“I fell in love with improv but like the good, repressed, immigrant child I am, I bottled that energy up and used it to fuel this idea of doctor for like eight years. And then my senior year in high school I so bravely and dramatically told my parents I wanted to do comedy and they literally did not care.”

American actress, comedian, television writer, and director

Ayo Edebiri is an American actress, comedian, television writer, and director. She is best known for playing chef Sydney Adamu on the drama series The Bear, which began in 2022 and ran through 2026. For that role, she won a Golden Globe Award, two Actor Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. She also received directing and writing nominations for episodes of the series, including “Napkins” and “Worms.”