Elizabeth Blake-Thomas, a British award-winning director, creativity coach, and sought-after keynote speaker, is known for her purpose-led approach to storytelling through her production company, Mother & Daughter Entertainment. Her upcoming TED Talk in Los Angeles will spotlight the critical role of play and joy in adulthood, a theme that underpins both her personal philosophy and her creative work. As a mentor and guide for emerging artists, Elizabeth’s influence extends far beyond the screen, encouraging others to live and create with intention.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Isabella Blake-Thomas, is quickly establishing herself as a powerful voice for her generation. She’s the official ambassador for Bee: Wild, a new environmental documentary produced in partnership with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re: Wild. The film, which spotlights Bee conservation efforts, is set to premiere at SXSW London at the beginning of June. Best known for her standout roles in Once Upon a Time (ABC), Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (Disney+), and the indie drama Kepler’s Dream, Isabella blends mainstream appeal with a deep commitment to meaningful projects.
How do you define a guru?
Someone who encourages other people to find what is already inside them and then helps them nurture that to grow and bloom into what’s possible. This could also be referred to as a guide, mentor, or teacher.
What does a normal work day look like for you, starting from the moment you wake up?
We have generally decided the night before where we will be working from the following day, so if it’s from home, we make tea, have breakfast, and stay in pajamas or comfy clothes. If we have decided to work from one of the Soho houses, then we leave by 9 am so we can arrive by 10 am. Then it’s all about cups of tea, easy snacks (vegan), mini walks during the day to refresh, and prepping for whatever we are currently working on. Days on sets are totally different. If we want to be creative with our script or story writing, then we like to find somewhere away from people. We can let our minds wander freely without being disturbed by day-to-day stuff.
What time do you wake up?
Elizabeth: I tend to wake at 5.30 am. If my creative juices are flowing, I can often write a short script or story before everyone wakes up. If the ideas aren’t there, then I make myself go back to sleep so that I can have my 8 hours a night.
Isabella: I typically wake up around 8 o’clock. This is because I make sure I have between 10 and 12 hours of sleep a night. I find that I function the best when I have the most amount of sleep possible.
What do you have for breakfast?
Elizabeth: I am all about brunch. So I have a glass of water, then a cup of Earl Grey tea and oat milk, then around 11 am it’s avocados and cooked spinach.
Isabella: I tend to eat a protein-filled vegan breakfast (typically it’s tofu scramble, vegan sausage patties, toast, and a vegan yoghurt bowl). I use the gym every day, so I have to consume the food I need so my body can heal from my workouts.
Do you work out?
Elizabeth: I walk everywhere, which is unusual for LA living, but because I’m from London, I like to walk as much as possible. I also love paddle boarding and tennis, and pickleball.
Isabella: I go to the gym every day. I love weight lifting, so I have a split that means I can work out for 6 days and take a day off. I love feeling strong with the weight I’m lifting.
Do you have a special routine to get you in the zone? Meditation type, maybe?
Elizabeth: Dopamine Dressing is very important to me. This is wearing the correct items to make me feel creative. I also need to be in the right space; this is my creative cocoon. For example, if I need to be free flowing and come up with crazy new ideas, then I love staying in Korakia in Palm Springs; the energy there really works for me. If I need to write scripts, then Malibu Soho House works. It’s about everything being optimal, the senses being affected in the right way.
Isabella: For me, I feel the most “in the zone” after a workout out so I try and get moving in the morning. Whether it’s a quick walk around the block or a full gym session, if I get my body moving, my creativity moves as well.
What time do you get to work?
Typically, we get to wherever we choose to work at 10 am, but if we work from home, we start at 9 am.
What do you have for Lunch? Do you even eat lunch?
Elizabeth: For me, lunch is normally at around 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon, and it might be homemade hummus and crackers or tomato and another avocado cut up.
Isabella: For me, my lunch is as healthy as my breakfast. I try and do a wrap of some kind with veggies, rice, and vegan protein. I usually eat lunch around 4 hours after breakfast, but if I’m hungry earlier, I’ll have a vegan protein shake as a snack.
Are working lunches something that works for you?
Elizabeth: I do pause to eat, but I also enjoy just working until I decide to stop. I listen to my body and its needs and requirements for every specific day.
Isabella: I will only work while I eat if I’m reading a script or working on something that brings me peace. Otherwise, I stop for lunch so I have time to cook properly.
How much time do you take for yourself during lunch?
