to some of the larger actresses in Hollywood, Milana is still carving her career on our screens, meaning there is plenty yet to come. Although she has worked on other projects throughout her career, playing Lily is still one of Milana’s most notable roles.
The Vayntrubs fled Uzbekistan and moved to the US
Milana has come a long way since her childhood. Milana Aleksandrovna Vayntrub was born on March 8, 1987, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. At the time, the nation was dissolving into the Soviet Union. The uncertainty about the future and worries of war caused many families to flee the nation at the time. Milana’s family was no exception.
The actress’ parents decided to leave Tashkent as they feared for their lives thanks to their religion. To start, Milana and her family settled in Austria before they moved to Italy, where they waited to hear if they would be allowed to move to the US or if they would have to find somewhere else to call home. Thankfully, the family moved to West Hollywood – and safety – in 1990.
Her parents taught Milana that hard work pays off
Although Milana was just three years old when she left Uzbekistan, she instantly got to see what her parents were willing to do to keep their family safe. Milana has opened up about her time moving across the world and settling into a new country. She says that her parents worked as hard as possible to ensure their children got the best upbringing and education they could afford.
Milana has nothing but kind words to say about her parents as she admits, “They did a great job.” It wasn’t long before their hard work and dedication rubbed off on their daughter as Milana still maintains these values in her own life. Thankfully, the actress has made quite the name for herself as a result.
The family lived in fear while living in Uzbekistan
Sadly, Milana knew the reason her family had to leave their home nation was because they were in grave danger. The family was Jewish, meaning they were sitting targets when they lived in Uzbekistan. There was a lot of conflict at the time, and many people were singled out due to their religion, lifestyle, or ethnicity.
The Vayntrubs knew they had to leave if they wanted to make it out alive. Although it took some time to get the all-clear to move to the US, it meant the family could get on with living their lives without living in constant fear. Plus, America opened up several opportunities for the family. The Soviet Union didn’t last much longer as it collapsed in 1991.
Milana is close to her younger sister
It turns out that Milana has someone else by her side to enjoy life with: her younger sister. The pair spend a lot of time together, and it seems that Milana is proud of everything her sister has achieved so far. The actress often shares snaps of her sister online, where many people can’t believe how similar they look to one another.
Milana couldn’t help but tell the world when her sister graduated and often posts birthday updates to share the love for her sibling. They certainly seem to share a mutual love for each other. It appears that Milana is incredibly family-oriented. Going through such a life-changing moment when they moved across the world seems to have brought the Vayntrubs together.
Her parents wanted Milana to have the chance to enjoy everything on offer
It turns out that Milana’s parents wanted to ensure their children had everything they could afford throughout their childhood. Moving to America opened up the doors in so many ways. Suddenly, the family had access to incredible schools and opportunities that they just didn’t have in their home nation. Milana opened up about her childhood during an interview with InStyle magazine.
Here, she confessed that her parents saved up to send her to private school. That was just the beginning, as Milana continued to add that she would often spend her summers at camp and went to gymnastics classes every week. Apparently, Milana’s parents wanted to let her take part in everything to see what she liked – something she has never forgotten.
She studied Communication at college
Not only has Milana created an incredible acting career for herself over the years, but she’s also earned a college degree throughout the years. She enrolled at the University of California in San Diego, where Milana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. People who want to work in journalism, promotions, marketing, or writing often try and earn this degree to kick-start their careers.
Milana? Perhaps she once had very different dreams about what she wanted to do with her life? We may never know. It was during her time at college that Milana started to branch out with her talents as she studied improv comedy at a local theater. This was just the beginning of a new path in Milana’s life.
Milana dropped out of high school when she was 16 years old
Believe it or not, but Milana dropped out of high school. She was a sophomore when Milana decided she wanted something new. Apparently, Milana has always had a passion for graphic design, photo-editing, and painting and wanted to be an artist. However, the arts program at her public school was very limited.
She knew there were some amazing opportunities at the local community college, and it wasn’t long before Milana decided she wanted to take advantage of them all. The actress admits that she was always in trouble at school for cheating on tests or talking in class and arguing with her teachers. The final push was her boyfriend at the time dropped out, giving Milana the confidence to do it herself.
