Emmy-winning star Ayo Edebiri visited Boston Latin School on April 10, 2025, as Mayor Michelle Wu declared it Ayo Edebiri Day.
Best known for her roles in The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Bottoms, and Inside Out 2, Edebiri reflected on how Boston Latin helped shape her both personally and professionally. Calling the visit “very, very surreal,” she spoke fondly about the school’s rigor and the long-lasting friendships she formed there.
Edebiri credited the school’s diverse community and academic challenge for giving her a strong foundation. “There’s a rigor that I have, a level of care that I think that I have that would not be possible without having gone to this school,” she told students, adding that exposure to classmates from different backgrounds helped prepare her to “meet the world.”
The Bear star also shared how improv at Boston Latin changed her life. Starting in eighth grade, improv helped Edebiri overcome shyness and gain confidence, which led her to pursue a career in entertainment.
When asked for advice by aspiring actors, she emphasized perseverance: “Being in the entertainment industry is a game of attrition… being able to stick it out is one of the most valuable things you can do.”
Mayor Wu closed the event by honoring Edebiri’s accomplishments with an official proclamation, celebrating her journey from Dorchester to Hollywood, and naming April 10 as Ayo Edebiri Day in Boston.
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