Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig | |
|---|---|
 Kristen Wiig, 2009 | |
| Born | Kristen Carroll Wiig August 22, 1973 Canandaigua, New York, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedienne |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse | Hayes Hargrove (2005–09)[2] |
| Website | kristenwiig |
Kristen Carroll Wiig (pronounced /ˈwiːɡ/; born August 22, 1973) is an American actress, comedienne, and writer. She is best known for her work as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012. Wiig was a member of the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings,[1][3] and has appeared in several films and television series, including Bridesmaids, MacGruber, Flight of the Conchords, Adventureland, and Paul. Her voice acting credits include "Ruffnut" in How to Train Your Dragon, "Miss Hattie" in Despicable Me and "Lola Bunny" in the series The Looney Tunes Show.
In 2011, Wiig co-wrote and starred in Bridesmaids, receiving nominations for her acting from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild and for her writing from the Academy and from BAFTA.[4]
Early life
Wiig was born in Canandaigua, New York, the daughter of Laurie J. (née Johnston), an artist, and Jon J. Wiig, who ran a lake marina in Western New York.[5][6] Her father is of Norwegian and Irish ancestry and her mother is of English and Scottish descent.[7] The name Wiig comes from the area of Sogn og Fjordane in Norway.[8] Wiig moved with her family to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at the age of three, and attended Nitrauer Elementary School. She later moved to Rochester, New York, where she attended and graduated from Brighton High School.[9] After a short stint at Roanoke College, Wiig attended the University of Arizona, majoring in art.[10] She took an acting class in college to fulfill a course requirement, and the teacher suggested she continue to act.[10] She dropped out of school and relocated to Los Angeles, where she joined The Groundlings while working odd jobs to support herself.[10]
Career
Television
Wiig's work has mostly been in comedy, including performing at the Empty Stage Comedy Theatre.[11] In 2003, she appeared in the Spike TV show The Joe Schmo Show, a spoof of reality television, in which she played "Dr. Pat", the quack marriage counselor.[11]
Wiig debuted on Saturday Night Live shortly into Season 31, on November 12, 2005.[3] She survived an SNL budget cut,[12] becoming a full member of the repertory cast at the beginning of Season 32 in 2006. Her characters include Penelope, a neurotic attention-seeker; Kat, half of the musical duo Garth and Kat (frequently appearing on Weekend Update alongside Fred Armisen); Dooneese Maharelle on the Lawrence Welk show; Mindy Grayson in the Secret Word sketches, Gilly, a highly mischievous schoolgirl; Sue, who can't control her excitement over surprises; The Target Lady, a clerk at the chain store and kitsch collector; Shanna, a sexy woman whose actions and stories gross people out; Cheryl Bryant, a TV game show host who gives away big prizes and is always more excited about the prize than the winners are; Judy Grimes, a nervous travel agent; Toni Ward, predatory host of the Cougar Den; and Aunt Linda, a hard-to-please movie critic, both frequently appearing on Weekend Update. She has also played real-life people such as Björk, Suze Orman, Lana Del Rey, Kathie Lee Gifford, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Drew Barrymore, Taylor Swift, Christine O'Donnell, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and socialite Kris Jenner.
Wiig was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series[13] for her work on Saturday Night Live (2009,[14] 2010, 2011).[15]
In December 2009, she headlined in the Christmas Special SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas, which featured new sketches with her character Gilly and highlights of older clips.[citation needed]
Following Amy Poehler's departure in Season 34 to work on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, Wiig was the only female regular cast member on SNL until Abby Elliott was promoted to a repertory player in Season 36.[citation needed]
Wiig was featured in Entertainment Weekly's list of 15 Great Performances for her various impersonations on Saturday Night Live[16] (December 2008) and in EW's list of the 25 Funniest Women in Hollywood (April 2009).[17] As of 2011, she has a role as the voice of Lola Bunny in the series The Looney Tunes Show.
Wiig's final performance as a cast member on Saturday Night Live was Season 37, Episode 22, which aired on May 19, 2012.[18] The show was hosted by Mick Jagger. The closing celebration included SNL alumni Amy Poehler, Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Will Forte and Rachel Dratch, as well as Steve Martin.
Film
Wiig appeared in Judd Apatow’s 2007 comedy Knocked Up as a passive-aggressive assistant. She also performed in Jake Kasdan's Walk Hard, another Apatow-produced film, and in David Koepp's Ghost Town. Wiig has also appeared in Greg Mottola's Adventureland, Mike Judge's Extract, and in Whip It, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut. Wiig also had a lead role in Greg Mottola's Paul. Wiig also appeared as the yoga teacher in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
In 2010, she appeared in the films MacGruber, the animated comedy Despicable Me, and Andrew Jarecki's All Good Things.
