Starting out less than four years ago on Comedy Central as a quirky stand-up comedian, Ayo Edebiri’s meteoric success has everyone talking  

She used to keep a relatively low profile amid the glitz and glamour of the American entertainment industry, but her bright star kept ascending, ready to illuminate our screens with her undeniable talent, laughter and infectious charisma. Ayo Edebiri, a multi-hyphenated force of nature, has captivated audiences worldwide with her remarkable performances and refreshing approach to storytelling, both on screen and behind the camera.  

Laugh out loud 

The only child of a Barbadian mother and Nigerian father, and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, from a young age Ayo exhibited a natural inclination towards the arts, immersing herself in the world of theatre and performance. After high school, she attended New York University with the initial intention of studying to become a teacher.  

After spending many nights journaling and writing while her friends were out and about, she realised she enjoyed writing stories and switched her course to playwriting. “I think if I told 13-year-olds my dreams, I don’t really think it would’ve gone great,” she admitted to Trevor.   

“Being in New York, I saw comedy was a thing that people were actually making a living doing,” she continued. “I was meeting black women who were making it. So I thought, Okay, why not give this a shot?”  

Encouraged by her supportive parents, she honed her comedic talent through constant learning and dedication, laying the groundwork for a career destined to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment landscape.   

She debuted as a stand-up comic on Comedy Central’s Up Next. Then, together with her friend and fellow comedian Rachel Sennott, Ayo co-wrote and featured in the Comedy Central scripted web series called Ayo and Rachel Are Single, released in May 2020, portraying the very relatable experience of being young and feeling undatable in a big city.  

Their dynamic was a huge success, making their reunion on the big screen in 2023 in the raunchy yet hilarious teen sex comedy Bottoms even better.  

For fun and fulfilment  

Ayo’s rise to prominence began with her foray into the world of comedy. Armed with a quick wit and razor-sharp comedic timing, she made a name for herself in the vibrant stand-up scene of New York, where she honed her skills on iconic improv and sketch-comedy stages such as the Upright Citizens Brigade.  

“Humour is a weapon – a powerful one. And it’s also a balm, a salve that you can use to heal and even to start conversations,” she said on Instagram.  

Her unique blend of observational humour and incisive social commentary resonated with audiences, earning her widespread acclaim and paving the way for opportunities on both stage and screen.  

However, it was her transition into acting that truly showcased the depth of her talent. With a keen eye for compelling narratives and complex characters, Ayo seamlessly transitioned into drama, inhabiting roles that spanned the spectrum of human emotion. From indie darlings to blockbuster hits, Ayo’s versatility as an actor knows no bounds.  

A breakout moment came with the critically acclaimed Netflix animated adult-comedy series Big Mouth. Originally hired as a writer, Ayo stepped into the shoes of the beloved character Missy Foreman-Greenwald (previously voiced by Jenny Slate) in the fourth season. She brought a fresh perspective and dynamic energy to the role, endearing herself to audiences and critics alike. Her performance was hailed as a triumph, earning her widespread praise and solidifying her status as a rising star.  

“I think Missy is one of the characters that I relate to the most. I’m very anxious and kind of dorky and weird, and definitely was that as a kid. Also, the buckteeth, the buckteeth gang! I grew up in Boston, and in my adolescence your parents are trying to send you to, like, ‘better’ schools and a few of those were predominantly white institutions. Missy’s journey of discovering herself, her sexual identity and her blackness – and even discovering that those are things that she needs to discover – are all things I definitely related to growing up,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. 

Beyond her work in animation (which has also included voicing characters in last year’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem), Ayo also made waves in live-action television and film. Her memorable performances in projects such as Abbott Elementary (2023) and apocalyptic comedy How It Ends (2021) have further cemented her reputation as a versatile performer capable of commanding the screen with ease. With each new role, she continues to push the boundaries of her craft, exploring new depths and captivating audiences with her magnetic presence.  

“I like working, because I like my job, so that part is great. And if it means that people are responding to the work, then I have truly, truly, truly zero complaints. It’s, like, a dream come true.”  

Up, Up and Aways  

The buzz around Ayo really ramped up with her portrayal of talented sous chef Sydney Adamu in Hulu’s The Bear, set in a restaurant in Chicago. She was able to draw partially on her experience of working as a waitron or hostess in restaurants in New York during the early stages of her comedy career.  

For the role, she and co-star Jeremy Allen White also received chef training at the Institute of Culinary Education in California, and worked shifts in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants. “It needs to look real. And if we’re practising it, you might as well make it taste real,” she told The New York Times.  

The critically acclaimed show dominated the recent awards season, with Ayo picking up her first Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor. “Oh my God – all of my agents’ and managers’ assistants! To the people who answer my emails, y’all are real ones! Thank you for answering my crazy, crazy emails,” she exclaimed on stage after accepting her award.  

“The success is almost this thing that feels like your life is being reframed, like there’s something different between your lived experience and how people are perceiving you or something,” she told Harper’s Bazaar magazine.  

“I can clock in my head that I’m going to award shows that I’ve never gone to before, or I’m getting photos taken “I can clock in my head that I’m going to award shows that I’ve never gone to before, or I’m getting photos taken  

Looking ahead, her future is undoubtedly bright. With a bunch of exciting projects on the horizon, including in the films Omni Loop and Opus, and her first Pixar-animated voice role as Envy in Inside Out 2, she shows no signs of slowing down. As she continues to dazzle audiences with her talent and unwavering passion for her craft, one thing is abundantly clear: Ayo Edebiri is becoming a force to be reckoned with. 

About AYO  

Real Name:
Ayo Edebiri  

Born:
3 October 1995  

Age:
28

Star Sign:
Libra  

Home Town:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA  

Bestie:
Gromit, her chihuahua-mix dog  

Awards and accolades 

2024
Golden Globe Award: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy
Critics Choice Award: Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Dorian Award: Rising Star of the Year (from GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics)  

Nominations:
BAFTA Rising Star Award
NAACP Image Award: Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series
People’s Choice Award: The TV Performance of the Year  

2023
Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Independent Spirit Award: Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
OFTA Television Award: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series  

Keep up with AYO

Facebook: Ayo Edebiri
Instagram: @ayoedebiri
Tiktok: @ayoedebiri

Words by: Charndré Emma Kippie
Photos: Gallo/Getty Images, Getty/Entertainment/Michael Rowe