We cannot get enough of trailblazing talent who has starred in The Bear and Bottoms
BY AMY CHAPPEL, IMAGE BY FXP
If you’re not yet familiar with Ayo Edebiri, it’s time to get acquainted. This talented queer comedian, writer, and actor has been making huge waves in Hollywood over the past few years with her sharp wit and undeniable talent.
It’s not hard to see why Ayo has developed such an enthusiastic fanbase, especially among queer viewers. She brings authenticity and intelligence to her comedy which is both hilarious and groundbreaking.
In celebration of this rising talent, we’re highlighting six facts that make us love Ayo Edebiri…
She shot to stardom playing Sydney in The Bear
Ayo has quickly become one of the most sought-after talents in the industry, currently balancing numerous high-profile projects in film, television, and animation. Some will recognise her from her role as Sydney Adamu in the critically acclaimed FXP series The Bear. Her performance artfully blends humour and vulnerability, allowing Sydney to anchor the chaos around her with so much heart and humour.
This builds on Ayo’s already impressive repertoire of roles, not to mention her hilarious performance as the awkward, endearing lesbian Josie in the 2023 high school queer comedy Bottoms.
She is a fashion icon
With so many iconic looks it’s hard to choose, but Ayo’s Thom Browne debut couture show outfit caused a sensation. Ayo has an artistic attitude towards fashion that comes through in her playful and risk-taking red carpet-looks. As she told W magazine, her style has evolved from “big t-shirt vibes” to carefully considering what she wears as more opportunities arise. Ayo has discovered fashion’s power for storytelling and felt a creative connection to the structured yet liberating nature of Thom Browne’s designs.
Fittingly, in a surprise The Bear twist, Browne himself makes an appearance, giving Ayo’s character Sydney a custom chef’s coat.
She kissed Natasha Lyonne at the Golden Globes After Party
Ayo and lesbian icon Natasha Lyonne shared a kiss at the Golden Globes After Party. Fans went straight to social media to show their support for the pair. Natasha, best known for OITNB and But I’m A Cheerleader, embraced Ayo after her historic Best Actress win for The Bear.
She writes her own Letterboxd reviews
The actor loves posting unfiltered movie takes on Letterboxd, a social media platform that lets you log and review the latest films. Even as Ayo’s fame rises, she still likes to keep it real on Letterboxd.
The review she wrote of her own comedy film Bottoms was simply just: “I’m in it with my friends so.” Ayo’s candid online presence and down-to-earth nature remind us that fame has not changed her. Her genuine relatability is admirable.
She’s shut down misogynistic and inappropriate questions at the Golden Globes
At the Golden Globes last week, interviewers lined up to speak with Ayo after her prolific year, but many could not resist asking her to react to her The Bear co-star Jeremy Allen White appearing in a recent Calvin Klein underwear ad instead of focusing on her work.
When Access Hollywood raised the subject, Ayo gracefully shut it down by saying, “I want you to understand that this is my coworker.” She reminded another interviewer that “awards shows are like my workplace.”
Though she handled the awkward moments with poise, it’s unfortunate many interviewers chose to focus on Ayo’s reaction to Jeremy’s ad rather than celebrating her acting talents.
She thanked all of the assistants in her acceptance speech
In her Golden Globe acceptance speech last week, Ayo thanked “all of my agents’ and managers’ assistants,” adding, “You all are the real ones. Thank you for answering my crazy, crazy emails.”
Ayo taking the time to acknowledge the largely unseen and underappreciated labour that powers her industry is incredibly cool.
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