Ololade "Lolly" Adefope[2] (born 1990 or 1991) is an English stand-up comedian and actress, specialising in character comedy.[3] She is known for playing the role of Fran in the Hulu comedy series Shrill, and as Kitty, the ghost of a Georgian noblewoman in the BBC comedy Ghosts, for which she was nominated for a National Comedy Award in 2021.[4]

Lolly Adefope
Adefope in 2024
Born
Ololade Adefope

1990 or 1991 (age 33–34)[1]
London, England
Alma materLoughborough University
Occupation(s)Comedian, actress
Years active2014–present

Early life and education

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Adefope was born in South London to Nigerian parents.[1] She went to Loughborough University to study English literature.[5][6][7] While at university, she started performing with a sketch comedy group.[5]

Career

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After university Adefope applied to drama school but was rejected, so she began working in an office.[8] She began her career as a stand-up comic and transitioned into acting after receiving positive attention for solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015 and 2016.[5] Also in 2015, she was selected for the BBC Writersroom comedy programme,[9] and in 2016 she was nominated for two Chortle Awards.[10][11]

As an actress, Adefope has appeared on Together, Josh, Plebs, Rovers, Sick Note, Ghosts, Miracle Workers, and Shrill. She has also participated as a guest on Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, The Last Leg, Don't Ask Me Ask Britain and QI.[12][13] She appeared on the fourth series of the panel show Taskmaster and the 100th anniversary suffragette special of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Shrill star and co-creator Aidy Bryant has praised Adefope's acting for "how much she can convey with just the slightest movement of her eyes."[5] Her performance in that show introduced her to wider audiences, and she began to receive a flood of offers for new roles. As of May 2021, she was working on developing a new television show that she would also star in, as well as a podcast.[5] In October 2021, it was announced that Adefope will be appearing in an upcoming American television series, Girls Can't Shoot (& Other Lies) based on Scarlett Curtis's anthology, Feminists Don't Wear Pink (& Other Lies).[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Lolly in Marseille Lolly Short film
2018 The Spy Who Dumped Me Tess
2018 Mission: Impossible – Fallout Woman at desk
2019 Sorry Dolly Adesina Short film
2023 Saltburn Lady Daphne
2023 Wicked Little Letters Kate
2024 Seize Them! Shulmay
2024 That Christmas Mrs. McNutt (voice)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Josh Cath Episode: "Suited and Booted"
Troy: Cyber Hijack Waitress TV movie
Lolly Adefope's Christmas Herself TV movie
2016 Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Herself Episode: "Hitler & Jingle"
Plebs Atilla Episode: "The Beasts"
QI Herself Panel game / Quiz show, 1 episode
Rovers Sam Main cast
The Last Leg Herself 2 episodes
Sexy Murder Jessica Arkwright Miniseries, Episode: "The Flames of Innocence"
Year Friends Lolly Episode: "September"
2017 Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit Herself Panel game, 1 episode
Loaded Naomi Main cast
Sick Note Lisa 2 episodes
Taskmaster Herself Panel game, 8 episodes
Pls Like Chloe Sass Web series, episode: "Fashion & Beauty"
Motherland Penny Episode: "The Cavalry"
2017–2018 Horrible Histories Various characters Main cast (Series 7)
2018 Damned Mimi Main cast (Series 2)
Lovesick Charlotte Episode: "Evie (Again)"
Richard Osman's House of Games Herself Quiz show, 5 episodes
Hang Ups Angie Henderson 2 episodes
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Herself Panel game, 1 episode
2019–2021 Shrill Fran Main cast
2019–2020, 2023 Miracle Workers Rosie, Maggie, NeuralNet Main cast (Seasons 1-2, 4)
2019–2021 This Time with Alan Partridge Ruth Duggan Main cast
2019–2023 Ghosts Kitty Main cast
2020 Feel Good Florence (photographer) 1 episode
2021 Summer Camp Island Snowflake Episode: "Shave a Little Off the Wheel"
There’s Something About Movies Herself Panel game, 1 episode
2022 Chivalry Ama 2 episodes
Don't Hug Me I'm Scared Elevator/Mrs. Greltch Web series, 2 episodes
2023 Everyone Else Burns Miss Simmons Main cast
Black Mirror Joan's Lawyer Episode: "Joan Is Awful"
2024 The Franchise Dagmara "Dag" Nwaeze Main cast

References

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  1. ^ a b Kale, Sirin (7 May 2021). "For Lolly Adefope, Comedy Is in the Details". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2023. In the last few years, the 30-year-old actress…
  2. ^ "#TBB10 With Comedienne Lolly Adefope – Ready To Take The Stage During Festival Season". The British Blacklist. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  3. ^ http://www.ayoungertheatre.comauthor/lolly/[dead link]
  4. ^ "Sex Education wins 4 gongs at inaugural National Comedy Awards". 3 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Kale, Sirin (7 May 2021). "For Lolly Adefope, Comedy Is in the Details". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  6. ^ Halls, Eleanor (21 September 2020). "Lolly Adefope interview: 'I don't care if I get cancelled again, I've got the antibodies'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ Bromwich, Kathryn (1 January 2017). "Rising stars of 2017: comedian Lolly Adefope". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  8. ^ Davies, Hannah (21 September 2020). "Lolly Adefope: 'Some people act as if it's their right to be overpaid and on TV'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  9. ^ Obenson, Tambay (9 October 2015). "BBC Announces the 15 Up-and-Coming Writers Selected for its Comedy Writersroom". IndieWire.
  10. ^ "Lolly Adefope – Soho Theatre". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  11. ^ Logan, Brian (16 August 2015). "Lolly Adefope at Edinburgh festival review – a show of many faces". The Guardian.
  12. ^ "Lolly Adefope's News : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". Chortle.
  13. ^ Wittenberg, Daniel (24 July 2014). "Who's laughing now? Lolly Adefope's turning stage fright into stand-up". Hackney Gazette.
  14. ^ Bennett, Steve. "New American TV role for Lolly Adefope : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
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