A body language expert has analyzed the behavior of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in a trailer for a new documentary, describing her demeanor as "psychopathic" and "almost not human." The trailer for "You Can See Everything," which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, features an intense interaction between Holmes and comedian Nathan Fielder.
Susan Constantine, a body language expert who has studied Holmes for years, noted Holmes' "laser-focused eye contact, wide-eyed, no blinking" in the clip. Constantine characterized this as a "stalker stare" often employed by individuals attempting to appear convincing. She also identified Holmes' "raised eyebrows, staring eyes and wide-open smile" as "duping delight," a facial expression associated with successfully deceiving others.
"Natural expressions don’t freeze on the face – they are on and off…which is how I know it’s performative," Constantine told The Post. She suggested that Holmes' gaze and head nods indicate an attempt to persuade Fielder, potentially as an intimidation tactic. The expert stated that Holmes' body language and word choices in the trailer reveal "massive clusters of deception."
In the trailer, Holmes tells Fielder, "I’m not that person. I can promise you that. I don’t have anything to deceive you on." She continues, "Of course, I’m not deceiving you. I’m engaging with you as a human being. Why would I deceive you? There’s no – there’s no reason for me to do that."
Constantine pointed to Holmes' use of the present tense, suggesting it implies a deception limited to the current moment rather than a general denial. The expert also interpreted Holmes' use of "of course" as a calculated attempt to make her truthfulness seem obvious, and her declaration of "I promise" as a desperate bid for persuasion.
Holmes' slight voice softening and head tilt were interpreted by Constantine as an effort to appear vulnerable, although Fielder's expressions suggested skepticism. The Holmes depicted in the trailer, filmed shortly before she began her prison sentence in 2023, differs from the commanding persona Constantine observed in earlier Theranos investor meetings. "Here, she’s not as commanding," Constantine said, contrasting it with the lower octave voice Holmes used previously to appear authoritative.
Constantine believes Holmes has "always acting and she’s not even in touch with her real self." Holmes, founder of the defunct blood-testing startup Theranos, was convicted in 2022 on four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy for defrauding investors. She was ordered to pay $452 million in restitution and sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison. Prosecutors stated Holmes misled investors from 2010 to 2015 by falsely claiming Theranos' technology could perform numerous tests on a single drop of blood. Holmes is currently housed at the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, and is eligible for release on December 30, 2031. She maintains her innocence, stating she refused to plead guilty to crimes she did not commit.
Constantine, who plans to feature Holmes in her upcoming book, "How to Spot a Liar in 7 Seconds," stated she recognized Holmes as a deceiver based on her behavior as early as 2013. "She’s a psychopath," Constantine concluded.