In 2011, she starred in the film Bridesmaids, which she co-wrote with fellow Groundlings performer Annie Mumolo for Universal Pictures, released on May 13, 2011.[19] The film became both a critical and box office success, receiving two nominations for Best Picture-Musical or Comedy and Wiig herself was nominated for Best Actress-Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy at the 69th Golden Globe Awards. The film also received two Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay for which Wiig and Mumolo were nominated. The second nomination was for Best Supporting Actress for co-star Melissa McCarthy. The movie grossed over $280 million worldwide.[20]
Personal life
Kristen Wiig was married to actor Hayes Hargrove from 2005 until 2009.[21]
Filmography
TV
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Joe Schmo Show | Dr. Pat | 9 Episodes |
| 2005–12 | Saturday Night Live | Various | The Comedy Awards – Television Comedy Actress (2011) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy Series (2009–11) |
| 2007 | 30 Rock | Candace Van der Shark | Episode: "Somebody to Love" |
| 2008 | Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday | Various | 6 Episodes |
| 2009 | Flight of the Conchords | Brahbrah | Episode: "Love is a Weapon of Choice" |
| 2009–10 | Bored to Death | Jennifer Gladwell | 3 Episodes[22] |
| 2010 | The Cleveland Show | Mrs. Stapleton | Episode: "The Curious Case of Jr. Working at The Stool" Voice role |
| 2011— | The Looney Tunes Show | Lola Bunny | Voice role |
| 2011 | The Simpsons | Calliope Juniper | Episode: "Flaming Moe" Voice role |
| 2011 | Legends of Bikini Bottom | Madame Hag | Episode: "The Curse of the Hex" Voice role |
| 2012 | Portlandia | Gathy | Episode: "Cat Nap" |
Film
Awards and nominations
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Nominated | Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live |
| Nominated | Gotham Awards | Best Ensemble Cast (shared with Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Ryan Reynolds, Margarita Levieva) | Adventureland | |
| 2010 | Nominated | Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live[29] |
| 2011 | Won | 1st Annual Comedy Awards | Best Female Comedy Actress | |
| Nominated | WAFCA Award | Best Acting Ensemble (shared with Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Jill Clayburgh, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey) | Bridesmaids | |
| Nominated | WAFCA Award | Best Original Screenplay (shared with Annie Mumolo) | ||
| Nominated | Teen Choice Award | Choice Movie Actress: Comedy | ||
| Nominated | Teen Choice Award | Choice Movie Hissy Fit | ||
| Nominated | PFCS Award | Best Acting Ensemble (shared with Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Jill Clayburgh, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey) | ||
| Nominated | Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | |
| 2012 | Nominated | Academy Award | Best Writing, Original Screenplay (shared with Annie Mumolo) | Bridesmaids |
| Nominated | BAFTA Film Award | Best Original Screenplay (shared with Annie Mumolo) | ||
| Nominated | Critics Choice Award | Best Acting Ensemble (shared with Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Jill Clayburgh, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey) | ||
| Nominated | COFCA Award | Best Ensemble (shared with Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Jill Clayburgh, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey) | ||
| Nominated | SAG Award | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (shared with Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Jill Clayburgh, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey) | ||
| Nominated | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | ||
| Nominated | Rembrant Award | Best International Actress (Beste Buitenlandse Actrice) | ||
| Nominated | WGA Award | Best Original Screenplay (shared with Annie Mumolo) |
- She was named one of PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2011.[30]
- She is part of Time's 2012 list of The 100 Most Influential People in the World.[31]
References
- ^ a b Official website
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (January 4, 2009). "She's Really Shy, but That's a Secret". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
- ^ a b They're live on SNL, a December 2005 USA Today article[clarification needed]
- ^ Awards at IMDB
- ^ "Kristen Wiig: 'My next movie – it's going to be a Porky's prequel' " 18 November 2011, The Guardian
- ^ Margaret (Johnston) Harris Obituary at MPNow.com, August 6, 2010
- ^ Always the bridesmaid – Film & Cinema, Entertainment. The Independent. (Ireland) Retrieved on August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Komi-Kristen" (in Norwegian), Film Magasinet
- ^ Goldman, Dan (May 15, 2009). "Live from New York ... it's Kristen Wiig". uticaod.com. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
- ^ a b c Dominus, Susan (April 28, 2011). "Can Kristen Wiig Turn on the Charm?". The New York Times. New York City. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
- ^ a b "How Real Is Reality Programming? SPIKE TV'S 'The Joe Schmo Show' Puts New Twist on Reality Show Genre, Where Only One Contestant Is Real" (Press release). SpikeTV. August 12, 2003. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
- ^ Village Voice article
- ^ Kristen Wiig Emmy Award Winner
- ^ Bierly, Mandi. (July 15, 2009) Emmy Awards: the 2009 nominees | EW.com. Popwatch.ew.com. Retrieved on August 7, 2011.
- ^ Ryan, Joal (July 8, 2010). "Emmys 2010 Comedy Acting: Matthew Morrison Leads Glee Choir". ca.eonline.com. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
- ^ "15 Great Performances In 2008" Entertainment Weekly, Photo 19 of 20,
- ^ "The 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood". Entertainment Weekly Photo 6 of 26
- ^ Kristen Wiig gets an emotional sendoff - USA Today 5/20/12 accessed 5/20/12
- ^ Jeremy Kay (July 21, 2009). "Mandate Pictures heads for the highway with female road movie". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
- ^ Bridesmaids at Box Office Mojo
- ^ "Kristen Wiig Rules Out Second Marriage". The San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco Chronicle. June 13, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ^ The Alanon Case – Yahoo! TV
- ^ Revenge for Jolly at IMDb
- ^ Imogene at IMDb
- ^ 3 at IMDb
- ^ Freezing People is Easy at IMDb
- ^ The Secret Life of Walter Mitty at IMDb
- ^ "Kristen Wiig will be busy after 'SNL'". USA Today. May 20, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Winners For The First Annual “The Comedy Awards” Include David Letterman, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell & More – Ratings. TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved on August 7, 2011.
- ^ Russell Brand and Kristen Wiig Named Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2011 | PETA.org. Features.peta.org. Retrieved on August 7, 2011.
- ^ Time Magazine Retrieved on May 7, 2012
External links
- 1973 births
- Living people
- Actors from New York
- Actors from Pennsylvania
- American comedians
- American film actors
- American film producers
- American impressionists (entertainers)
- American people of English descent
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of Norwegian descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American screenwriters
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- American vegetarians
- The Groundlings
- People from Canandaigua, New York
- People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- People from Rochester, New York
- Roanoke College alumni
- University of Arizona alumni
- Women comedians
- Women screenwriters