Celeste O’Connor is known for their roles in huge franchises like Ghostbusters and Scream, but what you might not know is their deep commitment to public health (aka collective wellbeing, for the Gen Z-ers).

“ I just wish, like emotional education was a part of the systems that we have in place for health, AKA public health, emotional education is public health. And, yeah, that's just what I wish for the world.”

O’Connor applies their studies in public health, with a degree from Johns Hopkins University, across every area of their life, from acting, to partnership, to internal work on their feelings of shame, and beyond. In their journey, they have questioned why they pursued acting and the shame that was at the root of it, but then transmuting that shame into action. Turning what could be an insecurity into a superpower.

“Shame tells you I'm different, right? And the way I'm processing that shame[…] is by turning that into a positive thing and saying, okay, I may be different, but that's gonna be a good thing and I'm gonna be super smart and I'm gonna be super talented and I'm gonna be super successful. And so that way the shame that I have can be like, positively received.”

Both actors discuss what it looks like to work and create within big corporations, where your art is commodified, in a sense, as a part of a marketing machine, and what boundaries are necessary in that space to protect yourself as an artist. O’Connor talks about a singing circle they recently joined, to sing with no other intention but to be present. Jasmin took up drawing during the last season of Yellowjackets (we want to see these pieces!) and Nay talks about her realization that the art she creates can take a different meaning, if she’s making it as a job vs for pleasure, or a gift.

Lately, O’Connor has been channeling their energy on creating more projects for themself, outside of the corporate space, focusing on stories that uplift marginalized voices, through their production company, Pedestal. They shared the inception of the company with their romantic and creative partner, Mecca McDonald, and revealed that nurturing their creative sides together has strengthened their relationship.

“She's an amazing designer in general. And so especially when it comes to like filmmaking, I feel like her strong suit is like, ‘What is the composition of this frame?What is the lighting saying?’ And my strong suit is like, okay, ‘What are the actors doing? What is the story doing?’ And then we like come together and we're like, oh. And we start levitating.”

O’Connor also directed our very own Jasmin Savoy’s recent music video for “Signals” (out today!) through their production company, Pedestal, and they shared some inspiration for the video.

Basically, you’ll have to watch the full video to understand just how plugged into their integrity they are as a filmmaker, actor and champion of public health, but the biggest take-away? Celebrities shouldn’t be your go-to source of knowledge for political movements. Not because they aren’t intelligent, or well-meaning, but because as visual icons in our culture, they just aren’t educated in the same ways that scholars and activists are, who have built a career in methods of affecting change.

“ A lot of these people who are posting and who are sharing their political views are not educated politically in any way, shape or form. And celebrities should not lead the revolution. They should not be the voice of s**t besides promoting their creativity.”

While the actor doesn’t think celebrities should use their platform for revolution, they encourage making the most of their platform for good, i.e. redistributing their wealth and giving money to people who can resource the communities who need it most. We don’t want Kim Kardashian to lead the revolution, but Celeste O’Connor is one celebrity who might be able to do it.

You’ll have to watch to hear about O’Connor’s Good Gay News, but here’s a sneak peek! Follow O’Connor’s creative work @by.pedastal or bypedestal.com

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