Milana was interviewed by a news anchor while waiting for US visas in Italy
Many of us recognize Milana from her time as Lily in the AT and T commercials. However, it turns out the actress first appeared on TV when she was just a toddler. The Vayntrubs stopped off in Austria and Italy before they moved to the US, and it was during their time in Italy that Milana made her first appearance on TV.
A news anchor interviewed Milana and her dad about where they had come from and where they were going on their travels. At the time, the young family was waiting for the final visas that would grant them tickets to the US. Milan was in her dad’s arms as she told the news anchor they were heading to America.
Some of Milana’s old photos were manipulated to objectify the actress
Dealing with objectifying comments on your social media posts is one thing. That’s not the only harassment that Vayntrub’s had to put up with in recent years, though. People have also been finding photos of the actress and morphing them to look inappropriate. Some of these images aren’t recent, with users apparently taking pictures of her at a pool party from more than a decade ago.
The edits they make to these images and then share with others online is something that Milana is deeply uncomfortable with. However, the trolls don’t seemingly care about her feelings. All they’re interested in is making rude jokes and remarks at someone else’s expense. They probably don’t even realize what impact their actions can actually have on another person.
Milana has to think carefully about every scene she does from now on
Thankfully, this drama hasn’t stopped Vayntrub from continuing to pursue her acting dreams. However, it has made her think carefully about everything she does from now on. Before she does a scene, she has to consider how it will come across and whether it will give more fuel to the online trolls.
That’s especially the case if the scene is violent or intimate, although even the most pedestrian scene can give Milana cause for concern. Something as simple as whether her feet are on show makes the actress fearful of what people might say or do later. As she told Insider, this is something she can never stop thinking about anymore, and it’s all because of those people objectifying her online.
A part in ER was Milana’s first major acting role
Milana started acting as soon as she landed in the US. The youngster was just five years old when she appeared in Barbie doll adverts to help make some money for the family. Sadly, not many people noticed the young actress’s talents. Still, the work did help to bring in some much-needed extra income.
Her first major TV appearance came in 1995 when the young actress appeared in the medical drama show ‘ER.’ Here, Milana played the part of Tatiana for three episodes, and it wasn’t long before talent scouts started to notice Milana for all the right reasons. While her part wasn’t the largest in the show, it gave Milana a huge leap forward when it came to her young acting career.
Milana and her mom both had a crush on George Clooney
Of course, one of the leading actors from the show was none other than George Clooney. The actor was still in the early days of his career and was trying to make a name for himself in Hollywood. George appeared in ‘ER’ as one of the leading characters for five years before leaving the main cast in 1999.
Thankfully for Milana, she was one of the many actors who got to work alongside the now global superstar in his early days. Apparently, Milana was always trying to get George to agree to a playdate at her house. She says that he would always agree, and she would bug her mom to cook something nice so that George had a reason to come over.
Her appearance on Lizzie McGuire was Milana’s third TV role
Thankfully for Milana, appearing in ‘ER’ was just the beginning. The young actress landed a role in the soap opera ‘Days of our Lives’ before she secured another memorable part in the teen comedy show ‘Lizzie McGuire.’ Fans of the show may remember Kate and her posse. If you look closely at some of the episodes in 2001 and 2002, you might spot a familiar face.
That’s right; Milana was one of the members of Kate’s gang. By now, Milana had plenty of practice when it came to appearing on camera, and she was quickly building quite the portfolio for herself. Many stars would do anything to appear on the Disney Channel. All Milana had to do was put her talents to good use.
Milana has appeared in several smaller roles throughout the years
‘Roommates Enemies’ was a short-lived series that ran for three episodes. While it might not have become the hit show that many hoped, it did give Milana yet another notch to add to the belt. The actress played the part of Denise for all three episodes in 2012 and ‘13. This was yet another role the actress could add to her portfolio as she continued to land smaller parts.
Milana had been working on her talents for the last few years as she appeared in the sitcom ‘The League,’ the reality series ‘Food Network Star,’ and the police drama ‘The Division’ in the build-up to the series. However, Milana had only been able to land small supporting roles until this point.
