Actress Yvonne Orji spills about her life and career
HBO actress Yvonne Orji speaks to SU students
Comedian and actress Yvonne Orji, best known for her role as Molly in HBO’s “Insecure,” discussed her work, diversity in media, and what’s next in her career during a Q&A Saturday at Goldstein Auditorium.
University Union presented the event and SU student Haniyah Philogene moderated. Philogene began the conversation by asking Orji about her hobbies outside of her work.
“Work is a hobby,” Orji replied.
For the past six years, acting in “Insecure,” which is currently airing its fifth and final season, made up the bulk of Orji’s work. Orji reflected on the series coming to an end, stating that she is sad to see it end but glad it finished on their own terms.
“It’s hard even though it’s a good goodbye,” she said.
Orji landed the role before having an agent, and it propelled her career. She hopes that she can use her own success in entertainment to improve diversity in the industry and help others who have been historically underrepresented find their own success.
“With every level of success, you also have a level of responsibility to bring people with you,” Orji said.
She believes that simply having more diversity is not enough, but it is also important to ensure that once more diverse voices are in the industry, they have the ability to thrive.
Orji said, “It’s not just about putting the faces there; it’s about helping them succeed as well.”
She feels her role as Molly in “Insecure” and the authenticity of the character is a good example of real diversity in media which she hopes to see more of in the future.
“That’s true diversity is to be able to show a flawed Black woman navigating life. She’s bomb in certain areas and she’s not in other areas,” Orji said in a press interview after the event. “I’m really proud that I get to portray a character that looks more like more women of color than not.”
Yvonne Orji and moderator Haniyah Philogene hug prior to Yvonne's talk on Saturday.
Yvonne Orji sitting on stage in the Goldstein Theatre this Saturday.
In addition to her acting career, Orji’s career also includes an HBO stand-up comedy special titled “Momma, I Made It” and a book titled “Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me Into the Life of My Dreams” which she says has been especially fulfilling.
“I would say that writing the book is the one thing that really ushered me into myself because it was such like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly,” Orji said in the press interview. “I’m proud of it.”
Orji does not want to stop at comedy, acting and writing. She hopes to add directing to her resumé sometime in the future.
“It’s not refined yet, but it’s something in the back of my mind saying, ‘I want to direct,’” she said.
Orji’s words struck a chord with Philogene who made her moderating debut at the event.
“I had to pinch myself a few times,” Philogene said in a press interview after the show. “It was really great, really inspiring, and it just reminded me that, at the end of the day, we’re all human, no matter how high you got on the totem pole.”
Orji ended the night by offering advice to the college students in the audience. She encouraged the crowd to keep an open mind when learning new things about themselves and the world.
“You’re a perpetual student. You’re always learning,” Orji said. “Leave room for discovery.”
is a digital producer for The NewsHouse.
