AT&T’s Beloved Spokesperson Lily Is Back and Working From Home

Here’s a blast from the not-so-distant past: Milana Vayntrub, the actress who became ubiquitous on TV screens across America a few years ago in the role of AT&T employee Lily, is back with the brand in a pair of spots. Still in her signature blue button-up, Lily is now, like many of us, working from home instead of an AT&T branch. In one of the ads, she’s seen talking up 5G and pondering the current sourdough bread obsession. [kickout id="1"] Despite her three-year hiatus from AT&T’s advertising, it doesn’t appear as though Lily’s quirky sense of humor has gone anywhere. In another spot, she plugs AT&T’s iPhone 11 discount before sharing her penchant for putting googly eyes on inanimate objects around her house—a topic that feels oddly familiar to SNL fans. [kickout id="2"] The ads, which are running on TV and online, were created in partnership with BBDO Los Angeles and Critical Mass. According to AT&T, Vayntrub, with the help of her boyfriend—who is an architect, not a director in real life—shot and produced the spots from home. While she hasn’t been a fixture in AT&T’s marketing in recent years, Vayntrub starred in more than 40 spots for the brand between 2013 and 2017. In 2016, she was featured on the cover of Adweek’s Creative 100 issue. She’s also done far more than taking on the role of a brand spokesperson throughout her career. In addition to creating a documentary called “Milana Can’t Do Nothing” about Syrian refugees, Vayntrub has also directed commercials for Cracker Barrel’s macaroni and cheese and starred in the Netflix series “Love.” Recently, Vayntrub—who’s an Upright Citizens Brigade veteran—dropped a video sketch with fellow comedian Akilah Hughes about the “joy of having a mutual enemy” at the office. The video is part of their Comedy Central series “Making Fun with Akilah and Milana.” CREDITS: Agency: BBDO, Critical Mass, Hearts & Science Client: AT&T AT&T: SVP, Advertising and Marketing Communication: Valarie Vargas VP, Advertising and Social Media: Marc Burns Director, Advertising: Dave Brown Lead Manager, Advertising: Taylor Laughlin Senior Manager, Advertising: Carter Crenshaw Senior Manager, Advertising: Aaron Schwartz Director, Diversity Advertising: Mariel Llenza AVP, Digital Strategy and Performance: Melissa Smith Digital Marketing Director: Masha Gaidouk Lead Digital Marketing Manager: Tracy Threlkeld BBDO: Chief Creative Officer, Worldwide: David Lubars Chief Creative Officer, Omnicom for AT&T: Matt MacDonald Executive Creative Director: David Povill Executive Creative Director: David Cuccinello Creative Director: Eli Terry Creative Director: Wendy Leicht Creative Director: Cooper Olson Copywriter: Ally Farrish Art Director: Kory Brocious Group Executive Producer: Julie Collins Executive Producer: Andrew Tucci Managing Director: Rachel Nairn Account Lead AT&T: Stacia Parseghain Senior Director: Laura Perrizo Senior Director: Shane Chastang Account Director: Andrea Bass Account Director: Allie Knill Account Executive: Claire Sommer Head of Strategy: Tim Millar Communications Planning Director: Mac Russell Planning Director: Alex Morrison Planning Director: Reza Rostampisheh Communications Planner: Kristen Farnam Director of Project Management: Colin Vidika Project Manager: Kelli Szymczak Critical Mass: VP, Executive Creative Director: Frank Dattalo Creative Director: Christiaan Welzel Associate Creative Director: Kathryn Whiteside Associate Creative Director: Eric Jorgensen Art Director: Cam Benedict Copywriter: Chantal Miyagishima Designer: Taylor Lumley Senior Producer: Sydney Woodman EVP, Client Partner: Lisa Zandy VP, Client Partner: Heather Livengood Account Director: Austin Tatum Senior Account Manager: Jack Rosenberg Account Coordinator: Crystal Ling VP, Group Strategy Director: Jared Folkmann Strategist: Kelsey Chudiak Program Director: Laurie Ma Senior Project Manager: Sarah Dinham Project Manager: Lina Barbon Project Manager: Melissa Cavaliere Hearts & Science: President Hearts & BBDO: Ralph Pardo Managing Executive Director: Mike Venables Executive Director, AT&T Consumer Media: Shanae Johnson Executive Director, Digital Strategy: Theresa Fromm Senior Director, Strategy: Adam Block Senior Director, Strategy: Brian Diamond Senior Director, Strategy: Christiana Messina Senior Director, Digital Strategy: Denise Marchitto Director Video, Strategy: Andres Torrente Associate Director: Jeff Fisher Production Partners: Production Company: Hungry Man Director: Milana Vayntrub DP: Corey Walter Executive Producer: Mino Jarjoura Line Producer: Josh Goldstein Editorial: Cut & Run Edit Editor: Frank Effron Executive Producer: Amburr Farls Producer: Jared Thomas & Scott Lilly Telecine Company: Framestore Telecine Artist: Beau Leon Conform/Finish Company: Jogger Head of Production/Executive Producer: Diana Cheng Lead Flame Artist: Andy Brown Audio Finishing: Lime Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan Mixer: Zac Fisher Graphics: LVLY Executive Producer: Bryce Edwards Music Company: SOUTH Chief Creative Director: Dan Pritikin