Elizabeth: Being self-employed means that we have total flexibility with our schedule. So maybe lunch leads to an afternoon off. It might be that lunch was the meeting of the day. I used to fit so much into my schedule that I totally readdressed that.
Isabella: I find that about 45 minutes for lunch is a good amount of time. This often means I can make my lunch and eat without rushing.
How much work are you hoping to achieve in your working hours?
Elizabeth: This varies depending on how much I have to have done. My daughter and I have this funny way of talking about work; we always say “when we start.” However, we are always starting and finishing things. The to-do list is never over. Even if a project is over then we are working on ourselves and the company and trying to learn and add to our knowledge.
Isabella: My goals change from day to day. In the mornings, I typically focus on the urgent things that have a deadline for that day and any emails that have come in, but the rest of the day is targeted towards creative work for the films we are producing, as well as the business side.
Do you take a break in between?
Elizabeth: I try not to sit for too long in the same position. I’m also working with my Maltese, Chai, who comes everywhere. She teaches me when to break and when we need to get up for some fresh air.
Isabella: I use my meal times as my breaks. When I go to the gym in the afternoon, I go at around 5 pm, then I have dinner when I get home. Ending the day with a big workout is lovely for me because it gets me moving and helps me sleep.
What does settling in look like for you?
Elizabeth: If I’m away from home, this involves me actually getting all my books out of my basket, putting them around me, then my pens and paper (plain) in front of me. I also make pieces of pocket art, and I have them next to me in case someone I meet needs one. These are my large canvas paintings that I cut up into pocket-sized pieces that I give out and write on. It connects us as we are all part of the bigger picture.
Isabella: I tend to eat a protein-filled vegan breakfast (typically it’s tofu scramble, vegan sausage patties, toast, and a vegan yoghurt bowl). I use the gym every day, so I have to consume the food I need so my body can heal from my workouts.
Do you turn off your phone when you’re getting emails from work?
Elizabeth: I only use my phone. It’s the only way I communicate with people, so I have to have access all the time. However, I have stopped my social media work on it. I employ someone to run that now so that I don’t need to doom scroll. This has changed my life.
Isabella: I try not to go on my phone because it is so easy to fall into the trap of social media doom scrolling. I don’t sleep with my phone charging in my room, which helps as well. However, during the day, I receive my text messages on my laptop, so if something important comes in, I see it there.
What does a normal wind-down look like for you?
Elizabeth: I had to learn not to feel guilty about stopping in the evening. When there is no one telling you to stop, then I just keep on going, especially because I love what I do. If I’m not working on a script, then I’m writing or planning the next project. Even my painting becomes part of my creative self. Turning on a Netflix limited series or sometimes a documentary about murder. Seeing our neighbor next door, he is 3 years old, and just getting into his headspace is so relaxing, we play. If the weather is good, which it often is, then heading out for a walk with Chai. Finally, if I’m reading a good book, then I will get a cup of tea and head out to sit in the warm air to read.
Isabella: I like to put on a good show. I try and pick shows that are relevant to what I’m working on at the time, or something to expand my knowledge. However, if I’m not in the mood to watch TV, I will read my book in bed.
Loved Elizabeth and Isabella’s story? Discover more inspiring journeys in our “A Day in the Life of a Guru” series, where remarkable individuals share what it truly means to be a guru. From moments of truth to sparks of passion and authenticity, each story offers a unique glimpse into their everyday lives. Explore our past features here!
A viral video gave Jules and Shawn Kolodny something most entrepreneurs spend years searching for: unmistakable product-market fit. What they built next offers a lesson...
There was a time when dressing well came with a rulebook. The right jacket. The proper shirt. A prescribed idea of polish. But style has never stood still, and neither...
In a world where burnout has become commonplace, wellness has evolved from an occasional luxury into an everyday necessity. According to the American Psychological...
Every year, World IVF Day celebrates the advances in reproductive medicine that have helped millions of families. For more than three decades, that mission has defined...
Fashion has always been influenced by the world around it. Its most defining ideas have emerged not in isolation, but through conversations with art, music, film,...
Some of the most memorable moments at an event aren't found on stage—they're discovered in the details guests take home. A product that becomes part of a daily ritual....
The beauty industry rarely suffers from a shortage of new brands. What is far less common is a company that arrives with a genuinely focused concept. Novéra, which...
Everybody loves a swag bag—and at Gurus, we love gifting our favorite Gurus. But for us, the gift bags have never been just about what guests take home. They are an...
