Louisa Jacobson Gets Ready For the 2024 SAG Awards in Louis Vuitton

Louisa Jacobson's performance in The Gilded Age has been praised by critics as scene-stealing and "heartbreaking." As her first and only on-screen acting credit, it's an unprecedented breakout performance, however, it's unsurprising when you consider her training and pedigree. As the daughter of Meryl Streep and Don Gummer, she holds an MFA in drama from Yale. Coming out of school, she cut her teeth in plays at small-time theaters in San Diego and Los Angeles. Even now, after two highly successful seasons of The Gilded Age, you can find her in Lunch Bunch at the 122CC Second Floor Theatre in New York City's East Village.

Following the recent announcement of The Gilded Age's renewal for a third season, L'OFFICIEL spoke to Jacobson ahead of the 2024 SAG Awards as she and her stylist Edward Bowleg III prepared for the evening's festivities with a sculpted leather look from Louis Vuitton.

L'O: Tonight, you and your The Gilded Age cast members are nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. This is your first SAG Awards. What are you doing to prepare? (Beauty treatments, meditation, practicing your acceptance speech, etc.?)

Louisa Jacobson: Last night, I went to the hotel spa and sat in the sauna with my good friend from drama school, Juliana Canfield, who is also nominated for ensemble for Succession—I’m so excited that we’re both going to the SAG Awards today. And this morning, I’m headed to Joanna Vargas to get her amazing Triple-Crown facial.

L'O: You're wearing Louis Vuitton. How did this look come together? Did you and your stylist have a specific vision in mind?

LJ: Since we started working together in 2022, Edward [Bowleg III] and I knew that with styling, we wanted to veer away from Marian’s “pretty," charming, feminine-leaning wardrobe on the show, because at events I wanted to feel more like myself; I didn’t want to be defined by the character. I always look for a little more edge in what I wear. When Louis Vuitton reached out and offered to dress me for the event, we were so excited. Nicolas Ghesquière’s work at LV is exactly right for what Edward and I try to accomplish with styling. They offered four dress options, and I really loved all of them; Edward and Nicolas helped me narrow it down to this black dress. Its elements are simple but so powerful, it’s edgy and also so elegant. 

L'O: Did you plan your beauty look around the outfit, or did you have a specific plan for that as well?

LJ: Yes—once we landed on the dress, Edward compiled a few images of what he thought would be best for glam. He liked the idea of keeping glam relatively clean and simple, with a little definition on the eyes. Hair tucked back behind the ears, clean and sleek. He wanted the glam to complement the severity of the dress, not compete with it. 

L'O: Prior to the show, you came from a stage background. What made you want to transition from stage to TV?

LJ: I’ve always wanted to do both. It was never a question of one or the other. It’s always been a goal to be able to do both. Different muscles are required for each. Frances McDormand said in an interview once: “It’s like small muscles and big muscles. Like pilates and weight lifting; film/TV is those small muscle groups that you kind of have to get really concentrated, and theater is from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet.” I loved that analogy, I think it’s spot on. 

L'O: In December, the show was renewed for Season 3. What do you want to see from your character next season?

LJ: I want to see Marian fully step into her power. I want to see an unapologetic, fiery, passionate Marian.