Ayo Edebiri, known for her role as Sydney Adamu in the hit FX series “The Bear,” has taken on a new challenge in the show’s third season: directing. Edebiri directed episode six, titled “Napkins,” marking her directorial debut. This new role has given her a fresh perspective on her fellow cast members and the production process.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” Edebiri shared at the season three premiere in Los Angeles. “I loved working with my fellow cast members from that vantage point because it really just gave me so much more appreciation for how good they are. They are so good, and I got to experience that from a third-eye view.”
Edebiri didn’t model her directing style after any particular director. Instead, she took cues from the show’s creator, Chris Storer. “Energy kind of goes from top down. I don’t know what my style is, but I tried my best to just be in a good mood, try to talk decently to people, because that I think can do a lot for how the workday flows,” she explained.
Her co-star, Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy Berzatto, praised Edebiri’s natural talent for directing. “She’s really confident; she’s such a beautiful, intuitive performer, and I think that the same goes for her as a director,” White said. “It was wonderful to witness.”
When asked if he would ever consider directing an episode, White was hesitant. “I’ve thought about directing a lot before — like with acting, there’s so many people who want to act, there’s so many people that really want to do it, and I really want to do it, and it really feels necessary for me as a person to be able to do it, and I don’t feel that way about directing,” he explained. “And I know how many people would just kill to have a moment to direct. If one day the material comes along where I’m like, ‘yeah, I feel like that’s my story or a story I have to tell,’ yeah sure, maybe. But, I don’t know. I’m sensitive to telling somebody else’s story, or a story that I feel like I’m not put on this earth to tell in some way.”
Season three of “The Bear” promises to be intense, with Carmy aiming for perfection in his Chicago restaurant. “We’re running this fine dining establishment this time and we’re going for a [Michelin] star, it’s real,” White said. “Carmy’s out for perfection for himself, and he demands perfection from everyone around him. So the stakes are raised, it’s intense.”
The new season will feature returning cast members Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Oliver Platt, along with some celebrity guest stars. The actors confirmed that the anxiety levels would be high again this season and shared their thoughts on Edebiri’s directorial debut.
“She shadowed last season and having her on set, she was so helpful just in terms of ideas and creativity,” Elliott said. “I’m just so thrilled for her and her episode is beautiful.” Colón-Zayas praised Edebiri for being super prepared, recalling, “We met, we discussed, we shared ideas. So it didn’t feel painful ever, it was very easy. It was like Liza, don’t screw this up for her!”
Edebiri’s journey to directing began when she first met with Chris Storer at 21 years old. “He told me that, ‘You’re a director,’ and I was like, ‘Mind your business, bro,’” she recounted. “Then last season, he said, ‘Come to set, just come to set, see what happens,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Yeah. I think I want to do this.’”
In another interview, Edebiri discussed her transition to directing. “I started out writing and acting as well so I feel like I know things from behind camera and in front of camera, and just getting [the chance] to zoom out,” she explained. She also spoke highly of “The Bear’s” cast, saying, “It’s like such a dream to get to work alongside them and to work with them in a different way. Seeing that skill from a different vantage point has been really cool.”
Jeremy Allen White also expressed his admiration for Edebiri, saying he has a “tremendous amount of respect for her as a person, but also as an artist.” He added, “We really enjoy each other in life, on camera and off. So I hope that shines through between Carmy and Syd.”
Edebiri’s role in “The Bear” has earned her several awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe for lead actress. Her directorial debut is a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her versatility and talent in the entertainment industry.
Season three of “The Bear” is set to premiere on June 27 on FX and Hulu, with all episodes dropping at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The first two seasons are currently available for streaming on Hulu.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, People, Vanity Fair
