Yvonne Orji

Yvonne Anuli Orji (born December 2, 1983) is a Nigerian-American actress, comedian, and author. She is widely celebrated for her breakthrough role as Molly Carter in the HBO comedy series *Insecure* (2016–2021), a performance that earned her significant critical recognition. Early Life and Education Yvonne Orji was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. She emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six and grew up in Laurel, Maryland. Orji recounts having a traditional immigrant upbringing, where her parents emphasized education. She pursued higher education at George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 2005 and a Master of Public Health degree (M.P.H.) in 2008. Career Progression and Major Achievements Although Orji initially pursued a career in public health, she transitioned to entertainment. She began performing stand-up comedy in 2009. Her career reached a new level of prominence when she was cast as Molly Carter, the high-powered corporate lawyer and best friend to Issa Dee, in Issa Rae’s acclaimed HBO series *Insecure*. Her portrayal of Molly spanned all five seasons of the show (2016–2021) and earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as three NAACP Image Awards. Notable Works and Current Status Beyond television, Orji has appeared in films such as *Night School* (2018) and the Hulu comedy film series *Vacation Friends* (2021) and *Vacation Friends 2* (2023), where she stars opposite John Cena and Lil Rel Howery. She also released her own HBO comedy special, *Momma, I Made It\!* (2020), which blended stand-up with documentary-style footage of her life in Nigeria and the U.S. In 2022, she released another HBO comedy special, *A Whole Me*. As an author, Orji published her debut book, *Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me Into the Life of My Dreams*, in May 2021. In addition to her acting and comedic work, she is an active philanthropist, having previously worked in Liberia to help develop a mentoring program and a weekly talk show focused on preventing teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. She continues to work in television and film, with future projects including a voice role in the animated series *My Dad the Bounty Hunter* and a role in the upcoming series *The Chosen Adventures*.