PaperCity Magazine

March 2020- Fort Worth

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she missed her mother and father so much that she returned home. I have brought along some conversation starters — a few vintage issues of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. Guest flips through the yellowing pages as if she is looking through an old high school yearbook, pointing out dear friends and mentioning that she could always be found in the magazine. I query if she has ever been on the cover, but alas, no. "Andy was a good friend but never put me on the cover," she says and goes on to give a charming imitation, employing the nasal, somewhat adolescent, and perhaps calculated naiveté of the celebrated Pop artist: "Cornelia, let's please go to Odeon tonight." Warhol was amongst the many celebrities — including Truman Capote and another famously rebellious socialite, Doris Duke — who attended her 18th birthday party. Guest bucked the path that many debutantes followed. In essence, the whole idea of coming out to society was so that young women of privilege could meet young men of good breeding and, of course, wealth. Guest wanted a bigger, independent life. Her mother was quoted in a New York Times Magazine story shortly before her death in 2003 as saying: "Cornelia is some number. She is a star, and she wants to be a superstar." She was referring to her daughter's decision to move to Los Angeles to be an actress. She still keeps an apartment on the Left Coast for frequent visits for meetings with her agent and casting directors. And I'm surprised that she looks so fresh-faced and rested at our lunch, given that less than 24 hours before she had been in L.A. for auditions and awards season events including Tom Ford's star-studded runway show, and the Chanel pre- Oscar's dinner. Guest studied acting find orchids that aren't at extortionate prices? Some unique antique stores with some whimsy?" With that, I take her on a drive down a gentrifying stretch of Ross Avenue and pop into Dolly Python for a quick shop. I was wary, since it might've been too far out of left field for many former debs — but am elated to see her with iPhone whipped out and snapping away at elementary school anatomy posters, trucker hats with no irony, and other quirky finds. Guest seems enchanted by it all. The hipster millennials in the shop glance at us and seem intrigued. Did the patrician-looking blonde take a wrong turn on her way to Chanel? No, Guest is actually creating a list of out-of-the-box hostess gifts in front of my very eyes. She is feeling at home. When we part ways in the parking lot, she thanks me for the quick tour. "No one knows where anything is nowadays," she says as she climbs into her car. "You type something in your phone and then use its navigation system. There is no more exploring. I hate using Waze because I don't learn the city." In unison, like old-timers, we reflect how we miss the days of being happy to get lost for hours on end and having an adventure. The questions continue the next day at Guest's portrait shoot at the Virgin Hotel Dallas. Engaging with everyone around her, she asks, "Where can I find cheap water?" Yes, Guest is that girl. Resourceful and somewhat frugal. I point her toward the Kroger in Uptown. Next time you are at that grocery store, keep a lookout for a stunning blonde. Perhaps in a cozy Brunello Cucinelli cashmere sweater with a devoted Westie by her side. Chat her up, particularly if you are looking to rescue a donkey. She's beyond fabulous, and she is our new neighbor. at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, and her most noted role was in the reboot of the cult-favorite Twin Peaks ("a once in a lifetime experience," she says). She's also been seen in the Netflix movie Carrie Pilby, among other films. In 2017, she founded Cornelia Guest Productions and is currently working on a few projects. Philanthropy has been another big part of her life. Among many causes, Guest has been a supporter for New Yorkers for Marriage Equality and, in 2010, alongside then-mayor Michael Bloomberg, hosted the New York flagship event, another type of coming-out party — for friends in the LGBTQ+ community, if you will. She's also a longtime supporter of animal rescue and assistance groups. In 2016, she founded Artemis Farm Rescue, a nonprofit specializing in miniature horses and donkeys with a goal to end all equine suffering. Guest grew up around horses and was a renowned equestrian like her father. She rode until her mother's death in 2003, then decided to climb out of the saddle and focus her attention towards animal rights. As we finish our lunch interview, she says, "It's my turn" and barrages me with questions about her new city. "Where do I Cornelia Guest, Halston, and Cheryl Tiegs on the town in the 1980s. Cornelia Guest and Olive Guest photographed at the Virgin Hotel Dallas

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