'Variety' releases 6 different covers for 'Power of Women in Comedy' featuring Michaela Coel, Kate McKinnon and more

Variety released six different covers on Wednesday, honouring six creative leaders in comedy for Variety’s 2021 Power of Women.

The six women include I May Destroy You’s star and creator Michaela Coel, Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon, Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara, Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The Mindy Project’s Mindy Kaling and Bridesmaids' Maya Rudolph.

Michaela Coel

Chewing Gum star Coel is giving us EVERYTHING with her cover look. Styled by Nana Kwasi Wiafe, the creative's headpiece is from Schiaparelli.

For her cover story, Coel spoke about understanding why fans feel like they personally know her after watching I May Destroy You.

“Even though it’s fictional, there’s something very transparent about the show,” Coel told Variety. “I know a lot of people will say, ‘You think you know me, but you have no idea.’ And I feel like, ‘No. You probably do have a pretty good idea.’”

When asked about the legacy of her work, Coel said, “I can think of like 100 bullshit answers. But I think the most transparent thing that I can tell you is that I’m focusing on whatever challenge is in my hand.”

Kate McKinnon

Can we talk about how perfect McKinnon’s hair looks on her cover? She’s also rocking a Gabriela Hearst suit and her black top is from St.John.

McKinnon opened up about how she uses comedy to help cope with her social anxiety.

“People are often confused when they meet me because I’m soft-spoken and pensive. I am extraordinarily introverted,” said McKinnon.

She revealed that she began speaking in character voices at age 10 to help relieve her social anxiety.

“I found I was more easily able to communicate with people doing a funny voice,” she said, “I found it was a way to share joy and to bring a sense of fun and community in a way that I had trouble doing just in my own voice. I do have a personality, but I find it easier still in some ways to communicate in character.”

Sofia Vergara

Vergara is stunning in red for her cover shoot. Her statement earrings and necklace are from David Webb and those gorgeous rings are Walters Faith.

Vergara spoke to Variety about topping the Forbes list for seven consecutive years as the highest-paid actress in the world from 2009 to 2020. Get your coins, queen!

“I am super proud,” she said of her Forbes ranking. “I feel like it’s a bit of an exaggeration though — don’t forget that I have to pay horrific taxes too. When everyone is like, ‘Oh, my God, you have so much money,’ I always say, ‘No, I don’t have as much as you think I have. I have to f--king pay Uncle Sam! And managers! And lawyers! And agents!’”

Vergara also spoke about the importance of fighting for equality in Hollywood.

“I do feel sometimes that women have that thing that they’re scared to negotiate. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and what you deserve,” Vergara said, “Because somebody is going to make that money, and somebody is going to take that money, and it needs to be you. That has worked for me, always.”

Mindy Kaling

Kaling looks flawless as she stands in front of a pink floral background for her Power of Women in Comedy cover. She's wearing a RHODE dress and paired it with Hanut Singh earrings, Kallati ruby rings and a Chopard diamond ring.

Kaling spoke to Variety about growing her own comedy dynasty. She's well on her way with a stacked résumé that features projects like The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever.

“There’s so many great production companies out there that have all these shows in the air,” she said “So they need a head of production, and they have lots of executives. That’s my dream, to get a lot of people eventually.”

Until she achieves that dream, Kaling prefers to be hands-on, because “I do think that my voice is so specific, and the things I like are so specific. So right at the beginning, I want to make sure that there’s something really common to all of them.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Louis-Dreyfus is giving us equestrian vibes with her cover, with her top, vest and pants all from Zimmermann.

She reflected on creating landmark characters for women in pop culture, like the iconic Elaine Benes on Seinfeld and Selina Meyer on Veep.

When asked which roles she misses, Louis-Dreyfus said, “You know who I miss? I miss playing Selina Meyer.... Playing that character, who was so out of her f--king mind, and so undeveloped; it was just freeing! Everything was about her ego, with not a care in the world for another human being.”

Louis-Dreyfus will be producing projects with Apple after signing a multi-year deal. She's on the hunt for great material, in comedy and drama. “Great ideas are not low-hanging fruit,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I’m like one of those pigs that searches for truffles.”

Maya Rudolph

Rudolph is stealing the spotlight from the oranges growing in the background with her Valentino dress and Ana Khouri earrings.

Rudolph got real with Variety about feeling burned out before quarantine even hit.

“Before any thoughts of quarantine, I was feeling very burned out,” she admitted. “I was weirdly well on my way to retooling, and I think I’m still there. I feel less ashamed to admit that I would like to go a bit slower.”

The constant stream of obligations, from SNL to The Good Place and Netflix's Big Mouth, left Rudolph exhausted. “I was just saying ‘yes’ to everything,” she sighed. “It took a toll, and I was tired.”

Rudolph is now thinking about a potential turning point in her life and career. "Something that I feel has been a big awakening for me as I look at work is what makes me happy, what makes me unhappy, and how do I establish those boundaries?” 

In addition to the six gorgeous covers, each actress will be honoured as part of Lifetime Presents Variety’s Power of Women The Comedians special, premiering May 10 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime. 

“Variety’s Power of Women 2021 honours creative leaders in comedy who inspire us with their courage and originality and challenge us to transform a world desperately in need of positive change. In six wonderfully personal, dynamic ways, Mindy Kaling, Maya Rudolph, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sofía Vergara, Michaela Coel and Kate McKinnon use laughter to make serious points. All of them create art that works both as entertainment and as engagement with the issues we’re all facing with these difficult times,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety President and Group Publisher. 

Sobrino-Sterans continued: “We are also thrilled to be able to honour the life and impact of the legendary Gilda Radner and the wonderful work Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit does with cancer patients and their families. Once again, we are grateful to continue to work with Lifetime to make this special a reality and to be able to bring this iconic event for yet another year to a wider global audience.”

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