IN CONVERSATION WITH LA LA ANTHONY
interview by JANA LETONJA
La La Anthony has spent years moving effortlessly between entertainment, fashion, entrepreneurship and advocacy, while steadily expanding her voice both in front of and behind the camera. This season, she joins Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt as Melina Cropper, a fiercely loyal woman whose circumstances gradually push her toward a breaking point. The role arrives during an especially expansive chapter for La La, who is simultaneously developing and executive producing new television projects while continuing her long-standing work with young men at Rikers Island. From complex female characters to creating opportunities for underrepresented voices, her latest chapter is as much about purpose as it is about evolution.
dress LAPOINTE
shoes DOLCE & GABBANA
earrings BOHÈME BY VÉRO
bracelet JOHN HARDY
cuff CHRISTINA CARUSO
ring JOHN HARDY
ring ALEXIS BITTAR
You’re joining Reasonable Doubt as Melina Cropper. What was it about her that immediately made you want to play this character?
I was immediately drawn to how Melina’s character explores complexity, particularly the complexity of being a woman in love and how far she is willing to go for someone she loves. I have seen so many women lose themselves in relationships, and once they are out, finding themselves again. There’s something really powerful about that rediscovery, and I think Melina embodies it so beautifully.
Without giving too much away, how would you describe Melina when we first meet her versus the woman we see later in the season?
When we first meet Melina, she is still putting her ex-husband before herself to preserve the love that she has for him. As the season goes on, she slowly starts to step into her own, and by the end of the season, she puts herself first.
Do you find yourself more attracted to characters who exist in morally complicated spaces?
Absolutely, complicated characters compel me because they reflect what it is to be human- inherently nuanced and complex. When we see characters exploring morally ambiguous situations, it roots the story in a reality that we can all relate to. We exist in a morally complicated world and are faced with difficult decisions all of the time. It is a gift when I get the opportunity to play a character that reflects that reality.
bustier and trousers ANKVAS
shoes DOLCE & GABBANA
earrings LADY GREY
rings WYLD BOX
Reasonable Doubt has built a strong identity around ambitious, complex Black characters. What did joining that world mean to you?
Before being cast, I was such a fan of Reasonable Doubt and its creator, Raamla Mohamed. Raamla, alongside the incredible cast, is championing Black voices and stories in an industry where our voices are too often underrepresented. Getting the call that I was cast and could be a part of that movement felt like a dream come true.
What are you looking for in a role at this stage of your acting career that perhaps you weren’t looking for ten years ago?
10 years ago, I was just looking to get my foot in the door. Now, I see the value in being more selective about the characters I choose to play and the productions I work on. Life is short, so I want to surround myself with good people who are telling important stories.
You’re increasingly moving behind the camera as an executive producer. Has producing changed the way you approach acting when you’re on set?
While I don’t know if working as an executive producer has changed the way I approach acting, it has definitely changed the way I view productions. I find myself more sensitive to certain decisions, whether it’s creative, logistical, or even budgetary. I am so appreciative of the opportunity to work behind the camera because it has widened my perspective on how projects come together and has made me more intentional when I show up to set.
top and skirt QUINE LI
shoes LARROUDÉ X NICOLÒ B
earring on left ear LADY GREY
hand ring ALEXIS BITTAR
You’re developing a comedy series with Kim Kardashian, written by Tracy Oliver. What excites you about building something creatively with someone who has been such a longtime friend?
Kim and I have wanted to work together on a project like this for a very long time, but we were waiting for the right opportunity to come along. We want the story to reflect our actual friendship with each other, drawing on our experiences, conversations and relationships. It’s a comedy, so there is a lightheartedness to it, but we really wanted to create characters that will resonate with women. The balance between compelling characters facing real-world issues and keeping it fun is what’s most exciting to me.
When developing your own projects, how important is it to create space for stories and perspectives that historically haven’t received enough attention?
It is incredibly important to me. When I am developing my own projects, I always have the idea of a woman who might not see herself represented in media in the back of my mind, and I am constantly asking myself the question, “How can I bring her to the screen?”
Your relationship with fashion has evolved considerably over the years. How would you describe your personal style today?
