Is it her hair, her face card, or the iconic rasp in her voice? Odessa A’zion has been booking shows and movies left and right, her range allowing her to play a variety of characters. Most recently, you may have seen her as Rachel in Marty Supreme alongside Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, or as Tallulah in my current favorite show, I Love LA. How did her career start, and what caused her to blow up seemingly out of nowhere?
Like many young celebrities, A’zion owes some of her success to nepotism. Her parents, Felix and Pamela Adlon, first introduced their daughter to Hollywood when she was a teenager, as both of them work as producers, and Pamela acts herself. Most notably, Pamela voiced Bobby in King of the Hill, winning her an Emmy, and appeared in Grease 2 and Californication. A’zion booked her first minor recurring role as Liv in the series Nashville in 2017, appearing in five episodes, acting alongside Hayden Panettiere and Lennon Stella. She booked a few other shows and movies in the years following, but none as influential as her current jobs.
From 2017 to 2019, A’zion made gossip headlines for her relationship with Jaden Smith, going everywhere from Coachella to high school prom together. Jaden released his albums SYRE and ERYS while they were dating, both of which carried chill, summertime vibes. The paparazzi loved them, and their similar vintage aesthetic made them look perfect for each other in photos.
Some may remember A’zion’s breakout role in the Netflix series Grand Army, which was cancelled despite its popularity and positive reviews—possibly due to budget cuts caused by the pandemic. Viewers enjoyed the show because it addressed pertinent issues in America, such as violence in schools and systemic racism. The characters’ diversity allowed minority viewers to see themselves on screen, with LGBTQ relationships being featured along and main roles being given to Black and Asian actors. After Grand Army, A’zion took part in smaller projects, working her way to being featured in over 20 films/television series.
Her role as Tallulah in Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA put her back into the spotlight right before the A24 film Marty Supreme released. Tallulah, a broke influencer, decides to move back to LA to live with her best friend, Maia, who becomes her new manager. The show follows their complicated friendship along with Maia’s efforts to put Tallulah back on the map. Because of her stellar performance, I could see Odessa’s personality matching Tallulah’s in real life—a slightly messy, unapologetic, go-getter.
In Marty Supreme, A’zion’s character Rachel, Marty’s (Timothee Chalamet) childhood friend and love interest, is quite different from Tallulah. While having an affair with Marty, a professional ping pong player, Rachel finds the opportunity to leave her violent husband after becoming pregnant, convincing Marty that the baby is his. She becomes his sidekick in gambling and cheating people out of money to survive. Their complex relationship causes Marty to finally become emotionally aware after an entire movie of being detached from everything except money and ping pong. It’s really beautiful, but you’ll have to watch it to see for yourself.
After reflecting on Odessa A’zion’s rise to fame, I’ve decided that, along with her connections and stellar talent, her uniqueness is what sets her apart. She’s gorgeous, and nobody else looks like her. Sure, other celebrities have similar full hair and bright eyes, but I can’t think of anyone who could even compete to be her doppelganger. Her look is refreshing, and I hope Hollywood takes this hint to continue casting dynamic actresses like her. I can’t wait to see what character she takes on next, and I know it won’t be long before I see her on the big screen again.