Ayo Edebiri Is The Ray Of Sunshine Hollywood Needs
If the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards have taught me anything, besides the fact that they’re not easy to host, it’s that Ayo Edebiri is an absolute delight.
As she accepted her award for Best Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy for her role as Sydney in The Bear, it was hard not to notice the pure joy, excitement, and positivity radiating from her. Winning your first Golden Globe from your first nomination is an amazing feat and clearly one that overwhelmed Ayo. Her speech was the perfect combination of genuine excitement and nervous energy all wrapped up in her iconic humour and infectious smile.
“Okay, hello. I’m so very grateful for this,” Ayo started, then acknowledged her fellow actors in the room. “I’m an artist, and I’m very lucky to be an artist and I know we all feel that way.”
“Everybody at The Bear, that’s my family. I love you guys so much. It’s an honour to work with you and grow alongside you,” Ayo said as she gushed about the other actors nominated in the category. It then seemed that Ayo remembered her actual family… “Ah! And my real family also,” she said. “I love you guys too.”
Don’t worry Ayo, I’d forget my real family too if I was talking in front of Meryl Streep or working with Jeremy Allen White every day. In fact, I think I’d just black out entirely.
Then Ayo did something I’ve never heard any actor accepting an award do — she thanked her agents and managers’ assistants. “To the people who answer my emails, y’all are real ones. Thank you for answering my crazy, crazy emails,” she said. I’d argue that the true hard workers of Hollywood aren’t those who get all the credit, but those who have to run around behind the scenes to do the tasks their bosses don’t want to. Although it was a funny moment, it shows that Ayo represents the fresh crop of talent in Hollywood that we’ve been craving for years. She’s humble, funny, incredibly talented, and treats everyone who works around her as equals.
To close off what I see as the second best acceptance speech of the night (the first being Lily Gladstone’s moving speech), Ayo said, “If I forgot to thank you, I’m sorry. Unless you were mean or something. Okay, bye!” That’s so real of her. I also hold a grudge.
Ayo had a massive 2023. She starred in so many things, including The Bear, Bottoms, Theatre Camp, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and The Sweet East. I’m actually not sure when she found time to sleep. But this Golden Globe win signals that 2024 will be the year of Ayo Edebiri. Mark my words.
Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on Instagram or on X.
Image credit: Getty