Elle Lorraine
Elle Lorraine stars in Hulu’s Bad Hair. She is an actress and producer, known for Bad Hair (2020), Insecure (2016) and Dear White People (2017).
Elle plays a leading role in Bad Hair alongside actors as Lena Waithe, Vanessa Williams, Kelly Rowland, Laverne Cox, Usher, Blair Underwood, Jay Pharoah, and James Van Der Beek.
Check out the trailer here.
1. Tell us about yourself.
I’m Elle, and some of the most important things in my life are my family, who all live in Houston, TX; my friend, who are my chosen family; tennis; laughing; and living a meaningful, yet free-spirited, life. I’m an explorer at heart, and I express myself through creativity.
2. Where are you from, and where are you currently located?
I’m from Houston, and I live in Los Angeles. I love that I am surrounded by the Redwoods one day and at the beach the next.
3. Can you tell us about your role, Anna Bludso, in Bad Hair?
Anna Bludso, is all of us. She passionate and driven and is going after what she believes in at all costs. Unfortunately for her, it costs a bit of blood and gore.
4. How would you describe Anna Buldso from a viewer’s perspective?
She takes the audience on such an exciting journey. The story is wrapped in folklore and superstition, so the audience is getting to watch parallel stories collide. We see the car crash happening but are still surprised by it all. It’s such a unique story being told, and each time you watch the film, you discover new layers. I still do.
Bodysuit: Holiday The Label
Jacket: Charles & Ron
5. In your upcoming TV series, what is the biggest challenge for you?
I’d have to say my role as Trina on Insecure. She’s not a character that anyone would immediately expect to cast me as, but I get to have the most fun with her. We’re so different, but I know this woman, she is who she is, and the rest of the world has to accept it. I love her! She’s so funny and random. I have a hard time keeping a straight face when we’re shooting. And that’s one of the things I love about the show, we get to see people so many of us know but have never seen on screen.
6. Any memorable moment while filming?
There are so many, but I was shooting a short called Sugar, and I was in a really emotionally weighted scene with the actress Wendy Raquel Robinson. We both completely surrendered to the circumstances. And there was a moment where she accidentally hit me and when they called cut, I had blood all over my face, lips, and hands, and neither of us had any idea, lol. That take was magical, and we actually used some of it in the film.
7. If you have to pick a role that you’ve played throughout your career, do you find one particular role that fits you the most? Why?
I’m not sure that I’ve played them yet. I still have so much more to do and so much further to stretch. I’m closer to those career-defining characters. I’ll let you know when that role shows up. Hopefully, I surprise myself.
Blazer: Nana Jacqueline
Bodysuit: Charles & Ron
8. What are you most proud of? Why?
My background is in theatre, and it’s my first love. I did a show called Sympathy for the Devil, written by Lynn Manning, an incredible playwright who was blind. I played Anarcha, a young, enslaved woman who endured experimentation, torture. She was repeated drugged by doctors in exploration of the human body. Because of her, we have modern day gynecology. I’m eternally thankful to her, and for the opportunity to share her story. I’m so proud to have been a part of that play. I want to do it again.
9. Do you have anyone that you admire that inspired you to become an actor?
So many! Whoopi Goldberg’s performance in The Color Purple ignited my young spirit, Meryl Streep has always been my fairy godmother in my imagination, and so many more. I was lucky to have an aunt who supported my desire to explore my creative side. I eventually meet teachers who encouraged me to interpret characters fearlessly using my imagination as the starting point. And I did, I do.
10. Do you have any advice that you would like to share with people who are interested in acting?
If it’s your passion, find a way to do it. Study, play, people watch, and try, try, try. There will be so many people who won’t get it, but being an artist is about believing in the unseen. That’s what we do with every character! We use the blueprint that we sketch in our imagination. How lucky are we?
11. What is your life motto?
Jump, that’s when you’ll realize you have wings.
12. What is your Instagram handle?
@ElleLorraine
CREW CREDITS:
Photographer: David Higgs at Exclusive Artists
Model: Elle Lorraine
Fashion Stylist: Ali Mullin
Makeup: Aaron Paul using Hourglass Cosmetics
Hair: Nikki Wright
Interview: Alison Hernon, Editor-In-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets: Wei Liu, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine
