Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer renowned for her versatile comedic performances and character work. She gained widespread fame as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012, where she created numerous iconic characters. Wiig has since transitioned to a successful film career, starring in and co-writing major comedies like Bridesmaids and appearing in dramatic roles in films such as The Skeleton Twins and Welcome to Me. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Early life and education

Kristen Carroll Wiig was born in Canandaigua, New York, and raised in the nearby community of Rochester, New York. Her mother, Laurie J. (née Johnston), was an artist, and her father, Jon W. Wiig, worked as a marina development project manager. She attended Our Lady of Mercy High School before enrolling at the University of Arizona. Initially studying art, Wiig shifted her focus to performance after participating in a student production. She graduated with a degree in fine arts and subsequently moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy, joining the renowned Groundlings theatre and school to hone her improvisational skills.

Career

Wiig's professional breakthrough came when she was hired as a featured player on Saturday Night Live in 2005, quickly becoming a repertory player and one of the show's most prominent cast members. On SNL, she was celebrated for her original character creations such as the hyper-enthusiastic Target Lady, the awkward Penelope, and the one-upper Gilly, alongside her impressions of public figures like Kathie Lee Gifford and Björk. Her film career began with supporting roles in comedies like Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. She achieved major cinematic success as the co-writer and star of the 2011 hit Bridesmaids, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Post-SNL, Wiig has demonstrated her range in independent films like The Skeleton Twins with Bill Hader, and blockbuster franchises, voicing characters in the Despicable Me series and appearing in the 2016 ''Ghostbusters'' reboot and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Thor: Ragnarok. She has also created and starred in television series such as The Last Man on Earth and Bridesmaids director Paul Feig's The Spoils of Babylon.

Personal life

Wiig married actor and writer Avi Rothman in a private ceremony in 2020. She is known for being relatively private about her personal life, though she has spoken publicly about her close friendships with former Saturday Night Live colleagues like Maya Rudolph and Bill Hader. An advocate for various causes, Wiig has supported organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association and PETA. She resides primarily in Los Angeles and continues to work extensively in film and television production through her company, Hello Sunshine.

Filmography

A selected list of Kristen Wiig's film roles includes Knocked Up (2007), Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Adventureland (2009), MacGruber (2010), Bridesmaids (2011), Friends with Kids (2011), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), The Skeleton Twins (2014), Welcome to Me (2014), Ghostbusters (2016), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Downsizing (2017), Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019), and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Her voice work includes the Despicable Me franchise and How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Awards and nominations

Throughout her career, Wiig has received significant critical recognition. For her work on Bridesmaids, she earned nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Critics' Choice Movie Award. Her television work on Saturday Night Live garnered her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She has also won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and multiple MTV Movie & TV Awards. In 2011, she was named to the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American comedians Category:American screenwriters Category:Saturday Night Live cast members