{"id":232150,"date":"2026-04-02T10:16:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T10:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/02\/how-j-smith-cameron-used-anna-wintour-as-inspiration-for-elsbeth-her-reputation-precedes-her\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T10:16:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T10:16:33","slug":"how-j-smith-cameron-used-anna-wintour-as-inspiration-for-elsbeth-her-reputation-precedes-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/02\/how-j-smith-cameron-used-anna-wintour-as-inspiration-for-elsbeth-her-reputation-precedes-her\/","title":{"rendered":"How J. Smith-Cameron Used Anna Wintour as Inspiration for \u2018Elsbeth\u2019: \u2018Her Reputation Precedes Her\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


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J. Smith-Cameron<\/strong>\u2018s killer character on Elsbeth<\/em> might look a little familiar \u2014 at least to viewers who are fans of former Vogue<\/em> editor in chief Anna Wintour<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was my idea,\u201d Smith-Cameron exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em>. \u201cI was like, \u2018What if I\u2019m not trying to be Anna Wintour but this woman is trying to be like Anna Wintour?\u2019 That\u2019s her hero and she\u2019s going to try to emulate her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith-Cameron broke down the vision<\/a> for the character, adding, \u201cShe is hiding behind a mask. I thought that might be fun. I just went online and bought an inexpensive wig that was pageboy bob\u2013style, and it looked OK in my head. So I used that. And I didn\u2019t try to be English exactly. I wanted to sound like someone who\u2019s trying to sound a bit English.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before using Wintour as inspiration, Smith-Cameron had a real-life<\/a> run-in with the fashion icon.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Most Surprising TV Show Cameos Ever: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and More<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tWhile many TV shows have made household names out of their star players, occasionally showrunners have been able to corral some of Hollywood\u2019s biggest names to drop in for a surprising cameo during a complete episode or a single scene. Perhaps one of the most polarizing cameos belonged to Ed Sheeran on HBO\u2019s Game of [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI met Anna Wintour once as I went to a fashion show, and she ended up being seated right next to me. She had her sunglasses on, and her reputation precedes her,\u201d she recalled. \u201cBut she was very personable. She was lovely. This isn\u2019t my impression of her. It is just someone who\u2019s obsessed with her, which I could relate to. Everyone I know is somewhat fascinated by Anna Wintour because she\u2019s a very, very fascinating person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsbeth<\/em>, which premiered in 2024, follows Carrie Preston<\/strong>\u2018s Elsbeth Tascioni, who becomes a de facto detective aiding the NYPD in their investigations. The titular character\u2019s unconventional methods lead her to make unique observations that help solve crimes.<\/p>\n

In addition to Preston, the show stars<\/a> Wendell Pierce<\/strong> and has allowed for cameo appearances from Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, Pamela Adlon, Vanessa Williams, Matthew Broderick, Michael Emerson, Keegan-Michael Key, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Retta, Blair Underwood, Linda Lavin<\/strong> and more.<\/p>\n

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