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Behind the Cover: Lolly Adefope

CHANEL earrings, $2,000, at CHANEL Boutiques. Asos blazer, $83, at asos.com. Photo: Ruth Ossai

British comedian and actress Lolly Adefope is making a name for herself in the States. In 2019, she graced American screens in Hulu’s Shrill, and just about a year later, she’ll appear in a new anthology series on TBS called Miracle Workers. To kick off 2020, she’s the Cut’s January cover woman, appearing in a colorful photo spread shot by Ruth Ossai.

In the close-up cover photo, Adefope’s vibrant spirit is amplified by her outfit — a bold magenta blazer from ASOS, a dramatic tie-neck blouse from Zara, and extravagant Chanel earrings. “I really wanted to capture Lolly in her most joyful ‘Sunday best’ and bring all the elements of her personality to life,” said stylist Theo White. “Color was very important.”

But capturing the actress in all her glory didn’t stop there. The photographer closely considered what backdrops would bring out Adefope’s playful personality, while letting the entire team’s creativity flow. “Lolly herself was the inspiration for the shoot, but with elements of the whole team thrown in too — Issac [Poleon] on hair, Theo [White] on styling, and Kayla [Selway] on beauty,” Ossai told the Cut. Below, check out a behind-the-scenes photo from the shoot.

Issac Poleon and Lolly Adefope. Photo: Liane Radel
Behind the Cover: Lolly Adefope