She has turned her hand to modeling over the years
Perhaps landing so many smaller parts meant it was no surprise when Milana turned her hand to modeling? That’s not all. Living in Los Angeles meant Milana had access to some of the biggest modeling agencies in the world. If there is one thing her parents have taught the star, it’s that hard work can go a long way.
Milana needed something to pay the bills and had never tried modeling. What was the harm? It seemed that Milana was a natural in front of the camera as she landed a handful of shoots as she worked on her acting behind the scenes. Many stars have tried their hand at both. Sometimes you merely need to be in the right place at the right time.
Milana worked alongside David Duchovny in Californication
The comedy-drama show ‘Californication’ grew to become a huge success. The series first hit the air in 2007 and ran for seven seasons before it came to an end in 2014. It focused on the darker side of life in Los Angeles and won several awards for its storylines and characters over the years. Milana was one of the many actors who got to act on the show.
She appeared in one episode in 2014, where she played the role of Bad Actress. While Milana only appeared in one episode, she confessed that she loved every minute of the experience. David Duchovny starred in the series, and working alongside him was a huge moment for Milana and her budding career.
The actress appeared in Silicon Valley
2014 was a major year for Milana as she swiftly moved on to a part in the sitcom ‘Silicon Valley.’ The show focused on a group of young men who found a startup company called Pied Piper together in the area. Of course, the company comes with plenty of issues that are all shown throughout the series.
After six seasons and 53 episodes, the show came to an end on December 8, 2019, to the disappointment of many fans. Milana appeared in one episode of the show, but she instantly showed the world how she could adapt to any role she’s handed. Milana’s comedy timing teamed with her overall loveable personality made her the perfect fit for the satirical show.
A starring role in Other Space helped Milana break out into acting
Thankfully, things started to come together for Milana in 2015 as she landed one of the leading roles in the sci-fi comedy series ‘Other Space.’ This was the actress’s first chance to take one of the starring roles of a series as Milana brought Tina to life. Her comedy skills meant that she quickly settled into the role and added plenty of character to the show.
While it only ran for one season, it was enough to get Milana’s name on the map. The part in the show also came in the middle of Milana’s famous role as Lily from the AT and T commercials. Suddenly, people started to recognize the rising star from her already successful work on TV.
She has acted in the hit show This Is Us
If you didn’t already know Milana from her time as Lily in the AT and T commercials, there is a chance people might remember her face from her time in the hit romantic drama show ‘This Is Us.’ The series has gained plenty of fans ever since it hit our screens in September 2016. It is still a huge success, with the fifth season set to air in October 2020.
Milana played the part of a theater director named Sloane Sandburg, who won over many people’s hearts. Her romantic storyline in the show gave Milana a chance to flex her ever-expanding acting muscles once again. Yet again, Milana became a prominent part of the show as she appeared in eight episodes throughout the season.
Milana wanted to teach people about Hanukkah as Sloane
It wasn’t just Milana who had an impact on the show. It turns out the actress also took away some valuable lessons from playing Sloane. Milana gave an interview where she said that Sloane is good at making her dreams come true, even though she is sometimes distracted by her impulses. The actress knows many of us have all been there.
One of the most memorable moments for Milana came in the Hanukkah/Christmas episode as she confesses she first learned about Passover in the cartoon series ‘Rugrats.’ Milana always remembered the scene and hoped she could help teach others about the story of Hanukkah. Even a teacher messaged Milana to say she’d used the scene to teach her class.
Milana and AT and T made adjustments to their commercials to counteract controversy
No matter what roles Milana does, she’ll always be associated with AT and T. Perhaps that’s why she returned to film their commercials in 2020? Of course, it was in reuniting with the company that all the controversy regarding her appearance started. Thankfully, she and AT and T have made moves to try and reduce the amount of objectifying comments she receives going forward.
This involves adjusting Lily’s attire to include things like blazers to try and hide her body. Moreover, Vayntrub now typically remains stationary during a commercial and films a lot of shots behind a desk. Again, this covers more of her figure, so there’s less of her for viewers to see and objectify. It’s not foolproof, but it does make a difference.
People immediately questioned why Milana’s AT and T commercials were suddenly different
As soon as AT and T started airing these commercials, people immediately picked up on the changes. This led to Vayntrub receiving an influx of messages asking why everything was suddenly so different. Some of these questions were from curious viewers who weren’t aware of the controversy, while others were trolls angry about Milana fighting back.
