Exclusive: Ayo Edebiri Improvised Her Pop Star Persona on 'I Love LA'
Ayo Edebiri makes a surprise appearance in Rachel Sennott's new HBO series, I Love LA. Sennott and her co-star Jordan Firstman discuss the unexpected A-list cameo.
Role and Character
Edebiri plays Mimi Rush, a fictional pop star known for her flamboyant and kooky style. In the series, Mimi tries to gather gossip but ends up getting fired for it.
Behind the Scenes
Rachel Sennott, who is close friends with Edebiri and co-starred with her in the 2023 comedy Bottoms, explains how the cameo came to be. Because their busy schedules made it hard to meet, they joked about hiring each other as a way to connect.
“Ayo and I were joking about like, if we want to hang out, we have to write each other. We have to hire each other because she’s so busy.”
Sennott already envisioned Firstman’s character, Charlie, styling a diva pop star and thought Edebiri would be perfect for it. The day after the Met Gala, Edebiri reached out over Zoom from her hotel room to accept the role.
“She Zooms me from her hotel room, it’s completely dark, and she’s like [tired voice], ‘What’s the idea? Let’s do it.’”
Improvisation
Edebiri expanded on the original concept, making Mimi Rush even more eccentric than expected.
“She’s so funny, she improvs so much,” Sennott says.
Author's summary: Ayo Edebiri's improvised portrayal of the quirky pop star Mimi Rush enriches the dynamic cast of I Love LA, highlighting her unique comedic talent and close collaboration with Rachel Sennott.