[Published: June 4, 2026 | Last updated: June 4, 2026] | 8 min read
TL;DR
- The actress playing Lily Adams in AT&T commercials is Milana Vayntrub, born March 8, 1987, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- She has played the character since 2013, appearing in over 160 AT&T spots as of 2022 (IMDb, 2022).
- Beyond AT&T, she voices Marvel’s Squirrel Girl and recently starred in the 2026 sci-fi film Project Hail Mary alongside Ryan Gosling.
- She immigrated to the US as a refugee at age two and began acting in Barbie commercials as a child to help her family financially.
- Her estimated net worth is $3-5 million, built across AT&T work, television, voice acting, and directing (USANewsIndependent, 2025).
Who Is the AT&T Lily Actress? Meet Milana Vayntrub
The actress behind Lily Adams is Milana Vayntrub, born March 8, 1987, in Tashkent, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. She came to prominence playing saleswoman Lily Adams in AT&T television commercials beginning in 2013.
That one sentence covers the search – but the story behind it is worth knowing. She didn’t land the AT&T role through a typical Hollywood path. Despite initially being brought in to do one commercial, she was kept around because her excellent improvising abilities resulted in new Lily-centric storylines being crafted even before the first commercial finished shooting.
One commercial became a decade-long run. And Lily became one of the most recognized faces in American advertising.
Milana Vayntrub’s Background: From Refugee to Recognizable Face
Born in Tashkent to a secular Jewish family, Vayntrub immigrated to the United States at age three as a refugee fleeing state-sponsored antisemitism in the Soviet Union. Her family resided temporarily in Vienna, Austria, and Italy before settling in West Hollywood, California, where she grew up facing economic hardships, including periods of reliance on food stamps.
Her early life included acting in Barbie commercials to help support her family. She later dropped out of Beverly Hills High School, earned a GED, and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of California, San Diego. Vayntrub also refined her comedic timing through improv studies at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
That improv training is what made her indispensable to AT&T. The character of Lily reads as genuinely warm and quick-witted because Vayntrub was improvising much of it from day one.
How Lily Adams Became One of the Most Recognizable Commercial Characters
Her role began in 2013 when AT&T sought a relatable, approachable spokesperson to explain wireless deals and customer benefits. Lily quickly became a household figure, with her mix of charm, humor, and intelligence.
She has appeared as the store employee “Lily Adams” in a huge series of commercials – 160+ and counting as of November 2022 – for AT&T Wireless.
The character took a brief break. Vayntrub appeared in AT&T television commercials from 2013 to 2016 and since 2020. The gap is notable. She left, came back, and audiences barely blinked. That’s how sticky the character is.
Worth saying upfront: Lily Adams is a character name, not Vayntrub’s real name. She has no personal connection to any Adams family. The name is just part of the campaign.
Milana Vayntrub’s Acting Career Beyond AT&T
She’s more than a commercial actress. The résumé is longer than most people realize.
The performer’s talent and bubbly personality can be found in other projects such as “This Is Us,” “Werewolves Within,” and as the voice of Marvel’s Squirrel Girl.
She was recognized by Adweek on the cover of their Creative 100 issue for her activism, documentary work, and her role as Lily Adams in AT&T commercials.
The Squirrel Girl work has been consistent. She cemented her place in the gaming field by voicing Squirrel Girl (Doreen Green) in Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play 6v6 team-based PVP hero shooter released in December 2024.
Her biggest mainstream film role to date is in 2026. Ryan Gosling was joined by co-stars Sandra Hüller and Milana Vayntrub at the Project Hail Mary premiere. The film centers on Ryland Grace (Gosling), who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Amazon MGM Studios set a March 20 release.
That’s a significant jump from AT&T retail stores to a Ryan Gosling-led Amazon blockbuster.
Her Activism: The Work She Cares About Most
Having experienced the refugee journey firsthand, she co-founded the “Can’t Do Nothing” movement in 2016 to raise awareness about the Syrian refugee crisis.
The personal connection is direct. She lived the refugee experience as a child. That’s not background noise – it’s the reason the advocacy is consistent and ongoing rather than a one-off.
In December 2025, Vayntrub revealed a tongue-in-cheek fundraising platform where followers donate to causes she selects in exchange for playful – never explicit – photos. Her first two campaigns brought in more than half a million dollars for families affected by California’s Eaton Canyon fire and disabled individuals in need. “It’s changed from objectification to collaboration,” she said, explaining the distinction from typical fan content.
The Online Harassment She Faced Because of the Commercials
This part of her story gets less coverage than it deserves.
