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. She plays the flamboyant fictional pop star Mimi Rush, bringing a unique energy to the role.
Behind the Cameo
Rachel Sennott and her co-star Jordan Firstman discussed working with Edebiri on the show. Sennott, who co-starred with Edebiri in the 2023 comedy Bottoms, explained the origin of the cameo.
“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 that is super kooky" who tries to dig up gossip, only to get fired for it. She thought Edebiri would be perfect for this part.
The Creative Process
Sennott recalled the moment they connected about the role:
“It was the day after the Met Gala. 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.’”
Edebiri then expanded on the concept, making Mimi Rush even more eccentric than initially planned.
“She’s so funny, she improvs so much,” Sennott said.
Summary
Ayo Edebiri’s surprise role as Mimi Rush in I Love LA shows her talent for improvisation, elevating a quirky pop star character while highlighting the creative friendship behind the scenes.
Author's summary: Ayo Edebiri’s witty improvisation transformed her surprise role as a kooky pop star in I Love LA, demonstrating her dynamic presence and creative collaboration with Rachel Sennott.