In 2023, Ayo Edebiri was everywhere.
This year alone, the starred in 鈥淏ottoms,鈥� 鈥淭heater Camp,鈥� 鈥淭eenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,鈥� guest-starred on 鈥淎bbott Elementary鈥� and 鈥淏lack Mirror鈥� and returned for the second season of 鈥淭he Bear鈥� 鈥� the show that initially shot the stand-up comedian and writer-turned-actor to fame.
With roles in everything from to to kitchen-based dramedy, Edebiri landed a spot as one of
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 like not the reason why you do any of this, but it鈥檚 very humbling and moving that it鈥檚 happening because I think that it means that people are responding to my work,鈥� Edebiri says of during a video call while filming on location in New Mexico. 鈥淎nd that is all you can ask for as an artist, for just people to pick up what you鈥檙e putting down and in whatever way possible.鈥�
Edebiri grew up performing at her parent鈥檚 church and would often perform stand up with her friends at open mics when she was in high school.
鈥淚 think (church) was my first exposure to everything, really, to music, to performing, to speaking in front of people,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think I really have a love for live performance, especially that feeling of just like being in a communal space.鈥�
Edebiri had always imagined taking on a more practical job like teaching, which she majored in at New York University, performing stand-up around the city in her spare time. It was not until she met other successful Black female comedians who were making a living from the art and still able to obtain heath insurance that she began to entertain the idea of pursuing comedy professionally.
鈥淭hey have these things that to me 鈥� especially as a child of immigrants 鈥� I need cold, hard proof,鈥� said Edebiri. 鈥淚 don't need a dream. I need to know that I can have dental and I can get an eye exam once a year."
She switched her major from teaching to playwriting: 鈥淚 realized I would rather do that and be happy than always be wondering,鈥� she said.
She would soon begin booking writing jobs on shows like 鈥淪unnyside,鈥� 鈥淒ickinson,鈥� and 鈥淏ig Mouth,鈥� along with minor acting roles. Edebiri later became Missy鈥檚 voice on 鈥淏ig Mouth鈥� and landed a recurring role on 鈥淒ickinson.鈥�
鈥淚 was really fortunate to have people in my corner who were like, 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to help you. Like, why wouldn鈥檛 we?鈥欌�� Edebiri says.
As she rises to the top, one can鈥檛 help but notice the creative community she surrounds herself with, a constant throughline that seems connected to her early days as a performer who loved the communal aspect of the arts.
鈥淚鈥檝e just been lucky to be a part of all these different folds, and I鈥檓 fortunate the people that I love also love each other and, you know, have people they love and introduce me,鈥� she says.
She and her longtime friend and working partner have been creating together since they studied at NYU. She also counts among her ( 鈥淭he Bear鈥�), ("Abbott Elementary") and Christopher Storer, the creator of 鈥淭he Bear."
鈥淚鈥檝e known Chris since I was like 21 or 22. I feel like I鈥檝e also been watching him grow, even though he鈥檚 older than me and so accomplished and such a genius,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 like, 鈥極h yeah, like I鈥檓 watching you grow; you鈥檙e watching me grow in my confidence as a performer, in my taste.鈥欌��
After being nominated in the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series category for the upcoming Emmys, recognizing her work in the first season of 鈥淭he Bear,鈥� she's submitting in the lead actress category for Season 2. Edebiri says she's grateful for the change 鈥� not because it's an elevated category, but because it makes room for her co-stars.
鈥淚t also means that Abby (Elliott) and Liza (Col贸n-Zayas) could potentially be recognized for their work on the show in the supporting category. We really are just such an ensemble piece,鈥� she says.
Like the young girl growing up in church, Edebiri鈥檚 love for the arts still revolves around creating a communal space with her fellow artists.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e really lucky to have that type of alchemy with each other,鈥� she says of the cast of 鈥淭he Bear.鈥� 鈥淚 really love working on it and I love everybody who is a part of it.鈥�
When she wins, everyone else does as well.
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For more on AP鈥檚 2023 class of Breakthrough Entertainers, visit
Leslie Ambriz, The Associated Press
