If you know, you know — Ayo Edebiri is a Boston gem! And now it’s official. Mayor Michelle Wu declared April 10, 2025, as Ayo Edebiri Day in the City of Boston.
Edebiri’s parents were immigrants—her mother is from Barbados, and her father is Nigerian—who settled in Dorchester. The 29-year-old actress told the Globe she attended St. Margaret School and sang in the choir of her church. In seventh grade, she went on to attend the prestigious Boston Latin School. From there, Edebiri went to New York University’s Tisch School of the Art, where she graduated with a writing degree. While at NYU, she was also part of an improv group and started performing stand-up.
After college, Edebiri continued with stand-up and put her writing degree to good use. She worked on the FX vampire comedy “What We Do in the Shadows,” Netflix’s animated sitcom “Big Mouth,” and the Apple TV+ comedy-drama “Dickinson.”
From there, the director of “Dickinson,” Christopher Storer, was casting his new show called “The Bear” about a young chef from the fine dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family’s struggling sandwich shop after the tragic death of his brother. Edebiri auditioned for the role of Sydney and got it.
The star of The Bear was back in town this past weekend, paying a visit to her old stomping grounds — Boston Latin School. Ayo took part in a Q&A with students, sharing stories about how BLS shaped her, inspired her, and maybe even helped prep her for yelling in kitchens on TV. Then boom — Mayor Wu hit her with the surprise announcement.
Ayo took to Instagram after the event, gushing about the moment and her love for the city: “I am very proud to be from a place as rich in history and mania as Boston … Do you think they’ll let me join the Celtics now?” Honestly? We wouldn’t be mad at it.
We see you, Ayo. You make Boston proud.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