The actress took to social media to clear up everything, explaining that she actually directs the commercials and made the changes in response to the objectifying comments. She told her followers: “You’ve lost the privilege of looking at [my body] until I feel safe again.” How long that will be is unclear. Given what people still seem to be putting her through, that time may never come.
The actress has appeared in several movies
It’s not just TV shows and starring in some of the most memorable TV commercials that have kept Milana busy all these years. It turns out that she has also appeared in a handful of movies throughout her career. Her first appearance in films came in 2011 when the actress played Tanya in the comedy ‘Life Happens.’
This led to more and more parts as Milana quickly appeared in the 2016 remake of the supernatural movie ‘Ghostbusters.’ By 2017, Milana was signed up to a starring role in the comedy movie ‘All-Nighter.’ It seems that playing Lily in the AT and T commercials helped to make Milana a recognizable face, meaning she could easily slot into any role that came her way.
Matt Damon and Milana have a hilarious video together
Would you believe that Milana has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in Hollywood throughout her career? One of those memorable moments came in 2013 when the actress got the chance to work with Matt Damon. Melana teamed up with her friend Stevie Nelson to create a web series called ‘Let’s Talk About Something More Interesting.’
Here, they got the chance to interview Matt Damon about the water crisis around the world, but things didn’t go the way that many of us expected. Milana showed off her comedic skills yet again as she continued to land joke after joke and helped make turn something so serious into a hilarious video. To date, the clip has almost 2 million views.
Milana has paid back everything from her family’s time as refugees
When she isn’t busy putting her comedy skills or acting talents to the test, Milana has something else that keeps her busy: her passion for helping refugees. Her family were all refugees when they first landed in the US and had to rely on an organization to help fund everything they needed to settle into their new lives.
Milana says they had a lot of help when they first arrived in America from an organization that kept track of all the money they spent on education programs and health care bills. Now, Milana is in a position to give back to the world. She admits that she has paid back every penny they needed at the beginning of their journey.
A beach towel made Milana feel like an outsider
Things weren’t always easy for Milana. The actress says that her childhood was difficult as she struggled to fit in with many of the other kids her age. One of the most memorable parts of Milana’s childhood is her beach towel – and it turns out there’s a good reason. She admits that everyone else in the neighborhood had colorful towels that were covered in Disney characters.
Milana? She had an orange and white towel that was complete with a Slavic doily. Apparently, Milana’s parents had brought it with them from Uzbekistan and gave it to their daughter. Sadly, Milana says that it made her stick out compared to everyone else and acted as a beacon to tell others that she wasn’t from the US.
Milana is now proud of her heritage
While things might not have always been so smooth for Milana, she is now incredibly proud of her heritage. As if that wasn’t enough, she often speaks about her home nation and uses her native tongue. The actress was too young to pose for a photo when her family first moved to the US. Instead, Milana had to sit on her mother’s lap to pose for the picture.
It appears the family still has their original visa papers as a reminder of their past. Milana says that she can’t remember what it was like to grow up in Uzbekistan. However, she grew up in a neighborhood where Russian heritage was dominant. This meant Milana learned and still speaks Russian with her parents.
Her time at the top means Milana can spread her passion
Becoming a star wasn’t always in Milana’s eyeline, but it soon became a major part of her life. Her initial acting roles were a way to help make some money for the family. Now, the actress uses her time at the top to try and spread the word about what’s most important in her life. This means that Milana has appeared on several radio shows over the years.
One of the many causes that have kept Milana busy is her work helping refugees as she aims to do whatever she can to help a family in need. Amazingly, AT and T have supported their commercial star as they say Milana’s passion is “absolutely remarkable,” and they “respect Milana’s personal interests.”
Milana has helped several refugee families over the years
There is no rest for someone with a passion for helping. That is something Milana’s loved ones have learned over the years as she often spends all of her downtime trying to do something for someone else. One of those moments came when Milana was on vacation with her father in Greece. While here, the actress decided to fly to the island of Lesbos.
