“I went to NYU for writing. And I think writing and being in writing rooms in service of other people bought me time. It gave me the confidence to be, like, 'Okay, here's what I can do.'”

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.”