Blouson (similar styles) Pants (similar styles) **PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE**, Neckace (similar styles) **JIMMY CHOO.** Ayo’s white shirt and rings throughout.

I read that in eighth grade, it was a drama class that attracted you to comedy. Do you remember what was so special about that particular class?

Yeah. I think it was just the first time I got to try it. Our teacher was incredible; her name was Miss Crewdson. She just let us try so many different things in different ways. She had a background in improv and did improv in the Boston improv scene. She just let us try out doing improv and let us try character work. At that time, I think I had a lot of anxiety that I couldn't place. I found it kind of therapeutic to work those things out and have a space where it's okay to say the first thing at the top of your head; you don't have to be processing things forever. Things will always work out because you're not alone. You can process things with humor; it doesn't have to be serious all the time. I remember she was like, you don't have to be the loudest person or the class clown to be funny. There are other ways that you can be funny. The skills you have others don't, and you can bring that to your sense of humor.

I know you spent some time in New York, attending New York University. What are you applying to your career now that you've learned at NYU?

I mean, I think it's just kind of like non-stop grinding. I feel like that's living in New York. The friends I met there are all just driven, hardworking people, but still trying to be compassionate, and kind, have lives and take care of each other. I think that balances New York because it can wear you down. It's not easy to live there. I also lived there when I was 17. I was diving headfirst into life. I think working hard, staying focused, and having goals, but also meeting people who will take care of you are important. That's something I took away from that place.

I've watched the first few episodes of The Bear, and I'm a big, Iron Chef and Top Chef fan, so when I saw this show, I was already into it. What attracted you to the role of Sydney on The Bear?

I just loved the script! It was so cool and so alive on the pages. As somebody who writes, I just found myself wanting to know what happened next, being interested in the characters, and wanting to see what this world was like. And also, I'm a young black woman. I feel like sometimes when you read for things based on any part of that description, your character can be broad. It was exciting to get the opportunity to read for a character who is very specific and very complicated, and also very flawed. And like, trying her best to be a good person and getting good at what she does. I don't often get to read for that sort of thing. So all that was very attractive to me.

On The Bear, Sydney is trying to find her voice in this male-dominated kitchen. Within the first few episodes, you handed your boss a business proposal to help him get started. You went to the hardware store with the brother, and he wasn't listening to you. Do those settings draw similarities to writing rooms you've been in or a set you've been on? And if so, how do you navigate those spaces?

Yeah, 100%. Comedy, and I think just the industry in general, has a history of being very male- dominated, dominated by people who are older than you. Often you'll find yourself being one of the few women of color in a room or queer person. Dealing with all that, I think there were immediate parallels. And when I was training and working with female chefs, I would try and talk to them and get their stories. It was so wild how many similarities we would have in our stories, being young, green, and excited and getting a very harsh dose of reality. I think there's a lot that I related to in that. And a lot of the ways that I've personally navigated those spaces, I think Sydney tries, in the beginning, to form alliances with other people who are like her, trying to have community and have friends who you can talk to, you can ask advice from. And to help support each other through moments that might, you know, be scary, annoying, or whatever.

Sweater (similar styles) Accord Pants ($495) **SANDY LIANG**, JC Monogram Hoops ($385) **JIMMY CHOO**.

You literally do it all: acting, writing, producing, comedy, and you do it at such an elevated level. Which medium is your favorite way to express yourself creatively and why?

I don't really know if I have a favorite. I try to do them all because they're all my favorites. I love to feel kind of like a sponge. Like, as much as I can soak up and learn and use that to create, the better I feel for it. I hate using this metaphor because I don't want to seem like the person who's like this, but it is like working out to me, you know. I feel like they're different muscles, and it's exciting to exercise them in different ways. Sometimes I feel the need to do stand-up comedy more and express myself that way. Sometimes it's acting, sometimes it's writing. And I think all of them are informing each other constantly.

Do you feel a part of this black television renaissance currently happening in entertainment?

Yeah, I feel like there's so much beautiful, cool stuff happening. And if I'm a part of it, that's a huge compliment. I think I'm excited for the day, and I hope to be a part of it, where we get to create without any limits and explanations. We get to be. We get to make things the same way that, you know, other people might get to.

Because you do everything, and how you've mentioned that each of these skills as a Writer, Actor, Stand-Up Comedian, and Producer informs each other and builds a well-rounded entertainer. Do you see yourself writing and producing your own show in the future?

It would be great to be there and to do that. I got lots of ideas in this weird mind. That would be a really great journey to get to go on.

Blouson (similar styles) Pants (similar styles) **PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE**, Neckace (similar styles) JC Monogram Cuff ($525) **JIMMY CHOO**, Shoes (similar styles) **AGL**.

Where can fans or people who support you find you on social media, streaming services, and things like that?

Well, you can watch The Bear on FX and Hulu, which basically means you can watch it on Hulu. I'm also a voice on Big Mouth on Netflix. And I've got an Instagram. I hate to plug that, but if I'm doing live shows and stuff, I'll post those there.

Photographer: Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal

Fashion Director: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah

Styling: Crystal R. Smith @locdinstyle

Hairstylist: Monaè Everett @monaeartistry for Epiphany Management using Qhemet Biologics

Assistant Hairstylist: India Williams @indiawilliamshair

Makeup Artist: Rebecca Restrepo @rebeccarestrepo for Walter Schupfer Management

Cover Art Inspiration: Emma Amos' Flower Sniffer.

Location: The 9 Studios

Special Thanks: ID PR

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