Jeremy Allen White Says He and The Bear Costar Ayo Edebiri ‘Really Enjoy Each Other’ Both ‘On Camera and Off Camera’

"Boy’s got some beautiful blue eyes. You know what I mean? Those are eyes you want to project onto," Edebiri gushed of White in her 'Vanity Fair' cover story

Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White at The 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards with Moët & Chandon, Celebrating the 13th Year of Toast for a Cause at the Beverly Hilton on January 7, 2023
Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White attend the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 7, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California . Photo:

Michael Kovac/Getty 

Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri's close relationship in The Bear kitchen extends to real life.

White, 33, gushed to Vanity Fair about his costar in her June 2024 cover story, telling the outlet that he has a “tremendous amount of respect” for Edebiri, 28, as both a person and an artist. In the comedy-drama, the Shameless star plays Carmy Berzatto, an award-winning chef who hires Edebiri’s Sydney Adamu as his sous-chef.

“We really enjoy each other in life, on camera and off camera,” White said of the actress. “I hope that sort of that kind of thing shines through on camera between Carm and Syd.”

White added, “Syd is always able to...I don’t know, to deliver something different to Carmy, and she’s usually right. And I guess I think Ayo is also usually right.”

THE BEAR - Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri
Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto and Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu in 'The Bear'.

Chuck Hodes/FX

Edebiri attributed their chemistry to the intimacy and intensity of work, which “invokes feelings of passion” — especially in creative industries. 

“Also, boy’s got some beautiful blue eyes. You know what I mean? Those are eyes you want to project onto,” the Theater Camp star remarked. 

She recalled having a pessimistic outlook after filming the pilot of The Bear, thinking, “‘Well, this was clearly too enjoyable of an experience and thus the actual show will not be good and we will never see each other again.” However, the show has thrived since its June 2022 debut, earning six wins at this year’s Primetime Emmys and landing a fourth season to be filmed directly after season 3.

The cast became a tight-knit group in conjunction with the show’s enduring success. White recounted to Vanity Fair that when Edebiri’s film Bottoms premiered during the SAG-AFTRA strike, the two stars and a few friends — including The Bear costar Lionel Boyce — went to see it in theaters.

"It was wonderful,” White said.

AYO EDEBIRI COVERS VANITY FAIR
Ayo Edebiri on the cover of 'Vanity Fair's June 2024 issue.

Renell Medrano/Vanity Fair

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Edebiri gave a sweet tribute to her Bear family when she accepted her trophy for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series at the 2024 SAG Awards.

“The act of love is just really an act of mirroring, and I think anything that anybody sees in me that's worth anything is because of the people who love me and support me and it made me who I am,” she began her speech. "And one of the biggest displays of that is The Bear, and the cast and crew of that show. I just wouldn't be possible without you guys. You're a miracle and I'm so grateful to be in your company. It's made me a better person and I hope a better actor. Thank you so much."

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Season 3 of The Bear is set to premiere June 27 on FX and Hulu. The first two seasons are now streaming on Hulu. 

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