Vayntrub opened up about facing online harassment after appearing in AT&T commercials. She said she received “unwanted sexual and violent comments” about her body while starring in the ads. “I wasn’t upset because people shared their opinions on my appearance, but I said something because just by showing up to do my job, I received unwanted sexual and violent comments about my body and what people want to do to it,” she said.
AT&T’s response was notable. In March 2021, AT&T aired commercials starring Milana Vayntrub that intentionally kept her body hidden. The ads, which aired during NCAA’s March Madness, sparked discussion.
She didn’t disappear after speaking out. She kept working, kept the character, and eventually turned the harassment dynamic into a charity vehicle. That’s the longer arc.
Milana Vayntrub’s Net Worth and What She Earns
As of late 2025, Milana Vayntrub’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $4 million. A significant portion of her wealth comes from her long-running partnership with AT&T. She not only starred in the spots but eventually began directing them, negotiating a higher tier of compensation and creative control.
The directing credit matters. Staying involved at the production level means she earns more per campaign than the on-screen fee alone.
Her Personal Life: What She Has and Hasn’t Shared
Vayntrub is married and has one son, though she and her husband have intentionally kept their identities private.
She has deliberately chosen not to reveal her husband’s name or share photos of her child’s face on social media to protect their privacy. This choice was driven by early experiences with online harassment.
That’s a reasonable call. Given what she went through publicly during the AT&T years, keeping her family off the internet isn’t unusual – it’s the expected outcome.
Milana Vayntrub’s Full Career Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Born in Tashkent, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic |
| ~1989-91 | Family immigrates to the US as refugees, settles in West Hollywood |
| Age 5 | First acting work: Barbie commercials to support the family |
| 2013 | Cast as Lily Adams in AT&T commercials |
| 2016 | Co-founds #CantDoNothing movement for refugee awareness |
| 2016-2017 | Recurring role on NBC’s This Is Us (8 episodes) |
| 2020 | Returns to AT&T role after four-year break |
| 2021 | Stars in horror-comedy Werewolves Within |
| 2021 | Speaks out publicly about online sexual harassment |
| 2024 | Voices Squirrel Girl in Marvel Rivals |
| 2025 | Raises $500K+ for charity via philanthropy campaign |
| 2026 | Stars in Amazon’s Project Hail Mary alongside Ryan Gosling |
Frequently Asked Questions About the AT&T Lily Actres
Who plays Lily in the AT&T commercials?
The actress in the AT&T commercials is Milana Vayntrub, who plays the character “Lily Adams.” Her role began in 2013 when AT&T sought a relatable, approachable spokesperson to explain wireless deals and customer benefits.
What is Milana Vayntrub’s real name?
Her full name is Milana Aleksandrovna Vayntrub, pronounced VYN-troob. She was born March 8, 1987, and is an Uzbekistan-born American actress and comedian.
Why did Lily from AT&T disappear for a few years?
Vayntrub appeared in AT&T commercials from 2013 to 2016 and then again since 2020. The exact reason for the gap has not been publicly confirmed by AT&T or Vayntrub. The character returned in 2020, and the campaign has continued since.
Is Milana Vayntrub still doing AT&T commercials in 2026?
After moving away from her Lily Adams character in 2024, she was able to prove that she has much more talent to offer than selling data plans. As of early 2026, her focus has shifted to major film projects including Project Hail Mary.
What is Milana Vayntrub’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated between $3-5 million, primarily from AT&T commercials, television acting, voice work, and directing projects.
Where is Milana Vayntrub from originally?
Milana Aleksandrovna Vayntrub was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (formerly Soviet Union) on March 8, 1987. Her family, of Jewish heritage, fled religious persecution and immigrated to the United States when she was just two years old. They settled in Los Angeles, where Milana grew up.
What else has Milana Vayntrub appeared in besides AT&T ads?
Her major credits outside AT&T include recurring roles on This Is Us (NBC, 2016-2017), starring in Werewolves Within (2021), voicing Squirrel Girl across Marvel’s Rising franchise and Marvel Rivals (2024), and appearing in Project Hail Mary (2026) with Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller. She also appeared on CBS’s After Midnight as a contestant in 2024-2025.
Key Takeaways
- Lily Adams is played by Milana Vayntrub, who has held the role since 2013.
- She came to the US as a Jewish refugee from Uzbekistan and started acting at age five out of financial necessity.
- Her career now spans television, film, voice acting, directing, and active humanitarian work.
- The Project Hail Mary release in March 2026 marks her most significant mainstream film role to date.
- She has turned online harassment she faced during her AT&T years into a philanthropy model that raised over $500,000 for charity.