If faith comes funny, Yvonne Orji always finds a way to fly it. The Emmy-nominated actress, comedian and author brings her bold humor and faith to the animated world The chosen adventuresand she tells BOSSIP all about it.
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Prime Video's new animated series follows nine-year-old Abby and her best friend Joshua as they navigate life in ancient Capernaum alongside a talking sheep and a clever sidekick named Pigeon, voiced by Orji himself.
You may know Yvonne Orji best for her role as Molly in unsafe, but you will learn them in this film because he tells holy story with a playful twist. Ahead of the show's premiere, BOSSIP spoke with the star about life as a cartoon, balancing comedy with purpose, and how faith manages to feel new every day.
“It brings you back to that sense of wonder.”
When asked what it was like to step into an animated world, Orji immediately lit up.
“Oh my goodness. Well, this is fun,” she said. “You know, I've done a couple of animated projects, and they all have their own flair about them. This one is fun because you're creating the whimsical, wonderful nature of a little kid and telling biblical stories.”
She stopped before connecting it with something deeper.
“You want to keep that sense of wonder and exploration and that love. When you'rea new believer, you're like, everything's great. You just gave me a parking spot! You're like, okay, okay!” she laughed. “This show takes you back to those early days when you're like, He's so great, right?”
Cinnamon, sugar and spice
When asked what attracted her to her feathered alter ego, Orji described Pigeon as “fun” with a little bit of everything she already is.
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“Now, once he's cute, I'm like, can I be me? Can I be funny? Can I be witty? Can I have street smarts but also have a heart but also not be no-nonsense?” she said with a grin. “Can we have a little cinnamon, sugar and spice? And they were like, yes, please, please do that. That was fun for me – to use all the things that I normally do in my everyday life, but strengthen it a little bit for animation.”
Pigeon is the sharp, witty sidekick to Sheep, voiced by Paul Walter Hauser. The two form a comedic duo that adds lightness to Abby and Joshua's faith-filled adventures.
“This Was Not Yvonne Orji Dream”
In the heart of The chosen adventures is the idea of seeing the world differently after I met Jesus.
For Orji, that message hit home.
“My perspective is still changing,” she mused. “When you meet God, there's so much. When I was living in Maryland, it was basically faith, family, and maybe some football. Then you move to LA, and you're like, oh my god, there's so much here. You keep Jesus the center, but you meet different kinds of people, and you can still be like, hey, 'I love God, let me love another one.'”
Her voice softened as she reflected on her journey.
“My life is because I met Him. The way I look at God, the way I look at people, and also the things I can do – this is a God's dream that I live. The fact that I myself am part of this series, or that you yourself know me from Insecure – I have a master's in public health, I studied to be a doctor. This was not a dream of Yvonne or Tale. It changed your life.”
Solo in the cock, full of gratitude
Although the voice cast includes talents such as Jordin Sparks, Jonathan Roumie and Elizabeth Tabish, Orji's recording process was mostly a one-woman show.
“Well, you know, we were solo,” she explained. “When you're doing voice acting, sometimes you're with other people, but a lot of times you're kind of in a booth by yourself. Sometimes you can hear their take, so you can match their energy, but a lot of it was just me, the director on Zoom, and the writer in the room taking notes.”
She added with a laugh, “It was true, it was easy out. I like efficiency. So I'm like, okay, give me a note, I've got you — as long as I understand.”
Faith, laughter, and legacy
Fan Unsafe to Momma, we made it now The chosen adventuresYvonne Orji continues to find purpose in projects that mix humor, heart and hope.
“Kids grow up in a world that moves fast and demands everything,” she said. “If we can give them a story that makes them pause and feel seen – that's the real win.”
May The chosen adventures, she does just that – reminding the audience that faith can still be funny, and purpose can still play.
The chosen adventures premieres October 17 on Prime Video.