Apparently, many Syrian refugees were coming in, and Milana wanted to see what she could do to assist. It wasn’t long before her kind nature and story touched many of the refugees’ hearts as they learned Milana was there to help. She even drove one Syrian family to the registration camp after they arrived on the island.
#CantDoNothing is a foundation to help refugees
So what does Milana do when she’s not jetting around the world, putting her empathy to good use? It turns out she’s often busy working for the foundation #CantDoNothing. Milana co-founded the organization that raises awareness and money for refugees living around the world. The actress wants to highlight a problem that so many families face every day.
That’s not all. Milana says that she also wants to share ways that we can end the conflicts and struggles that refugees face. It all started as a way for people to post about the issues on social media. Now, Milana hopes that people will challenge their friends to take part to help spread the word. In the end, Milana wants “a ripple effect of good.”
Milana has a hilarious sense of humor
An actress, a model, a campaigner – is there anything Milana can’t do? It turns out there’s not as the star also has a great sense of humor. Milana has shown us her comedic talents throughout her AT and T commercials as Lily, but that’s not all. Many comedians have their own ways of getting the audience to laugh.
Some prefer to tell stories, while others banter with people in the audience to get a reaction. Milana? She prefers to make fun of herself and others in a playful and charming way. Even when she’s not playing Lily, Milana is making people laugh as a stand-up comedian and in her various web series. It appears she really is the whole package.
She has plans to work on other commercials in the future
Milana’s comedy career is continuing to take off, and the actress has several roles in the pipelines, but what’s next for the star? It turns out that Milana has already thought about what she wants to do and often speaks about her future plans in her comedy routines. If you love Milana as Lily from the AT and T commercials, then have no fear; she wants to continue working on ads.
Milana admits that she loves working with ad agencies and brands, as well as older people who have been working in the business for decades. Working on commercials is all about creating ideas and challenges to make something bigger and better – things that Milana loves to do with her work.
Milana spends her free time making people laugh
If you follow Milana on social media, there is a good chance you’re used to seeing her funny side come through in her posts. Of course, the star uses her platforms as a way to spread the word about what we can all do to help refugees in need and other passions that dominate her time. However, even someone as passionate as Milana knows how to have fun.
She often spends her downtime having fun with her friends and making people laugh. It appears that most things are on the cards when it comes to making someone laugh. From pulling funny faces to pulling hilarious pranks and everything in between – every day seems to be a new adventure when Milana is on the scene.
Her father has always been an important person in Milana’s life
Milana and her family have been through a lot throughout their lives. As well as feeling a dangerous situation, they also learned how to settle into a new nation and forge a new home. To top it off, Milana knows that it was her parents’ hard work that gave her all of those memorable childhood moments that shaped her life.
She knows that she owes them a lot and often shares the love on social media. Milana admits that she has always been close to her parents, especially her dad. In fact, it was her vacation with her father that opened Milana’s eyes to the Syrian refugee crisis. The actress says that before that point, she never knew that much about the issue.
Milana uses her social media to spread acts of kindness
Many of us spend hours scrolling through social media each day. It’s become a normal part of daily life for many, but not Milana. She says that she only took to social media to spread the Can’t Do Nothing movement. Apparently, the actress would always avoid the sites because she knew how they made her feel.
Milana confessed that if she saw a picture of a delicious burger, she couldn’t think until she got her hands on one. Plus, if someone shared a cute photo of a kitten, she wanted to pet a kitten. It was an endless cycle, but one that Milana used to her advantage. She hopes that if other people see her doing kind things, they might want to join in.
Her social media accounts are filled with varied content
Although many of us know Milana from her time as Lily in the AT and T commercials and others recognize her thanks to her comedy routines, some have learned to fall in love with the star thanks to her social media pages. It seems that Milana has already learned how to share the perfect balance of content to keep her fans entertained.
Like many celebrities, Milana likes to give her fans a sneak peek into her private life through social media. However, she also likes to use it as a way to talk about her campaigns and organizations every now and then. Now, most of Milana’s pages are filled with a variety of content that proves how well-rounded she is.
There is an entire subreddit dedicated to Milana Vayntrub
Did you know there is an entire subreddit dedicated to Milana Vayntrub? Yes, it turns out that so many people have fallen for the actress over the years that they want to know everything about her life. People share snippets of information about the star and some of her best photos on the subreddit, but that’s not all.
