‘Dynasty’ Star Elizabeth Gillies Says She Never Goes Anywhere Without This Eyeliner
It’s been a busy year for Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies. She got married (to husband Michael Corcoran), started filming the fourth season of Dynasty during the pandemic (the CW show returns May 7), recorded an original song for the show, directed an upcoming episode, and already got news that the soapy drama has been renewed for a fifth season.
“It’s really crazy, but we’re all very lucky,” she tells Glamour from Atlanta, where the series films. “I crammed a lot of things into what would have been a pretty dull year. I tried to make it interesting. I think packing on the wedding probably should have waited another year, but I’m actually very happy with the way it turned out. It was simple and beautiful and everything I wanted at my core without all the fluff.”
In other words, the opposite of the craziness that happens on Dynasty, on which she plays heiress Fallon Carrington. “This season in particular is highly dramatic,” she says, acknowledging the obvious. Still, “there are a lot of huge life changes that come for so many of the characters, especially Fallon. Certain scripts left us with our jaws hanging open, so I can’t wait for everybody to start watching.”
Plus, it’s more personal than ever. Gillies will make her directing debut with episode 18, which is something she’s been wanting to do for a while. “I feel really excited and quite confident about directing,” she says. “I’ve been doing this since I was a kid, and I made sure whenever I was on a set, I was always trying to learn as much as possible. I’d ask to sit in on editing sessions or shadow directors.” Even with all that prep, she adds, you’ll never get the opportunity if you don’t ask. “The worst thing you can hear is no, and if that happens, then you just ask again in a couple months. You just have to go after what you want.”
Speaking of going after what you want…when we asked Elizabeth Gillies to tell us her favorite things for our latest edition of Your Fave’s Faves, she gave us such an epic list, all of which we now need to buy. From nap dresses to temperature-controlled bedding, there’s something for everyone. Read on!
My favorite dress to wear around the house
I’ve been living in these beautiful, floral, bohemian Natalie Martin maxidresses around the house this spring, specifically the Fiore style. It’s the only thing I wear when I get home from work; it’s all I wear on the weekends. I love it so much I bought them in about five colors.
The most sentimental items in my closet
My veil from my wedding is weirdly in my closet, though it shouldn’t be. [Laughs.] Every time I see it, it makes me happy because it’s so beautiful. But it should be boxed up with my wedding gown. I also have a couple of Fallon’s shoes in my closet. Our previous costume designer told me I could keep them because they were really iconic and we wouldn’t be wearing them again. They always make me smile because they remind me of the crazy things I did in them as Fallon.
My favorite pair of jeans
My Citizens of Humanity jeans are the ones I’m obsessed with right now. I love their Georgia High-Rise Boot-Cut so much that I have them in two colors. They have a bit of a flair, which I like.
The hair products I swear by
I started using Kérastase at the beginning of Dynasty, and I really feel they’re responsible for my hair’s growth. Right now I’m blond, so I’m using their purple line, which takes out the orange in your hair, because I tend to go a little warm when I’m artificially blond. Kérastase has saved my hair because it’s been every color in the rainbow and it keeps growing and it stays healthy, so I’m very thankful.
My go-to makeup products
I love every form of makeup, so the more makeup, the better. There’s no need to wear it if you don’t like it, but I love it! I have been using Tom Ford’s traceless foundation stick since the beginning of Dynasty. I don’t go anywhere without eyeliner, even if I’m just going to pick up dry cleaning or something. I love KVD Beauty’s tattoo liner. KVD also make these awesome dazzle stick eye shadows that we’re using a lot on on Dynasty. They’re shimmery, cream stick eye shadows that are buildable, and it just grabs the shadow in a beautiful way.
I love the duo concealers from Laura Mercier. And I also am a big fan of KVD’s Lolita II lip liner. Charlotte Tilbury and Nars also has some really beautiful lip liners. And then Armani’s No. 4 lip liner has been my tried-and-true for many years.
My go-to acne treatment
I have been loving these zit stickers. I really like the ZitSticka. They are these tiny patches that gets the medicine in there but also covers it and protects it while you’re sleeping. If it’s something I’m trying to let heal, I use these SoKo Glam Soft Shield Pimple Patches, which are also amazing. And for nearly 10 years, I’ve used the Dr. Dennis Gross One Step Acne Eliminating Pads. I love them. Finally, I use Cetaphil in the shower because I cannot go to bed unless my face is shining, shining clean without a trace of makeup.
The facial device that works wonders
Dr. Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer. I just started using it over quarantine, and it really does make a difference. It’s so easy and compact.
The skin-care line that always calms my stressed-out skin
I’m using Tatcha the Indigo Cream for Sensitive Skin because I’m working so much that I want my skin to chill out and relax when I get home. I love Tatcha. Their whole line is great. We live off of it on Dynasty over there.
The candles that relax me
My favorite right now is Jenni Kayne’s Cedar candle. I have it in my dressing room at work. And I also really like Sydney Hale Company’s Garden Mint candle for a super-clean smell. I put it in my kitchen a lot.
How I spoil my dogs
I have a very specific aesthetic, and I found this wonderful small business called Little Donkey Supply Co., where she makes everything from scratch for your dogs. The collars easily slip over their heads, and they’re comfortable and cool and not too thick or too loud when they run around! I really recommend buying their bandanas and leashes and collars. They’re adorable.
My favorite purchase during quarantine
My dog sleeps in bed with me, and he’s so hot, like a little potato of heat. I love to be cold when I sleep, so my husband got me this heating and cooling mattress pad called a ChiliPad. It’s become something I cannot sleep or live without. Basically goes under your sheets, and it’s this machine that pumps cold water, or your temperature choice through these little tubes, and keeps you cool throughout the night. I’m a hot sleeper, and I can’t be warm, so I set mine to 67 degrees, and I’m just so happy. It’s an investment, and it’s changed my life.
My go-to snack at home or on set
I really like the Late July tortilla chips. I always like to go with that.
The best kitchen purchase I made
The From Our Place Always Pan is this awesome nonstick pan that has a rest for your wooden spoon on it and it has a lid and it can steam out either side. It’s amazing. It’s like the be-all, end-all for pans in the kitchen, and I cook a lot. I make a lot of stir-fries and vegetables, so having this pan has been really awesome.
The sleep gadget I’m loving
I’m wearing the Oura Ring a lot. It’s like a Fitbit but for sleep. It tracks my sleep, so if I’m tired the next morning, it will show me how much REM sleep I got, or how much deep sleep or light sleep I got. It also has your heart rate and lets you know when your temperature is elevated. I love knowing about what’s been going on in my body, so that’s been fun.
My favorite TV binge
I binged every episode of Nashville in about a month and a half, and that was insane! I got so obsessed with it, and I don’t mind saying that because it was a really wild and rewarding binge-watch. I also started watching RuPaul’s Drag Race. I have about two seasons left and I watch it around the clock in my trailer every day. That’s my main jam.
Dynasty airs Fridays at 9/8 p.m.. E.T./P.T. on The CW.
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram @jessicaradloff14.
