The Queue

The Dorchester native is starring in several new movies. Here are four of her roles you may have missed.

By Kevin Slane

October 20, 2025 | 11:26 AM

4 minutes to read

The success of FX’s “The Bear” has led to prominent roles and bigger paydays for both Jeremy Allen White (who is about to play Bruce Springsteen) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Andor”). But the star who has experienced the biggest glow-up is unquestionably Dorchester native Ayo Edebiri. 

Though Edebiri was already on the radar of many who closely follow the comedy world, “The Bear” has springboarded her into another stratosphere. 

Her ascension is typified by her newest role opposite Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” now in theaters. Though I was a bit disappointed in the film overall (you can read my review here), Edebiri gives an excellent performance as a philosophy student who butts heads with her mentor (Roberts) after publicly accusing another professor (Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault.

So far, Edebiri hasn’t had the best 2025. Her other leading role, opposite John Malkovich in the thriller “Opus,” didn’t set the world on fire. But she still has another movie coming later this year, in the Rhode Island-filmed dramedy “Ella McCay, directed by James L. Brooks (“Broadcast News,” “As Good As It Gets”).

And setting aside 2025, Edebiri has shown a knack for picking funny, off-kilter roles that don’t demand the spotlight but shine nonetheless. Here are four Ayo Edebiri movies and shows you may have missed.

4 Ayo Edebiri roles to watch this weekend

“Dickinson” (2019-21): Edebiri both wrote for and starred in the second season of this Apple TV historical comedy-drama with contemporary touches, playing a housemaid named Hattie who is secretly leading an abolitionist movement. (Apple TV)

“Big Mouth” (2017-25): Previously a member of the writers’ room, Edebiri replaced Milton native Jenny Slate as the voice of Missy on this ribald teen sex comedy starring Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, and Nahant native Jason Mantzoukas. (Netflix)

“Bottoms” (2023): Edebiri and longtime pal Rachel Sennott play two socially awkward lesbians who start a fight club in order to get closer to their crushes in this bizarre comedy from Emma Seligman. (Available to rent)

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (2023): Edebiri has a knack for voice acting, as evidenced by her role in this Ninja Turtles origin story of sorts, playing a slightly reimagined teenage April O’Neil. (Netflix)

Play or Skip

Have a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected], and your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.

Press play on these movies and shows:

“Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain” (2023): For almost his entire career, Brookline native Conan O’Brien has only appeared in movies and shows as himself. If you want to see O’Brien really test out his acting chops, go watch him play a therapist opposite Rose Byrne in the harrowing drama “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (full review here). But if you want to see him in a safer role, playing the dad of fellow gangly redhead Ben Marshall (“Saturday Night Live”), check out this oddball comedy. (Peacock)

“The Chair Company” (2025): Tim Robinson, the former “SNL” cast member behind the generationally funny Netflix series “I Think You Should Leave,” is playing to his strengths in this new HBO show. As is the case in most “ITYSL” sketches (and Robinson’s movie “Friendship”), the comedian plays a man who experiences an embarrassing situation and, rather than processing it normally, has an outsized emotional reaction. This time, Robinson’s project manager experiences an embarrassing workplace incident, then spends the series searching for a wide-ranging global conspiracy that could be to blame – or could also be absolutely nothing at all. (HBO Max)

“The Diplomat” (Season 3): Things have taken a dramatic turn on this political series about the U.S. Ambassador to the U.K., Kate Wyler (Kerri Russell, “The Americans”), and her scheming husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell, “Dark City”). Without spoiling too much, fans of “The West Wing” will appreciate that showrunner Debora Cahn (who got her start on the NBC drama) has written prominent roles for both Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford in this new season. (Netflix)

But go ahead and skip this one:

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (2025): Like clockwork, Netflix releases a new edition of Ryan Murphy’s “Monster,” critics like myself pan it, and tens of millions of people watch it anyway. Murphy tries to have it both ways in this third season, openly mocking fans for their true crime bloodlust while simultaneously delivering stomach-turning carnage in spades. He’s taken the already-grim story of serial killer Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam) and wildly exaggerated it, all while interspersing scenes where Murphy (speaking through horror auteur Alfred Hitchcock) literally calls his viewers swine. Enjoy your true crime slop, piggies! (Netflix)

End Credits

That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.

Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!

— Kevin

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