Ayo Edebiri has captured attention with her role as Chef Sydney in “The Bear,” where she portrays a young chef developing her voice while crafting extraordinary dishes on the FX show. She’s known for effortlessly preparing pasta in less than three minutes and standing her ground against Carm (played by Jeremy Allen White). Although they are friends and coworkers, their professional relationship needs improvement, and Sydney eventually learns to express her feelings about this.

Apart from Sydney, Edebiri recently took on another role that required her to voice her thoughts. In the film “Opus,” which unfortunately went unnoticed upon its release in early 2025, Edebiri stars as Ariel, a journalist attending a listening session for a pop star’s new album. The pop star, played by John Malkovich, seems to have been out of the spotlight for years. As Ariel visits his compound, which he shares with other individuals, she starts uncovering his identity not only as a singer but as a dangerous cult leader.

Despite not performing well at the box office, earning just $2.2 million against its $10 million budget, “Opus” is worth watching, especially for fans of “The Bear” and Edebiri. She received acclaim for her performance, and comparing her role to Sydney provides a showcase of her versatility and talent.

“Opus” delivers another impressive performance from Ayo Edebiri, making the film worth a viewing. Interestingly, Sydney and Ariel share more similarities than one might assume. While Sydney is one of the most endearing characters on “The Bear,” expressing herself and showcasing her talent, Ariel, as a writer, seeks recognition mainly so people note her existence. Excelling in her profession seems almost a secondary concern for her.

Both characters strive to find the best path forward as their situations worsen, but they react in distinct ways, allowing Edebiri to display her acting breadth. These experiences reshape the characters: Sydney accidentally discovers her style of leadership and teaching, which contrasts starkly with her past experiences. Ariel, on the other hand, becomes absorbed in the narrative she intended to uncover, unintentionally spreading the message she aimed to oppose in her quest for recognition. It’s like two sides of the same coin — each finds their voice, but the outcome only aligns with success for one of them.