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'It means so much to see people who look like you, doing what you want to do'

'It means so much to see people who look like you, doing what you want to do'

Lolly Adefope is nominated for Female Performance in a Comedy for The Franchise

Lolly Adefope photographed in a white blouse, sat in front of a statue in a studio setting

Photography: Rachel Louise Brown, Set Design: Penny Mills, Stylist: Rachel Fanconi, Sponsor: BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises, Shoot Location: Sea Containers London, Lancôme MUA team: Sophie Finlay, Holly Regan and Lauren Freeman, Schwarzkopf Professional hairstyling team: Philipp Haug, Nikos Dika, Jessika Anderson and Liberty Hunter

Gareth McLean

Add the Bafta Television Awards and The Franchise to your watchlist

Best known for playing Kitty, the sweet, daft (and dead) aristocrat in Ghosts, Lolly Adefope cut her teeth as a stand-up comic. She has also appeared in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and most recently The Franchise, Armando Iannucci’s behind-the-scenes satire of superhero movies.

How does it feel to be nominated for a Bafta?

It’s undeniably amazing recognition, but what is really meaningful for me is that the show I’m nominated for was cancelled in January. The Franchise was such a fun show to make, we all got on so well and became kind of a family, and we didn’t get to make it again. So this, for me, is just a very nice way to finish that story.

The characters of HBO's The Franchise pose on the set of their fictional film

The Franchise. HBO

Have you changed at all as you’ve become more successful?

I have had success, for sure, but I don’t know if I feel successful. I feel grateful to be an actor who works a lot, to have an element of choice in the things I do, and to feel aligned with the characters I play.

Growing up, what was the first thing you saw on TV that made you feel seen?

Little Miss Jocelyn. Except for her [Jocelyn Jee Esien], there wasn’t much black female character comedy out there. She was definitely a pioneer. It means so much to see people who look like you, doing what you want to do. But I also had role models who didn’t necessarily look like me. As a teenager, I watched and listened to so much comedy – Catherine Tate, Alan Partridge – because I think that’s how you hone it. Take in as much as possible and work out what you like.

Authors

A bearded Gareth McLean sits before a dark green backgrounded, looking at the camera and smiling gently

Gareth McLean

Gareth McLean has been writing about television for nearly 30 years. As a critic, he's reviewed thousands of programmes. As a feature writer, he's interviewed hundreds of people, from Liza Minnelli to Jimmy Savile. He has also written for TV.

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