Ego Nwodim has a work bestie in
Leslie Jones.
“I love her. I love Leslie!” the “
Saturday Night Live” star told The
Hollywood Reporter on Friday. “She embraced me immediately and has been a mentor and such a cheerleader and so supportive of me through this whole process.”
The 31-year-old comedian, who is marking her first year on the late-night sketch show, told the outlet in a wide-ranging Q&A that she was grateful for Jones’ mentorship and support.
“Having her there my first year has been so helpful,” she said. “And it has been so special to be there with her, especially considering the number of African American female cast members in the history of the show.”
Nwodim is the seventh African American woman in the show’s history to take the Studio 8H stage as a cast member.
“To be here with another African American female cast member is so amazing, and to have her experience — her life experience and experience on the show — has been so helpful,” she added. “I’m eternally grateful to Leslie.”
They’ve been in many sketches together but notably starred in a female buddy cop skit written by Nwodim called “Traffic Stop,” where the duo flirts with a man they pulled over, played by Seth Meyers.
Nwodim told THR, “I was really excited to get to do something with Leslie … I thought it would be very fun for us to get to do this thing together and bounce off of each other’s energy.”
Jones’ feelings for Nwodim are mutual, as she frequently documents their friendship on Instagram.
When Nwodim first started on the show, the “
SNL” star posted a shout-out to welcome her new cast member.
“Hey I’m just now getting the chance [to welcome] my new cast mate @eggyboom so happy to have her on!!” Jones wrote of Nwodim’s headshot. “Please take a second to welcome her!! She is the bomb!!”
And recently Jones posted a photo of the two from “SNL” in an “Avengers” version of the show’s reoccurring “Family Feud” parody.
“Me and @eggyboom she my boo bear!! Love her!!” Jones wrote.
They’ll be back on stage Saturday for the show’s season finale with host Paul Rudd and DJ Khaled as the musical guest.