Odessa A’zion Stuns on the Cover of Elle Magazine
Odessa A’zion is the new cover star of Elle, and the interview paints a picture of a young actress suddenly finding herself in the spotlight.
The magazine story, written by Clover Hope and photographed by Carin Backoff, follows Odessa A’zion during a busy moment in her career. She had just been waiting for Oscar nominations while filming in Montreal alongside Sarah Paulson and Naomi Watts.
At the time, she had already been gaining awards buzz for her role in Marty Supreme, where she starred opposite Timothée Chalamet and worked with director Josh Safdie. The movie became the biggest domestic hit for A24 and earned several nominations from critics and award groups.
Odessa A’zion graces the cover of Elle Magazine. pic.twitter.com/UAhsHIIkOb
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A’zion admitted she felt nervous about the Oscars and even blamed herself when she did not get nominated. “Everyone on set kept mentioning to me, ‘The Oscar noms are tomorrow!’… I’m like, ‘Please stop talking to me about that.’” She joked later with a makeup artist that they were “losers,” only to learn the next day they were both nominated at the British Academy Film Awards. That moment turned into a small celebration on set.
Odessa A’zion photographed by Carin Backoff for ELLE Magazine. 📷 pic.twitter.com/df1jh6HSGX
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The interview took place at the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal. A’zion described feeling grateful but also overwhelmed by her sudden success. “I still feel like I’m pinching myself… ‘Grateful’ is not enough, and ‘honored’ is not enough.”
Odessa A’zion stuns for ELLE Magazine. 📷 pic.twitter.com/cPG7L7rUJ2
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The actress has become more visible thanks to her role in the HBO series I Love LA. She said the attention still makes her uncomfortable. “I’m uncomfortable, I’m scared. But I’m also so insanely grateful and excited for the future of my career.” She also shared how hard it is to turn down projects now that she finally has choices.
Director Josh Safdie explained why he cast her after initially passing on her. “Meeting over Zoom is incredibly misleading… It was her audition tape that blew me away.” He said she brings a “punkish vulnerability” that feels real on screen.
A’zion will soon lend her voice to a new animated project tied to Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. Even with her rising fame, she still feels unsure on red carpets and often styles herself. She once designed a dress with L’Atelier 7474 and Maison Privée because she wanted to try something new.
Acting has been part of her life for years. She is the daughter of Pamela Adlon and Felix Adlon. She studied at Champs Charter High School of the Arts before chasing auditions. Her first job came at 16 on Nashville. She later appeared in Fam with Nina Dobrev and the teen drama Grand Army. Her film work includes Sitting in Bars with Cake with Yara Shahidi and Fresh Kills directed by Jennifer Esposito.
Her success accelerated after working with Rachel Sennott, Jordan Firstman, Josh Hutcherson, and True Whitaker. Firstman described her as “a loose cannon in the best sense of the word… filled with energy.”
The Elle feature presents A’zion as a rising star who is still adjusting to fame while trying to stay true to herself. In my opinion, it feels refreshing to see a young actor openly admit fear and uncertainty while building a career. Many stars hide that side of fame. What do you think about Odessa A’zion’s rise and the pressure on new actors today? Share your thoughts in the comments.