Milana has confessed that she reads many of the posts and comments, as she loves to know what people are saying about her. So if anyone plans on posting about the star, they may have to remember that Milana might just see their comments. It seems that all of Milana’s time in the spotlight has made her quite the talk of the internet.
Milana enjoys being active
Milana has joked that she took part in gymnastics when she was younger because it was something every Russian kid had to do. Although she never became a professional gymnast, Milana still enjoys getting up and active. Many of her social media photos are filled with Milana enjoying the great outdoors with her friends.
She is usually always joined by her dog, too, as the pair love to get up and active. However, there is one thing we will never see on Milana’s social media: promotions from fitness brands. It turns out the actress doesn’t have to work too hard to keep her shape. The best bit? Milana isn’t in the health industry and wants to keep her social media for personal posts.
The actress is in love with her dog
If you follow Milana on social media, there is one thing many of us have quickly learned: she loves her pets more than most things in the world. Let’s face it; many of us could spend hours cuddled up with our pets, and it seems the actress is no exception. Many of Milana’s posts are filled with her dog, Hank.
The actress loves to share the love for her pooch and keep her fans updated on how he’s getting along. There are also some funny videos of the pair hanging out together as Milana tries to give Hank an accessory or two or get his ball out of the tree after she got it stuck. It seems the two have a lot of fun together.
Comedy came naturally to Milana
Some of us are born to be funny. Others? Not so much. Thankfully, Milana is one of the few who has been gifted with comedic charm. Many people want to know when she realized she has a talent, and if she always knew she was funny. Thankfully, Milana answered all those questions during an interview with Esquire.
Apparently, Milana was gifted with comedy from an early age. She admits that she was “silly” when she was a kid and that people “liked people who were funny.” It didn’t take long for Milana to put two and two together and figure out how to be entertaining. However, the actress never thought about whether she was funny and didn’t know how hilarious she was at the time.
Lily from the AT and T commercials is Milana’s most famous role so far
During her interview with Esquire, Milana opened up about her time as Lily in the AT and T commercials. Of course, being one of the talks of the commercial break means Milana knows what made her so famous in the first place. The actress opened up about what it’s like to be known for commercials.
Apparently, people most commonly recognize Milana from her AT and T commercials. If it’s not the commercials, it’s usually her YouTube channel. To top it off, the actress says that when people that recognize her from TV look her up, they often stumble across her videos. Whatever the case, it seems that most people Milana meets are long-term fans who can’t wait to meet their idol.
Lily was mentioned in an episode of Family Guy
You know that you’ve made it in the world of entertainment when you find yourself a topic of conversation on a major show. That happened to Milana – kind of. Her character Lily from the AT and T commercials was mentioned in the animated series ‘Family Guy.’ Peter wants to know where Louis keeps the list of commercial stars’ names so he can track them all down.
One on the list? You guessed it: Lily. While she wasn’t the star of the show, it helped show the world just how much of an impact Lily has made on the rest of the world. Perhaps there’s room for Milana to make another appearance and take more of a leading role in the show?
No one ever thought Lily would become a commercial campaign
Many fans want to know what it was like for Milana when she became Lily. The actress says that the audition was just like any other she had been to throughout the rest of her career. In an interview, Milana admitted that no one involved in the commercial thought it would turn into a series, let alone the successful run of commercials that many of us know and love.
The team filmed the first one in November 2013 before it aired the following month. Milana was quickly asked to return to film more commercials. However, the actress always thought the next one would be her last, even though she hoped that it wasn’t. Thankfully, Milana was an incredibly popular addition.
Milana always knew that she wanted to be an actress
Milana did an interview with Dopeness magazine, where she continued to talk about her time as Lily and her acting career. The star did a colorful photoshoot that reflected her bright personality. Here, Milana said that she always knew she would become an actress because she had been doing it from such a young age.
Thankfully, her parents’ support meant Milana could find her feet in the acting world. Unfortunately, things didn’t always go to plan. During her younger years, Milana was used to working on set. However, that changed when she was 12 years old as she suddenly felt awkward and had many insecurities. All Milana needed to do was fall back in love with acting to remember her dreams.
