Early Life

Cecilia Lewis, widely known as “Cece,” was born into the influential Toussaint-Lewis entertainment dynasty in Los Angeles, California. She is the granddaughter of legendary actor and producer William Lewis and great-niece of Eleanor Lewis, two central figures in Hollywood’s Golden Age. Raised primarily by her grandfather William following her parents' divorce, Cece grew up on film sets and in production studios, acting from a young age and achieving fame through multiple box-office hits and youth-oriented films.She quickly became a household name through her leading roles in major box-office hits such as the fantasy-adventure Everly Hollow (2000) and the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama A Home Called Sunday (2003). These films firmly established her as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young faces.

teen & early twenties

In her late teens and early twenties, following William Lewis’s death when she was just 22, Cece entered a turbulent period marked by high media visibility, personal struggles, and public controversies. Seeking independence from her family’s legacy, she distanced herself from acting, exploring various creative outlets but often found herself embroiled in tabloid scandals and widely documented nightlife excesses. Notably, she made headlines after abruptly walking off the set of the anticipated drama Blue Skies, Black Nights, citing exhaustion and creative differences. The incident sparked intense tabloid coverage and speculation about her well-being, marking a public turning point that led her to retreat from acting entirely.

Current

After a prolonged hiatus from public life, Cece re-emerged as a celebrated writer-director, creating work defined by emotional nuance, personal reflection, and cinematic sophistication. Her critically acclaimed projects include the noir-inspired Cold Blonde, the deeply personal feature debut This Dust We Keep, and the widely praised series Girlhouse. Cece now oversees her own production studio, Rosedust Studios, and curates the influential lifestyle platform Eleanor’s Note, named after her beloved great-aunt. In this chapter, Cece gracefully balances the richness of her family’s cinematic heritage with fresh, contemporary creativity, solidifying herself as a powerful, respected voice in modern filmmaking.

Family

Cecilia "Cece" Lewis was born into the prominent Toussaint-Lewis entertainment dynasty, a multigenerational family renowned in Hollywood. Her grandfather, William Lewis, was a celebrated actor and film producer whose career spanned over five decades and significantly shaped the American cinematic landscape. After Cece’s parents divorced during her early childhood, William and her great-aunt Eleanor Lewis, a respected and influential studio executive known for championing groundbreaking films, took primary responsibility for her upbringing.

Cece’s mother and father were notably absent from her formative years, contributing to her deep attachment to William and Eleanor, who provided both emotional grounding and creative inspiration. The loss of William when Cece was 22 profoundly impacted her personal and professional trajectory, marking a period of turbulence and public scrutiny in her life. Eleanor’s legacy, reflected in Cece’s work and particularly in her lifestyle platform Eleanor’s Note, continues to significantly influence her creative endeavors.

Currently, Cece remains deeply connected to her extended family, notably her cousin Julian Toussaint-Lewis, a respected film executive, and his siblings Lennox and Naomi, both influential figures in fashion and entertainment. Despite the complexities and pressures of her lineage, Cece actively engages with and redefines her family’s storied narrative, contributing her unique voice and perspective to an enduring Hollywood legacy.