As I sit here in 2026, reflecting on the whirlwind of another festive season, I find my thoughts returning to a conversation that felt less like an interview and more like sharing a warm drink with an old friend. Owen Thiele’s presence, both on screen and in our dialogue, possesses the quiet, pervasive quality of morning fog—you don't notice its arrival until you’re already enveloped in its gentle, honest atmosphere. He’s the kind of person who makes authenticity seem effortless, a trait that transforms simple questions about holiday plans and skincare into windows into a life being thoughtfully, and sometimes humorously, navigated.

The Art of Cutting Through the Superficial

"Luckily, my family already cuts the small talk," Owen shared with a laugh that felt both self-aware and conspiratorial. "We're diving right into the trauma—we go deep quickly." He spoke of holiday gatherings not as curated performances but as authentic, if occasionally chaotic, reunions. The one conversational thread he'd gladly sever? His grandma's persistent inquiry about a potential basketball career. "She thinks my height is going to waste," he said, his tone a blend of affection and exasperation. "I'd love for the holiday conversations to shift to skincare, something more useful, you know?" It was a moment that perfectly captured his approach: pragmatic, a little irreverent, and deeply human. This desire to swap trivialities for substance is what drew him to collaborate with Baileys on their 'Swap the Small Talk' Cookie Pack, a project he saw as a delicious catalyst for more meaningful connection.

A Ritual of Radiance: The Skincare Symphony

When Owen described his skincare routine, it wasn't a mere list of products; it was a sensory ritual, a daily practice of self-care that he approaches with the dedication of a composer fine-tuning a symphony. His process is methodical yet infused with pleasure.

  • The Clean Slate: It begins with the IS Clinical Cleansing Complex. "I'm obsessed with it. I swear by it—I think I wash my face too much, but I just love the feeling of it." This first step is his reset button.

  • The Sheer Veil: Next, the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation provides a whisper of coverage. "It's super sheer, so hopefully you can't tell I'm wearing it." For Owen, makeup is about enhancement, not disguise.

  • The Intentional Flush: Then comes the signature step. The Armani Beauty Cheek Tint applied over the nose and cheeks. "I'm obsessed with looking flushed, a little flustered." It’s a deliberate choice to mimic a natural, lively glow—a blush like the first hint of sunrise on a winter morning.

  • The Finale of Dew: The routine crescendos with Rhode's Glazing Mist, a hydrating veil, and Rhode's Peptide Lip Treatment. "Oh wait! I'm not done," he interjected, remembering the full-body commitment. He finishes by lathering in Cyklar's Naked Neroli Vitamin C Body Oil. "It smells unbelievable. I get so many compliments."

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His beauty icon? Hailey Bieber. "I just watch everything she does. Glazed donut every single day." For him, the 'glazed donut' skin aesthetic isn't a trend; it's a philosophy of cultivated, healthy radiance.

Crafting the Perfect Holiday Vibe

When I asked about his ideal holiday party, he painted a vivid, inclusive picture. "My best friends, my aunts, uncles, some high school friends, and new friends I work with." The soundtrack would be a purposeful blend: "Sabrina Carpenter's 'Fruitcake' is blasting, mixed with some Nat King Cole, to make me seem cultured." The menu? Heartwarming and indulgent: "We're making hot chocolate with tons of marshmallows. Baileys, of course, and the Funny Face Bakery cookies—but with just my face on them." It’s a scene that balances nostalgia with curated cool, much like his own career trajectory.

And who would he least want to see? The answer was perfectly Los Angeles and perfectly relatable: "I'm probably least excited to see the parking attendant at The Grove. I will owe so much money because I'll probably have spent at least 10 hours there."

On Exes, Family, and Common Enemies

Our conversation turned to the modern holiday dilemma: to invite the ex or not? Owen’s perspective was characteristically drama-adjacent. "Oh, I love that. I just invited my ex over for a holiday dinner the other day, and it was so much fun. We're actually friends, but I also love a little drama. You have to have a little drama." He saw the strategic value in it: "Plus, if you're inviting the ex to a family function, it creates such a moment. Your cousins are in the bathroom whispering about how your ex is outside." He landed on a theory that felt both cynical and unifying: "I think also, every holiday season, you and your family need a common enemy. It helps the bond." His laughter here was like the satisfying crackle of a well-stoked fire—warming and full of shared understanding.

The Mirror of Acting: Navigating Identity

Perhaps the most poignant part of our talk centered on his work. In roles in shows like Adults and Overcompensating, he often plays characters wrestling with self-discovery. "I'm definitely still in that phase of life," he confessed, "which makes it so fun to play these characters who are figuring it out, because I very much am figuring it out. So I feel just completely akin to these people." He described his connection to his characters not as a straight line but as a shimmering, reflective pool—sometimes he sees Anton, sometimes a reflection of Owen stares back. "Sometimes I feel like Anton, sometimes a little like Owen. I think it'll be fun as I age, as these characters age, to navigate identity along with them."

His hopes for his characters are tender and telling. "I hope Anton in Adults finds love because I feel like that's the least stable part of his life. I hope George, in Overcompensating, finds deep friendship." He paused, recognizing the parallel. "It's just so interesting that I get to play these two characters that are finding these things while I'm also finding these things. It's very fun." His career, in this light, is not an escape but an exploration—a shared journey with the people he embodies.

Looking Forward: Manifestation & Letting Go

As we looked toward the new year, Owen was decisive about what he was leaving behind and what he was bringing with him. "I'm leaving self-deprecation," he stated firmly. "I even made a self-deprecating comment in this interview. I'm leaving it." It was a declaration of moving towards a kinder internal dialogue. In its place? "I'm going to bring two things into the new year: manifestation—I need to keep manifesting, I need to keep dreaming." His creative spirit, once a shy sapling, now stretches toward the sun with intention. "And then," he added with a smile, "I'm bringing Baileys."

His artistic inspirations remain potent. He spoke of watching Marty Supreme with awe: "I thought it was one of the best movies I've ever seen in my life." While he wonders about his place in such a distinct cinematic world—"it could be very confusing to see someone like me in that world"—the desire is clear: "I would die to be a part of any Josh Safdie film. I'd love to work with people who inspire me."

Talking with Owen Thiele is to witness someone in the graceful, sometimes awkward, process of becoming. His skincare routine is a daily meditation in self-presentation. His holiday ideals are a blueprint for authentic connection. His acting is a dialogue between his own journey and the fictional paths he walks. In 2026, as the lines between public persona and private self continue to blur for many, Owen stands out not for constructing an impermeable image, but for allowing us to see the seams, the thought process, the flushed-cheek humanity of it all. He is not just playing characters; he is, with refreshing honesty, meeting them somewhere in the middle, and inviting us along for the thoughtful, glazed, and wonderfully real conversation.