Ayo Edebiri
|

Ayo Edebiri Graces Vanity Fair Cover, Discusses “The Bear,” Acting Career, and Embracing Her Style

Ayo Edebiri has become a rising star in Hollywood, earning the nickname “award girl” for her impressive collection of accolades. The American-Nigerian actress has swept the awards circuit this year, garnering a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, Emmy Award, and SAG Award for her role as chef Sydney Adamu in the hit comedy-drama “The Bear.”

“The Bear” itself has been a critical triumph, with its first season earning seven Golden Globe nominations (winning four) and 13 Emmy nominations (winning 10). With season two on the horizon, Edebiri’s name is expected to be prominent when new nominations are announced in July.

Reflecting on her rapid rise to fame, Edebiri shared, “I was grocery shopping yesterday, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, my life’s about to shift and I don’t know in which direction.’ I feel very fortunate and still I don’t really totally believe it or understand it.”

Edebiri’s journey to stardom began in Boston, where she was born to a Barbadian mother and Nigerian father. Her passion for the arts was ignited at Boston Latin School. Initially aspiring to be a teacher, she switched to dramatic writing during her junior year and graduated in 2017.

Her comedic talents were honed in New York City’s stand-up scene, performing in basements and forming connections with comedians like Emma Seligman and Molly Gordon. These experiences paved the way for her early roles in shows such as “Big Mouth” and “Dickinson.” In 2020, she starred with college friend Rachel Sennott in the Comedy Central series “Ayo and Rachel Are Single,” based on their humorous dating experiences in New York.

The audition for “The Bear” marked a pivotal moment in her career. “I was in comedy land—hard, hard comedy land,” she explained. Securing the role alongside Jeremy Allen White led to cooking classes in Pasadena and a move from New York to Chicago for filming.

In her Vanity Fair cover story, Edebiri discusses acting with Jeremy Allen White, her memorable Emmy night with friends, her upbringing, and behind-the-scenes moments at “Saturday Night Live.”

Insights from Ayo Edebiri’s Interview:

On Working at a Young Age

“I was 17 when I went to college [and] I was really poor. I was always working. Working at a call centre asking NYU alums for money; as a babysitter for NYC families; at a student café in the math building.”

Recalling her brief stint as a barista, she shared, “I barista’d at this random coffee shop for three weeks, and then our boss was skimming money so I left, and then I did some baristing at ABC Kitchen. I loved being a barista because I like order. There’s something kind of satisfying about getting it right.” Comparing Boston to New York, she said, “When I went back I was like, ‘What is this? Am I in the sticks? We’re closing businesses at 10 p.m.? I’m embarrassed.’”

On Coping with Loss

Last year, Edebiri faced the loss of a close friend to cancer, which shaped her outlook on life. “If I’m not living my life to the fullest and just trying to be positive and enjoy it and leave things better than they found it, then it’s kind of useless.”

On Hobbies and Interests

“I have a lot of tastes. I don’t know if I have good taste or bad taste, but I have a lot.” She sees slowing down as a positive aspect of her career. “When I think of people whose careers I admire, there are ebbs and flows.”

With her burgeoning career and grounded perspective, Ayo Edebiri is set to leave a significant mark on Hollywood, both on and off the screen.

Read the full article here.

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every week.

We don’t spam!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *