Cecily Strong
 |
| Cecily Strong | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1984 Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Medium | Television, film |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Genres | Satire/political satire/news satire, improvisational comedy, sketch comedy |
| Subject(s) | American politics, American culture, current events, pop culture, mass media/news media |
| Notable works and roles | Saturday Night Live |
Cecily Strong (born February 8, 1984)[1][2][3] is an American actress, voice actress and comedian. She is a repertory player and anchor of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live.[4]
Early life
Strong was born in Springfield, Illinois and raised in Oak Park, Illinois.[5] She attended Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) before eventually transferring to the Chicago Academy for the Arts where she graduated in 2002.[6] After high school she attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) where she graduated in 2006 with a BFA in Theatre.[7][8] After graduating from CalArts, she returned to Chicago where she studied at the Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago.
Career
Strong performed regularly at The Second City and iO Chicago. She also appeared at the Chicago Sketch Fest, Chicago Just for Laughs, New York Sketchfest, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[8] In Chicago, Strong has also performed at the Goodman Theater, Bailiwick Theater, Mercury Theater, and with the all-female improv troupe Virgin Daiquiri.[9]
Saturday Night Live
On September 15, 2012, Strong made her debut as a featured player on Saturday Night Live.[8][10][11] On September 15, 2013, Lorne Michaels announced that Strong would be co-anchoring Weekend Update with Seth Meyers beginning with the season 39 premiere.
Strong's recurring characters include a ditzy, unnamed pseudo-activist known as The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party, Dana (one half of a pair of retail who always insult their coworkers out of fear of being fired), Kyra from "The Girlfriends Talk Show, and an unnamed blond former porn star-turned-model/commercial actress who hawks elegant items. Her celebrity impressions include Anjelica Huston, Fran Drescher, Jill Kelley, Khloe Kardashian, Lydia Callis, Lana Del Rey, Paula Broadwell, Megyn Kelly, Alanis Morrissette, and Rachel Maddow.
Personal life
She grew up adoring SNL as a child, watching old SNL commercials on VHS frequently, "I had a tape of the best commercials, and I wore it out, every day." She has stated that she was inspired by Phil Hartman.[12] She is dating fellow SNL cast member Michael_Patrick_O'Brien.[13]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | How to Sponsor a Uterus | Karen Rigsby | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-present | Saturday Night Live | Herself, Various | |
| 2012 | Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday | Various | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | The Awesomes | Various Voices | 9 episodes |
References
- ^ "New SNL Comedian has shallow Springfield roots". Sj-r.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05. (subscription required)
- ^ "Twitter / nbcsnl: Happy Birthday Cecily Strong!!". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ^ "Twitter / cecilybecily: @TheFrankenteena 1984. I'm". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ^ Metz, Nina (September 10, 2012). "Aidy Bryant, Tim Robinson, Cecily Strong join cast of 'SNL'". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Cecily Strong to co-anchor SNL's 'Weekend Update'". Sj-r.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05. (subscription required)
- ^ "Chicago Academy for the Arts - Chicago, IL - High School". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ^ "CalArts Grad Cecily Strong Added to Cast of 'SNL' | 12-11-2012". SCVNews.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ^ a b c "Cast Bios". Cecily Strong. NBC. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
- ^ "Cecily Strong". Cecilystrong.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ^ Levin, Gary (September 10, 2012). "'Saturday Night Live' adds three new cast members". USA Today.
- ^ "'Saturday Night Live' adds 3 performers for upcoming season after departures of Wiig, Samberg". The Washington Post (The Associated Press). September 10, 2012.
- ^ "Cecily Strong | Video | Late Night | NBC". Latenightwithjimmyfallon.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ^ https://twitter.com/cecilybecily