My personal style is bold. I have become more confident in exploring and experimenting with my fashion. I am not afraid to try new things and be unapologetic about it. In my everyday life, I love to wear a cute crop top and sneakers. I try to balance a little bit of everything.
dress and coat LAPOINTE
shoes DOLCE & GABBANA
earrings BOHÈME BY VÉRO
bracelet JOHN HARDY
cuff CHRISTINA CARUSO
ring JOHN HARDY
ring ALEXIS BITTAR
sunglasses STELLA MCCARTNEY
You’ve hosted the Met Gala Red Carpet Livestream for Vogue and built close relationships with fashion luminaries such as Anna Wintour and Virgil Abloh. What do you think is the difference between following fashion and actually having the power to influence it?
Anyone can influence fashion, and we are all constantly contributing to the evolution of fashion. Every time you walk down the street and you are inspired by someone’s outfit, you are participating in that cycle of influence. The most powerful people in fashion are the ones who are paying close attention to the everyday people around them and how they are expressing themselves through their style.
It has been an honor to get to host the Met Gala carpet for several years. I am so inspired by Anna and her team, and the fact that she has trusted me with that important role means the world.
You’ve spent the past five years working closely with young men at Rikers Island. What initially compelled you to become involved on such a consistent, personal level?
Through my prison reform program ThreeSixty, I work with young men ages 18-21 who are incarcerated on Rikers Island, offering them support and mentorship. As I learned their stories, I was struck by how much so many of those men reminded me of my own son, Kiyan. Just like him, they are Black and Brown men in America, and I understand the unique challenges that identity presents. I wanted to give these young men the same guidance, encouragement, and access to resources that I give my own son. I’ve had the privilege of watching many of them come home, helping some secure scholarships to schools like Columbia University and connecting others with jobs at Fortune 500 companies. Over the past 5 years, I have committed to visiting Rikers at least once a week because I believe in these young men so deeply and am passionate about instilling the confidence and skills for them not only to re-enter society but to thrive upon release.
Prison reform can often become an abstract political conversation. Has spending time inside Rikers changed the way you think about rehabilitation and second chances?
When you are working inside Rikers, you really get to see these inmates for who they are as people. They have full lives, stories, families who love them, dreams, and a lot of potential. Spending time with them has helped me understand that rehabilitation starts with seeing a person for who they are beyond the circumstances that brought them there. It’s about creating a path forward and making sure that each and every one of them has the opportunity to receive a second chance, to build the life they dream of and, most importantly, the life they deserve to live.
dress, cape and boots STELLA MCCARTNEY
earrings LADY GREY
right ring ALEXIS BITTAR
With such a public career, how do you decide where you can use your visibility for something larger than yourself?
I want to use my visibility for something that matters. For me, that is giving back to my communities, whether that is where I grew up or those in need. I am fortunate to have a platform where I can reach a wide audience, and I try to take every opportunity to use it to advocate for change and give a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. If I have the ability to bring attention to an issue, open a door, or help create an opportunity for someone else, I feel a responsibility to do that.
As a mother, actress, producer, entrepreneur, and advocate, what have you learned about protecting your own identity while carrying so many responsibilities?
I have learned that authenticity doesn’t mean that you have to reveal everything about yourself to the world. You can still be a genuine, honest person while protecting the things in your life that are most personal to you. I show up fully in my work, but I also find it important to make room for myself, my family and the parts of my life that are not for the public’s eye. For me, that is understanding my own boundaries when it comes to what I share and what I hold sacred.
Looking at everything you’re building right now, what feels most important about the next chapter, not just professionally, but personally?
There are so many things, it’s hard to choose. First and foremost, I am a mother. Kiyan is 19 years old and is playing basketball at Syracuse University. Watching him grow into an incredible young man and seeing his accomplishments fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride. Through my work at Rikers, I continue to watch these men who come in with no hope reclaim their lives. This inspires me every day. I am excited to continue acting and producing and to continue challenging myself creatively. I feel like I am constantly learning and unlearning and growing and evolving, and I am excited to see where that journey takes me next.
coat ADAM LIPPES
shoes PARIS TEXAS
belt THE FRANKIE SHOP
earrings DOLCE & GABBANA
tights FALKE
underwear SKIMS
gloves UNREAL FUR
TEAM CREDITS:
talent LA LA ANTHONY
photography BEN ABARBANEL
styling ROBYN VICTORIA at THE ONLY AGENCY
make up NYALA CHAMBERLAIN
hair JASMINE DIOR
styling assistant TYANNA GREENE
tailor KEMI OMOYOSI
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
