All About ‘The Body’s Sara Boustany, the Standout Actress Playing Elise
Don’t worry, Anya Butler. We have a crush on Elise Zakaria, too.
During Season 1 of The Body, viewers instantly fell in love with Elise (Sara Boustany), a character who fans are already saying walked in 2004, so Glee’s Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) could run in 2009. While Elise presents a tough exterior with the rest of the Lions, she shows her heart to Anya (Kristina Bogic), her deeply repressed best friend, who’s willing to do anything but kiss her.
As Boustany told Teen Vogue, her character is more open about her sexuality because “Elise has a better sense of self.” She added, “That’s why Anya makes so many mistakes; she’s too caught up in what other people think. Elise doesn’t give a f**k.”
Unfortunately, things took a turn for Elise as her open dislike for the priest’s niece, “Amazing” Grace (Sofia Wylie), gets her in a bit of trouble after their ecstasy-driven dance team initiation goes horribly wrong, leading Grace to fall into a coma, with nobody speaking out about the drugs that caused it. Could Elise take the fall? Scroll to find out all about the actress who brought Elise to life during Season 1, the role she originally auditioned for, where you’ve seen her before, and more.
Netflix
Who plays Elise in The Body?
Sara Boustany plays Elise in The Body. According to Netflix, “Boustany originally auditioned for Anya, before casting director Jennifer Venditti quickly pivoted.” Boustany recalled, “Jennifer called and said, ‘They think you’re Elise, we’re going to have a callback,’ and she gave me some pointers.” After that, she knew she was “100% Elise.”
Who is Sara Boustany?
Boustany is a 23-year-old Lebanese actress. Born in Lebanon, Boustany moved to Florida at a young age and later relocated to Los Angeles as a teen to kickstart her career. According to her bio on Netflix, her “weirdest childhood obsession” was “Lush Cosmetics ‘Rose Jam’ Body wash,” which is so real, and she is “always saying way too much or way too little.”
Netflix
What else has Sara Boustany been in?
Before starring in The Body, Boustany appeared in Hello Beautiful as Isabel, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings as Fourteen-Year-Old Lucy Jane, and PEN15 as Miranda. This is her first leading role in a TV series.
Check out our full interview with Boustany, Bogic, and the rest of the Lions to find out more about Elise and Anya’s connection, the finale, and more.
The Body, Season 1, Streaming Now, Netflix
