Ayo Edebiri Surprises Fans in “I Love LA” Episode 2

Well, regarding that surprise appearance, it was definitely unexpected. Episode 2 of I Love LA turned out to be a great moment for Rachel Sennott, I think.

**Spoiler alert for episode 2 of I Love LA now streaming on HBO Max**

Fans were taken aback on Sunday night when Ayo Edebiri made a brief but memorable appearance as a British pop star named Mimi Rush, an artist who’s employed by Charlie (played by Jordan Firstman). At the episode’s climax, Mimi dismisses Charlie for an attempt to discredit Zendaya, who had been considered for the role of her mother in a music video, as Mimi later revealed.

Sennott, who shared the screen with the Emmy winner in the 2023 film Bottoms and also co-wrote the script, mentioned that they wanted to find someone who could portray this eccentric pop star with a complicated dynamic with Charlie. She reached out to Ayo because, as she puts it, “If we want to hang out, we have to work together.” So, she offered her a two-day role on the show. Edebiri, ever creative, came up with all sorts of ideas—including a mullet, a flashy vape, and a British accent—and Sennott was all in, saying yes to everything.

Interestingly, Edebiri’s portrayal of a “quirky and fun” starlet evidently struck a chord. Sennott noted that much of the dialogue between Firstman and Edebiri was improvised, which made it even more entertaining to watch, particularly since Firstman didn’t get to share any scenes with them.

Firstman mentioned that he was aware from the script that a singer-songwriter character was included, but he didn’t realize it would be Edebiri until she was confirmed for the role. He expressed how thrilled he was to collaborate with a long-time friend.

Since co-writing for Big Mouth and starring in Bottoms, Edebiri has diversified her acting career. She’s recently shown up in Luca Guadagnino’s film After the Hunt alongside Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. Firstman reminisced about knowing Edebiri for a decade, recalling how amazing it’s been to see her rise in the industry while also enjoying her return to comedic projects that showcase her eccentric side.

Aside from seeing Edebiri take on more dramatic roles, Firstman was genuinely excited to finally share the screen with her, fondly referring to her as “Ireland’s national princess.” His enthusiasm was evident as he commented on their time together, noting how intimidating Edebiri was in her role as Mimi Rush.

I Love LA airs Sundays at 10:30 PM ET on HBO and is available for streaming on HBO Max simultaneously.