Ayo Edebiri has learned a lot during her time on The Bear, and she is taking that lesson with her as the series comes to a close.
The 30 year old actress spoke at the Final Family Meal event on Monday, in New York City, just ahead of the premiere of the show’s fifth and final season. Over the course of the series, Edebiri has built an impressive résumé tied to her role as Sydney Adamu, including an Emmy win, a directorial debut and a writing credit on one of the show’s most talked about episodes.
Looking back on her time on the series, Ayo Edebiri said the biggest takeaway has been learning that she is capable of tackling new challenges, particularly when she has the right people around her. She admitted there were moments early on when she doubted whether she could pull something off, often telling herself she would get to it eventually rather than diving in right away. Working on the show changed that mindset, teaching her that big goals are achievable and that she does not have to chase them alone.
She credited the people around her on set for helping push her forward throughout the show’s run, describing a steady support system of collaborators who were always ready to help.
A breakout role that turned into a directorial debut
Edebiri has been part of The Bear since the series premiered in 2022, originating the role of Sydney Adamu alongside Jeremy Allen White’s Carmen Carmy Berzatto. Her performance earned her the 2023 Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. She went on to expand her role behind the camera, directing the season 3 episode Napkins, which was met with strong reviews and brought her a second Emmy nomination.
Writing credits and a tight knit crew
In season 4, Edebiri teamed up with costar Lionel Boyce to write the episode Worms, adding another credit to her growing list of contributions to the series. As filming wrapped on the show for good, Edebiri said the bonds formed on set, both with the cast and the crew, stood out as something rare. She noted that the way the team communicates with one another is unlike anything she has experienced on other productions, calling the group unusually close knit.
What is ahead in the final season
The Bear, created by Christopher Storer, follows White’s Carmy as he returns to his Chicago hometown to take over his late brother’s sandwich shop, eventually transforming it into a fine dining restaurant alongside Sydney and Richie, played by Ebon Moss Bachrach. Season 5 picks up in the aftermath of a turbulent season 4 finale, in which Carmy tells Sydney and Richie he wants to step back from running the restaurant. According to the show’s synopsis, the new season finds the team facing financial strain, the threat of a sale and a major storm as they push for one final service and a shot at earning a Michelin star, ultimately learning that the people involved matter more than the food itself.
Edebiri described an emotional experience filming her character’s arc in the closing episodes, reflecting on the catharsis of stepping into the role for a fifth and final time. She expressed hope that audiences walk away from the final season with a similar sense of closure.
Despite the show coming to an end, Edebiri does not expect to drift far from the people she worked with. She pointed to the friendships built across the cast and crew as a key reason the experience felt different from other jobs, and one she expects will continue well beyond the show’s run.
All eight episodes of The Bear season 5 premiere June 25 on Hulu and Disney+.
Exclusive : People
