Ayo Edebiri

*This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike*

Ayo Edebiri is everywhere in 2023, a year that includes five film roles, appearances in eight TV series, and her first ever Emmy nomination for playing sous-chef Sydney in Hulu’s “The Bear.” So it’s taken a bit to get used to the downtime she’s in now, thanks to careful planning (plus concurrent strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA). Either way, she needed the space to, in her words, “be a human being.”

“It feels so trite but it's the most crucial thing,” she says. “Any [artist] who is so consumed with making things, making things, making things, there's no reserve in the well. There's no real life in you.”

On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Edebiri explains her journey from stand-up stages and writers rooms to a packed performance schedule, as well as how she feels about taking on her biggest project yet—the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie “Thunderbolts.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis