SNL hasn’t had an openly gay woman on the cast since the 1980s—but that’s about to change next week. Meet Saturday Night Live’s newest star, Kate McKinnon.
For an industry often portrayed as progressive and socially cutting-edge, we know that media can sometimes be just the opposite. We know that women often make up only a small fraction of high-profile roles—and that’s especially true in comedy, even more so if you narrow it to gay women. So, we’re pretty excited to see someone shaking that up. McKinnon will be making her Saturday Night Live debut on April 7, and we’ll be watching.
In the meantime, read on for a little background on Kate. Then, check out these video clips for a peek at her past, and a glimpse into what we can expect from her at SNL.
- Kate landed her first professional gig while still in college, a role in LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show—no small accomplishment for a college senior.
- She may be best known for her web comedy work, including a starring role in The 20-Year-Old 40-Year-Old (kind of self-explanatory) as well as in Vag Magazine (a web series in which a group of feminists decide to take over and run a magazine).
- Kate also gives a great live show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in NYC.
- And finally, Kate’s own words on the impact of her sexuality on her work, from a 2007 interview:
As minorities, we’re on the fringe, and there’s just something so wonderful about that perspective, something so inspiring.”
McKinnon in Vag Magazine
McKinnon as Jane Lynch
| For Women (part 4): Jane Lynch | UCBcomedy.com |
| Watch more comedy videos from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at UCBcomedy.com | |
