Edebiri thank you speech
Ayo Edebiri Thank you speech.

Ayo Edebiri cemented her status as a rising star in Hollywood with a historic Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2023 Emmy Awards on January 16th. She was recognized for her acclaimed performance as Sydney Adamu in the hit FX series "The Bear", becoming only the third Black actress to ever win this category in the award show's 75-year history.

Edebiri beat out a highly competitive group of nominees, including comedy veterans like Alex Borstein and Hannah Waddingham. But her heartfelt acceptance speech is what truly captivated audiences. "

This is a show about family and found family and real family,” she said, before joking that she made her parents “sit kind of far away” from her.

She thanked them for their love and support, getting emotional as she added,

“Thank you so much for loving me and letting me feel beautiful and Black and proud of all of that.”

Edebiri in "The Bear" (Image credit: FX Networks)

An Unlikely Emmy Contender

Just a few years ago, Edebiri was relatively unknown, working odd jobs while trying to break through in the comedy world. Born in Boston to immigrant parents from Nigeria and Barbados, she became interested in performing as a kid through school plays and improv club. She studied dramatic writing in college while interning at the famous Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

After graduation, Edebiri struggled to find steady work, at one point working as a production assistant on “Broad City.” She slowly gained recognition through stand-up comedy sets and her comedic web series “Ayo and Rachel Are Single." But her big break came in 2020 when she joined the voice cast of Netflix's hit animated series “Big Mouth.”

Her ascent since then has been meteoric. After stand-out voice roles in shows like “Dickinson,” Edebiri landed a lead part in 2022’s critically-acclaimed “The Bear." Her performance as the competent and ambitious Sydney, striving to transform an unruly restaurant kitchen, earned universal praise. Along with her Emmy, she has won both a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award this year for the role.

Making Emmy History

With her Emmy victory, Edebiri becomes only the third Black actress to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in the award’s history. The first was Jackée Harry in 1987 for the sitcom “227”, followed by Sheryl Lee Ralph last year for “Abbott Elementary.”

In her speech, Edebiri reflected on this historic significance. “Probably not a dream to immigrate to this country and to have your kid be like, ‘I want to do improv,'" she quipped. "But you're real ones.”

Her win caps a breakout year for Black women at the Emmys, with Quinta Brunson also taking home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Abbott Elementary” on the same night.

Edebiri as Sydney Adamu in the kitchen of "The Bear" (Image credit: Variety)

What’s Next for the Rising Star

With two critically-acclaimed seasons of “The Bear” under her belt and major awards now in hand, the sky seems the limit for Ayo Edebiri. She has described her sudden career highs as “delusional”, but she is already lining up major projects to prove she is no flash in the pan.

Later this year, she will appear in the indie romantic comedy “Bottoms” acclaimed to be premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. And she is set to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a key role in 2024’s “Blade” starring Mahershala Ali.

As her star continues to rise, her hilarious and heartfelt Emmy speech showed that Edebiri remains grounded by family. Her historic win has also cemented her as an inspiration for young Black girls with dreams of making it in Hollywood.