It kind of feels like 29-year-old Boston actor Ayo Edebiri is everywhere right now – from gaining prominence in her role as Sydney Adumu in Hulu's The Bear alongside Jeremy Allen White, to her roles in hit shows like Black Mirror, Big Mouth, and Abbott Elementary. Her recent film alongside Kaia Gerber and Rachel Sennott, Bottoms was one of last year's biggest hits, and she's now filming After The Hunt alongside Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. She's also become something of a muse for the likes of Thom Browne and Loewe – frequently sitting front row at their Paris Fashion Week show.
In the wake of Edebiri's burgeoning popularity, we thought now would be as good a time as ever to fill you in on the actress and comedian's upbringing, career and fashion influences – and of course, what's up next for the rising star. Here's everything you need to know about Ayo Edebiri, below.
On her upbringing and career...
Edebiri was born in Boston, Massachusetts, her mother emigrated from Barbados and her father emigrated from Nigeria. Edebiri first became interested in comedy through eighth grade drama class, after which she joined the improv club at Boston Latin School. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching from New York University, she began to pursue a career in comedy. She first appeared on Comedy Central's Up Next, and later scripted the digital series Ayo and Rachel Are Single, which she wrote with friend and fellow comedian Rachel Sennott.
Edebiri gained prominence in the acting scene with her 2022 role as ambitious and headstrong sous chef Sydney Adamu in the Hulu series The Bear. For her role, she received an Independent Spirit Award and nominations from the Gotham Awards and the Critics' Choice Awards.
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Stepping out in New Bottega...
Edebiri has consistently upped her style game - and this tautly fitting FW24 Bottega number is no different. To quote our guest editor, Kim Russell: 'It’s complex chemistry between Danielle Goldberg, Matthieu Blazy and Ayo Edebiri. I’m only so happy to witness it.' Paired with a pair of all-black shades, we're seeing the vision alchemize with our own eyes.
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On her relationship with Thom Browne...
Edebiri and Browne's relationship started when the actress donned a Thom Browne skirt suit during a photoshoot with The Bear co-star Jeremy Allen White – falling in love with the designer's collections and coming to rely on his looks for events and red carpets. Edebiri wore custom Thom Browne to the Emmy Awards, and accompanied Browne to the CFDAs (his first as the organisation's new chairman).
Edebiri was all smiles in the front row at Browne's first-ever couture show at the Palais Garnier in Paris.
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“It’s been a very wild year and I feel like getting to wear Thom has been weirdly a nice anchor,” Edebiri recently told W Magazine. “Just having these clothes that feel so structured and cool but also creative and free.” Browne also created a custom chef's jacket for Edebiri's character, Sydney, to wear in season 2 of The Bear.
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Her best fashion moments...
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On what's coming up next...
Season 3 of The Bear is officially streaming across the world, and the buzz has already got us thinking about season 4. Edebiri is also set to star in an upcoming thriller lead by Luca Guadagnino, and rumours are also swirling speculating that she will star opposite Paul Mescal in in Emily Henry’s Beach Read adaptation.
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As a writer, Edebiri also joined the writing staff of the animated sitcom Big Mouth in 2019 and later took on the role of Missy Foreman-Greenwald in 2020, for which the 7th and 8th seasons are expected later this year and early next.
