Michaela Watkins
Michaela Watkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michaela Suzanne Watkins December 14, 1971 |
| Occupation | Actress/Comedienne |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Michaela Suzanne Watkins (born December 14, 1971) is an American comic actress, best known for her various roles as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, a regular performer with The Groundlings in Los Angeles, her recurring role as "Lucy" in the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, and for her supporting role as Mona in the romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan.
Early life
Watkins was born in Syracuse, New York. She went to Jamesville-Dewitt -Moses-Dewitt Elementary School and Wellesley High School in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Michaela is a graduate of Boston University, where she studied theater and acting. Watkins lived in Portland, Oregon from 1996–2000. She built a theatrical career there, appearing onstage with Portland Center Stage and the defunct improv group Toad City Productions.[1] Subsequently she became active in Los Angeles Theatre for many years, taking on roles with Circle X Theatre[2] and 2100 Square Feet.[3]
Saturday Night Live
In November 2008, Watkins joined the cast of Saturday Night Live along with Abby Elliott. Watkins made her first major appearance on the show as Arianna Huffington on the November 22nd Weekend Update.[4] Watkins remained on SNL as a featured player throughout the rest of the 2008-2009 season, up to the season finale on May 16, 2009.
However while SNL was on summer hiatus, the news broke in early September 2009, that Watkins, along with fellow castmate Casey Wilson, were both to be let go from the show and would not be returning for the 2009-2010 season.[5] In a statement, Watkins said:
I will say to you now, though, that I had a GREAT time there. Met some of the most truly talented and fantastic people, had the most exciting job and I honestly can say I don't have any regrets I can think of right now. Although it seems kinda crazy right now, this may shake out to make sense to everyone. Lorne isn't known for indulging in any lip-service and I feel very encouraged by his words last week. I'm working on something I'm very excited about now, so... the journey continues, and I feel so lucky I got to stop off at 30 Rock. It was awesome.
Impressions on SNL
- Ann Coulter (on a Weekend Update segment cut after dress rehearsal on the season 34 episode hosted by Rosario Dawson, but now appears as a Web exclusive video on NBC.com)
- Arianna Huffington
- Barbara Walters
- Elphaba (from Wicked on Broadway)
- Glenn Close (as Alex Forrest from Fatal Attraction)
- Hoda Kotb
- Janice (from The Muppets, replacing Maya Rudolph)
- Joan Rivers
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Watkins' resemblance to Louis-Dreyfus was also a running gag on The New Adventures of Old Christine)
- Marcie (from Peanuts)
Recurring characters on SNL
- Angie Tempura: A geeky, iced coffee-drinking computer nerd who snarks on celebrities and movies and is the creator of the snarky website "Bitch Pleeze" (www.bitchpleeze.com, which redirects to the SNL site). Though she insults celebrities, Angie was revealed to have a crush on Zac Efron.
Post-SNL
After her exit from SNL in September 2009, Watkins has since returned to Los Angeles and continues to perform at The Groundlings. Since returning to LA, she has also performed in some comedy shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.
Watkins had a supporting role in the romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan starring Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin. Watkins played the part of Mona, the longtime best friend of Jennifer Lopez.
In December 2009, Watkins returned for two episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine, playing her recurring role of Lucy.
Watkins will appear in the 2011 comedy Wanderlust starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Inconceivable | Marcy | |
| 2008 | Yoga Matt | Jill Goering | Short film |
| 2010 | The Back-Up Plan | Mona | |
| The Prankster | Miss LaFleur | ||
| Welcome to the Jungle Gym | Principal Gilly | Short film | |
| Worst Enemy | Wooly | Short film | |
| 2011 | Wanderlust | Marisa |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | First Episode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Charmed | Andrea | "Death Takes A Halliwell" | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Miss Match | Susan Scott | "Divorce Happens" | 1 episode |
| Without A Trace | Marla | "Maple Street" | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | Strong Medicine | Julia | "Bleeding Heart" | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Medium | Clerk | "Sweet Child O' Mine" | 2 episodes |
| Modern Men | Amanda | "Pilot" | 1 episode | |
| Grey's Anatomy | Nikki Ratlin | "Superstition" | 1 episode | |
| Malcolm In The Middle | Receptionist | "Hal's Dentist" | 1 episode | |
| 7 Deadly Hollywood Sins | Jennifer | "Gluttony" | 4 episodes | |
| 2007 | Revenge | Mary-Louise | "Pilot" | TV Pilot |
| 2008 | Man Stroke Woman (US Version) | Various | "Pilot" | TV Pilot |
| Frank TV | Julia Roberts | "Episode 2.1" | 1 episode | |
| Californication | Executive | "Coke Dick & First Kick" | 2 episodes | |
| 2008–2009 | Saturday Night Live | Cast Member | "Episode 34.8" | 15 episodes |
| The New Adventures of Old Christine | Lucy | "How I Hate Your Mother" | 7 episodes | |
| 2009 | Eli Stone | Judge Leigh Rappaport | "Sonoma" | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Parenthood | Lucy Estman | "Team Braverman" | 1 episode |
| Miami Medical | Carla | "Time of Death" | 1 episode | |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Saundra | "The Safe House" | 1 episode |
References
- ^ Former Portlander Michaela Watkins to join "SNL" cast | OregonLive.com
- ^ Sperm: Review on TheaterMania.com - 03/09/2004
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Saturday Night Live - Update: Arianna Huffington - Video - NBC.com
- ^ the comic's comic: Addition through subtraction: SNL fires Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson!?