Emily Alyn Lind and Celeste O'Connor's careers have only just begun, and they hope to continue being forces in the industry.
"I guess I hope younger women, Black women, queer women, can look to me as an example, to show that a creative career is possible and being comfortable with your Blackness and your queerness are all things that are amazing and go hand in hand with your creativity. So, I just hope I can show people, as common and maybe cliche as it may sound, be your fullest self," O'Connor, 25, exclusively tells Morning Honey while talking about their partnership with Pure Leaf, which just launched Zero Sugar Sweet Tea with the help of the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire star and Lind for the brand's “Unbelievably Sweet Files” campaign.
For her part, Lind, 21, adds: "I would say I would love to inspire young people to create things. I think it's important that young people feel seen and heard and their voices are heard, and they're able to have the outlets to express themselves, especially creatively. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have parents that were cool enough to let me kind of explore who I was creatively and do what I love. I really hope I inspire kids to be able to be themselves."
Over they years, the stars have learned some lessons about being in showbiz. For the blonde babe, she says to not "shield yourself from mistakes or getting hurt too much."
"When I was little, there was so much of me that was just trying to stay away from the idea of being let down. So, I wouldn't take chances or wouldn't put myself in situations where there was any outcome where I could be hurt or let down," she notes.
The Madame Web alum "would tell my younger self, it's OK to have fun. I think, in the same vein as Emily, for anybody to get to this point in their career, you have to prioritize work, make sure you're being really responsible, strategic, self-aware. And I think, while all those traits are amazing, and I'm grateful for those parts of myself — but I also think about taking more risks emotionally, having more fun and allowing yourself to just kind of trust the process of your life. That would be nice," they said.
In the meantime, the duo star in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empirealongside Paul Rudd and Bill Murray — a role they were ready to tackle.
In order for O'Connor to get into character, she "revisited my Lucky journal and read up on what I wrote for her for Afterlife, and then I started writing to fill in the gaps of what Lucky has been up to since Afterlife," they said of the 2021 flick. "I believe in the supernatural, for sure. I believe in ghosts. I think there's a lot about the world that human beings don't understand or can't perceive.
Since O'Connor and Lind are part of the new flick, it made perfect sense for them to team up with Pure Leaf for their new campaign.
"We're so excited to partner with Pure Leaf, to discuss and launch our “Unbelievably Sweet Files” Campaign. It's been wonderful, and we are so excited for everyone to try the new Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea! It tastes so good, it’s hard to believe there isn’t any sugar in it. I love that it tastes like home brewed tea," the Gossip Girl lead shares.
O'Connor adds: "It’s no surprise that I am fan of the supernatural, so when Pure Leaf asked me to help bring their 'Unbelievably Sweet Files' campaign to life, I was really excited. Their newest drink, the Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea tastes just like a real brewed sweet tea, but without the sugar. It’s hard to believe … and that’s what we have fun with in the new video. Fans can also enter their unbelievable stories at PureLeafZeroSugar.com for a chance to win free product. You have to sip it to believe it."
Pure Leaf is also giving consumers an opportunity to taste their unbelievably sweet tea firsthand. Submit your own “out-of-this-world accounts” on PureLeafZeroSugar.com before April 26 for a chance to win one of several sweet prize packs.