Billie Lourd on (Almost) Meeting Beyoncé and Sage Life Advice From Carrie Fisher

ELLE – If there’s anyone who knows what it means to be surrounded by powerful women, it’s Billie Lourd. The daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, and the granddaughter of the late Debbie Reynolds, Lourd was raised by some of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. But she’s also carved her own space in the entertainment world, nabbing roles in Scream Queens and American Horror Story, and even scoring a part in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was also Fisher’s last movie before she passed away in December of 2016.

Lourd recently spent 30 hours in New York City as a judge at the Moët Moment Film Festival, which invited young filmmakers to create and submit 60-second films based on the theme “A Cause for Celebration.” Ahead of the festival, which took place Wednesday, Lourd got on the phone with ELLE.com to talk about her latest trip to Coachella, the advice she’s gotten from other actresses, and her go-to, full-proof breakup hack:

You’ve been able to work on two Ryan Murphy sets, American Horror Story and Scream Queens. What was the difference between the two?

It was kind of crazy because it’s a lot of the same crew, a lot of the same camera people and sound people and costumes, but totally different vibes. Scream Queens was so much fun, kind of like a big sorority. And American Horror Story is very serious, like a really hip family of middle-aged women. The deaths were fun on Scream Queens; the deaths on Horror Story are very real and intense, and you have to be emotionally prepped for them.

I saw some adorable pictures of you and Sarah Paulson recently. Who are your role models right now?

Lourdson forever! That’s what the people on the internet call [me and Sarah]. I always tell Sarah I want to grow up to be her. She’s the most brilliant. If I could have half the career she’s had, I’d love that.

You grew up alongside so many experienced actresses. I mean, your godmother is Meryl Streep! Is there any advice they’ve given you that really stands out?

The main advice that every older actress and human has given me is just stay true to yourself, and have fun. Enjoy yourself, and take a step back and try to not be stressed every day. Take a second in your day and realize how amazing it is. I try to do that all the time, that’s something my mom always did, too. Even if your day is crazy, just to take a step back and be grateful. Life is short, and appreciate it. Jamie Lee [Curtis] would say that, Sarah would say that.

Did I see you were at Coachella? Did you see Beyoncé?

I did see Beyoncé! Through a lot of people’s phones, though. People need to stop filming things at festivals. I want to start a festival without phones, that’s my new goal. But Beyoncé is queen. I watched [her performance] like seven times on YouTube before and after because she’s such a goddess. The fact that she handled that, like 250 people on that stage, she was dancing for two and a half hours. She is just queen and cannot be repeated.

Have you gotten to meet her yet?

I have not. I saw her coming out of the bathroom at Coachella and had a fan girl moment and ran away. I was like, “I want to get a picture, but I don’t want to annoy her.” Beyoncé’s one of the few people I’d do that for. My boyfriend was like, “You’re acting like an idiot.”

I have to ask, is this a secret special celeb bathroom that people can use at Coachella? What’s the deal?

I mean, it must have been. It was in some area, but no one was going near it because if Beyoncé and Jay-Z are in the bathroom, it’s their bathroom in my world. I’m not going to bother Beyoncé while she’s peeing. Who would?

You’ve said in the past, you’d want to dabble in music, too. Who are your musical inspirations?

I’m obsessed with Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse, Etta James. I’m really into blues and R&B type of stuff, ’90s hip-hop, that’s my jam. Hopefully I’ll cultivate the balls to do it someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.

And because we all go through it, do you have any breakup hacks you’d recommend?

Oh absolutely, I am queen of that. My go to is the movie I Love You, Man. Literally anything I’m going through, I put that on and just cry laughing. Paul Rudd, I wish he was my dad, I wish he was my brother, I wish he was my husband. He’s everything to me and puts a smile on my face. So my hack is I Love You, Man, maybe Milk Bar or a pizza. It definitely involves a lot of Paul Rudd and food. That’s probably day one [after the break up]. Then surround yourself with people who love you and you love and do things you love. And that’s day one, month one, and year one. And just kind of take it moment to moment, that’s what I do.