“I have so many memories of watching 'Oprah' with my mom after school and really feeling united with the country. Her show was such a window into culture at large for me because I grew up pretty religious; I was sneaking a lot of TV. But that was one of the things that I could unabashedly watch.”

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.”