The actress was having a bad day when she auditioned for the part of Lily
Believe it or not, but Milana thought that things would be very different when she arrived at the audition for the part of Lily in the AT and T commercials. The actress told Dopeness that she was having a bad day. Although she can’t remember what happened, Milana says that she was crying shortly before the audition.
Then, she had to wait another 45 minutes in the waiting room. By the time Milana went in for the interview, she didn’t care anymore and improvised most of her audition. The producers fell in love with Milana’s performance and quickly asked her to come back for a bunch of screen readings with other actors to ensure they all gelled together – and they did.
Working with Gordon Ramsay is Milana’s favorite AT and T moment
Being in so many AT and T commercials means that Milana has worked with a host of famous faces over the years. So what is her favorite time from the commercials? Apparently, it was the commercial she got to shoot with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Milana admits that Ramsay had a tough time not cussing on the show, and the entire thing was “hilarious.”
Many of us know Ramsay for his no-nonsense attitude and willingness to say what he thinks. Milana confessed that he was “actually a lovely human being,” even though it goes against his TV persona. In the end, the commercial the pair shot together was just one of the many that helped Lily become one of the most beloved commercial stars.
Milana almost walked away from acting
Although she has built a huge acting career for herself and is a beloved TV character to many of us, there was once a time when Milana wanted to walk away from it all. The actress says that she seriously thought about leaving acting behind her – and even did for a time. For many years, Milana could only land smaller roles.
To top it off, she was a teenager who was struggling to deal with many insecurities that are thrown at many of us throughout our teenage years. In the end, Milana decided she needed to focus on “something more realistic” rather than her dreams of becoming a legendary actress. Thankfully, she fell back in love with the art during college.
Playing Squirrel Girl has earned Milana even more fans
The world is Milana’s oyster, thanks to her time as Lily in the AT and T commercials. One of her most recent roles includes Milana’s time as Squirrel Girl in various Marvel TV shows. Plenty of Marvel characters have been brought to life over the years, including the likes of Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and Spider-Man.
The best part? The roles have been enough to catapult some actors to stardom. Could the same happen for Milana? Many fans were certainly excited to see what the actress brought to the table. She didn’t disappoint and has earned several more fans ever since. In fact, the crowd at Comic-Con went wild when Milana came in for the Q and A and signing sessions.
None of the Marvel series have taken off
So far, Milana has worked on several Marvel TV shows in the hopes that Squirrel Girl will get picked up and receive the airtime it deserves. In 2018, the actress voiced roles in ‘Marvel Rising Secret Warriors,’ ‘Initiation,’ and ‘New Warriors.’ This was before 2019 added ‘Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts,’ ‘Heart of Iron,’ and ‘Battle of the Bands.’
Unfortunately, none of the series are yet to get the hype and recognition that they have earned. Several hundred hours have gone into producing each of the animated shows, with pilots being tested repeatedly with different audiences to ensure they are the best they can be. Hopefully, fans – and Milana – won’t have to wait much longer to see the series take off.
Milana has been working on a new movie for 2020
Just because some projects appear to have come to an end doesn’t mean that Milana has been relaxing. The actress has been working on several productions in recent months, including the up-and-coming horror comedy movie ‘Werewolves Within.’ The film is based on the videogame with the same name and has been adapted for the big screen.
The project was first announced in October 2018, and everyone has been busy bringing it to life ever since. In January 2020, the leading cast was announced, and filming began one month later. Milana is one of the many stars of the movie that is currently in post-production. Everyone hopes that it won’t be long before the production is ready to be shown to the rest of the world.
The actress is working on several new projects
It takes a special comedian to be able to pull off a sketch series. Thankfully, Milana has everything she needs to bring one to life. The actress and comedian teamed up with her friend Akilah Hughes in 2020 to bring the comedy sketch show ‘Making Fun with Akilah and Milana’ to life.
Here, the pair bring annoying social habits, friendships, modern life, and workplace dynamics to our screens for the world to see. That’s not all. Milana has also been working on a new TV show where she plays the part of Leah. The action-comedy even stars the likes of John Travolta and Kevin Hart, a far cry from Milana’s early acting days as Lily in the AT and T commercials.
Milana still deals with objectifying comments, even on social media posts that hide her body
It’s safe to assume that Milana won’t be showing off more of herself – either as Lily or in another role – anytime soon. After all, people continue to make objectifying remarks on posts that aren’t even remotely inappropriate. The controversy is now so widespread that Vayntrub could be in the most ill-fitting clothes, and trolls will still make unsuitable comments.
It’s no wonder that the actress doesn’t post many pictures of herself on social media anymore. Hopefully, there will come a time when she’ll feel like she can put whatever she wants online without facing repercussions from trolls. Until that future arrives, though, Vayntrub will continue to do whatever she must to stop people from being their very worst selves on her posts.
She could delete her social media accounts, but she’s not going to
Of course, there is one fairly clear solution to all this – she could delete her social media accounts. Plenty of celebrities before her have done it when they don’t want to deal with the trolls making rude remarks on their posts. However, Vayntrub doesn’t want to do that. She doesn’t see why she should have to run away from the internet when she’s done nothing wrong.
All that this will achieve is letting the trolls know they’ve succeeded, giving them the motivation to attack someone else. Milana isn’t going to go anywhere, and perhaps once people get that message, they’ll stop objectifying her so much? There’s no assurance that this will happen, but Vayntrub needs some hope to hold onto after all they’ve put her through.
Milana Vayntrub opened up about her difficult pregnancy in 2022
Milana Vayntrub has come a long way since she first burst onto our screens all those years ago, even going as far as to welcome a son in May 2020. However, it seems that things were far from easy for the star who opened up about her difficult pregnancy and birthing story to The Daily Beast in February 2022.
Here, Milana confessed that her son’s head was “pushing against my spine,” and it felt as though her “back was breaking” every time she had a contraction. Thankfully, she made it to the hospital, where Milana was surrounded by medical professionals and her husband, but labor still lasted two hours and was reportedly painful for the star when medical treatments didn’t work.
Welcoming her child made the actress reminisce about times gone by
Of course, many parents can’t wait to meet their little one and start a family as soon as they learn there’s a baby on the way. Sadly, that isn’t the case for everyone – and is something that Milana has realized since becoming a mother. Milana admitted that as soon as she saw her son, she knew the difficult final moments of her pregnancy were worth it.
So what about the people who might not have a choice for much longer? This is what Milana wrote about in her piece for The Daily Beast, as she’s worried about what it could mean if the Supreme Court rules that women will no longer be able to get terminations. In fact, it’s a subject that’s close to her heart.
Milana has since admitted she once terminated a pregnancy
Milana Vayntrub admitted to The Daily Beast that ten years earlier, she had also faced the realization that she was pregnant and had no means to raise her child. The actress confessed she was living in her first apartment out of college with her boyfriend and was struggling to make ends meet.
It was only then Milana realized the truth. Two pregnancy tests later, she learned she was pregnant but knew there was only one option. Milana admitted she booked into a clinic and had a termination, something that she still doesn’t regret to date. In fact, the actress says she often uses her “strong moral compass,” and nothing was telling Milana this was a bad decision at the time.
She wants every woman to have a choice about their pregnancies
As if opening up about her termination wasn’t enough, Milana also wanted to teach the world about why she believes it’s so important for everyone to have a choice. The actress wrote that the story of becoming a mother is “inseparable” from her termination story. Milana added that she has always known her choice was a “privilege,” but she wants it to remain as one others can make.
The Roe v. Wade case was a landmark decision made by the Supreme Court in 1973 and saw pregnant women offered a layer of protection when it came to making a decision about whether or not to have a termination. However, there are now talks that this could be overthrown and lead to several unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.
Milana Vayntrub hopes the Supreme Court will protect termination laws
If new laws are passed – as they have partially been already – then it could mean women have few if any rights when deciding to terminate their pregnancy. This is something that worries Milana Vayntrub so much that she has written an extensive piece on it all for The Daily Beast. She also talks about her views and opinions in the hopes that others will join her.
Milana states that she believes the decision to undo the laws is “about power” and having control over people’s decisions. While she can’t vote in the Supreme Court, Milana is hopeful that she can use her platform and voice to inspire those who can to bring in legislation that would protect people’s rights to choose a termination.