Kristen Wiig, Catherine O’Hara and More of the Funniest Women in Hollywood

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Kristen Wiig, Catherine O'Hara and More of the Funniest Women in Hollywood

Fiercely funny! Kristen Wiig, Catherine O'Hara and more women bring the laughs to every role they play. Wiig is one of many female comedians who got their big break on Saturday Night Live, along with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Kate McKinnon. Though women have been the backbone of the variety show for decades, they still face some major hurdles in the male-dominated world of comedy. "Every single interviewer asked, 'Isn't this an amazing time for women in comedy?'" Fey told Town & Country magazine in March 2016. "And we were like, 'No, it's a terrible time. If you were to really look at it, the boys are still getting more money for a lot of garbage, while the ladies are hustling and doing amazing work for less.' … We fight about the same things Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg fight about. Do you ask them that question?" Three years later, the 30 Rock alum reunited with some of her closest SNL pals for Netflix's Wine Country, a comedy that puts the complex nature of female friendships on full display. Rudolph, who also starred in 2011's Bridesmaids, didn't hold back when discussing the limitations of making a "female comedy." [jwplayer iVaRw3vO-l3ahXupL] "I think we were all very surprised at the continuous headline that was, 'Wow, female comedies, what a big deal,'" she told IndieWire in May 2019. "Like, bitch, I'm just making comedies! I happen to be a woman! ... It's an embarrassment of riches that I happened to know this many talented women and funny as f--k women, but that's the reality of the world that I'm in. Why not make projects with people that are the funniest people you know, and the people that you love, and tell the stories that are funny to you?" Despite the sometimes misogynistic culture of the comedy scene, women in Hollywood aren’t ready to throw in the towel any time soon. Stars like Amy Schumer, Tiffany Haddish and more are pushing the boundaries of what women can do on screen, making bold choices and paving the way for the next generation of funny females. Scroll down to see more of the funniest women in Hollywood! [podcast_block]

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Aidy Bryant

The Arizona native joined Saturday Night Live in its 38th season and has been one of the show's scene stealers ever since. Her work on the variety series includes Tonker Bell, the shy cohost of Girlfriends Talk Show and Lil Baby Aidy, who sings in hit sketches "Back Home Ballers" and "(Do It on My) Twin Bed." She has been nominated for two Emmys, and in 2019, starred in and produced Hulu's Shrill.

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Nasim Pedrad

After leaving Saturday Night Live in 2014, Pedrad went on to appear on Mulaney, Scream Queens and People of Earth. From 2015 to 2018, Pedrad had a recurring guest role on New Girl as LAPD officer Aly Nelson, who ends the series married to Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris). In July 2020, she starred in Netflix's Desperados with Heather Graham and Anna Camp.

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Nicole Byer

Before scoring a hosting gig on Netflix's Nailed It, Byer was known for her commentary on MTV's Girl Code. The stand-up comic hosts several podcasts, including "Why Won't You Date Me?," and has made small appearances on shows like 30 Rock, The Good Place and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In July 2020, she scored an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program for her work on Nailed It.

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Catherine O'Hara

O'Hara got her start in Toronto's Second City improv comedy troupe and later became a major player on Second City Television in 1976. After gaining acclaim on TV, she went on to star in Beetlejuice (1988), Waiting for Guffman (1996) and Home Alone (1990). Though her career was already hugely successful, O'Hara's turn as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek brought her back into the spotlight. The sitcom ran from 2015 to 2020 and earned her multiple nominations, including a 2019 Critics' Choice nod for Best Actress in a Comedy Series and a 2020 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

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Paula Pell

From 1995 to 2013, Pell was making moves behind-the-scenes at Saturday Night Live as a comedy writer. Among her most memorable creations are the Spartan Cheerleaders (played by Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri) and Debbie Downer (played by Rachel Dratch). She later lent a hand in writing Bridesmaids (2011) and This Is 40 (2012), starred in NBC's A.P. Bio and appeared in Netflix's Wine Country (2019) with Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Tina Fey.

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Lily Tomlin

Tomlin got her start as a stand-up comedian and Off-Broadway performer in the 1960s. For seven seasons, she worked alongside Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston in Netflix's Grace and Frankie, which earned her nominations for four Emmys, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

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Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson

The comedy duo is widely recognized for their "2 Dope Queens" podcast, which later transformed into a four-episode HBO special in 2018. Williams also worked as a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2012 to 2016, while Robinson has written two books: You Can't Touch My Hair (And Other Things I Still Have to Explain) in 2016 and Everything's Trash, but It's Okay in 2018.

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Kate McKinnon

The comedian made a name for herself on Saturday Night Live, which she joined in 2012. The Emmy winner — she has picked up two statues for her role on the sketch comedy — stood out for her off-the-wall characters and her on-the-nose impressions of Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, DeGeneres and more. She went on to star in Ghostbusters, Rough Night, The Spy Who Dumped Me and Bombshell.

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Amy Schumer

Schumer’s raunchy yet relatable comedy was put on full display in her Comedy Central series, Inside Amy Schumer. The stand-up comic shined again when she starred in and wrote the 2015 film Trainwreck.

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Samantha Bee

Bee appeared on The Daily Show as a correspondent for 12 years before launching her own TBS late-night series titled Full Frontal With Samantha Bee in 2016. Her no-holds-barred take on political comedy has at times landed her in the middle of controversy.

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Megan Mullally

Mullally proved her humor is timeless when she reprised her role as Karen Walker on the Will & Grace reboot, which debuted 11 years after the original series said goodbye.

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Kristen Bell

The Frozen actress certainly has range — a fact that was made clear in her portrayal of Eleanor Shellstrop on The Good Place. While the part was not her first foray into comedy (Bad Moms and Forgetting Sarah Marshall are among her credits), it was perhaps her brightest.

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Ellie Kemper

Kemper brought her comedic chops from The Office, which ended in 2013, straight over to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in 2015. She played the loveably dim title character with so much charm it was infectious.

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Leslie Jones

Jones began as a writer on Saturday Night Live in 2014, but her on-air segments drew such raves that she became a cast member later that year. She also starred in 2016’s Ghostbusters alongside her SNL costar McKinnon.

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Tiffany Haddish

Haddish became an overnight sensation after starring in 2017’s Girls Trip. By the next year, the comedian was everywhere, appearing in multiple films, winning an Emmy for hosting Saturday Night Live and igniting one of the biggest mysteries to ever exist in Hollywood: Who bit Beyoncé?

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Portia de Rossi

DeGeneres’ actress love reprised her role as Lindsay Bluth on Arrested Development’s Netflix reboot. “I’ve been very specific with my career,” she told Out. "I really love acting, but it’s important to me to be part of really interesting projects. Whatever I respond to, I really throw myself at.”

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Leslie Mann

Named Elle's "Queen of Comedy" in 2012, Mann began her comedy career with improv troupe The Groundlings and first made a splash on the big screen in 2006's Cable Guy. Earning laughs along the way with roles in Big Daddy and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Mann's recent critical successes include projects she collaborated on with her husband, Judd Apatow. The couple's daughters, Iris and Maude, even appeared in the flicks Knocked Up, Funny People and This Is 40 as the children of their real-life mom.

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Chelsea Peretti

The stand-up comedian found her calling as fan favorite Gina Linetti on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which bowed in 2013 and was saved from cancellation in 2018.

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Tina Fey

Known for her work on Saturday Night Live, the Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, native was the creator and star of NBC’s scripted comedy 30 Rock too. Also a bestselling author, Fey’s film credits include Mean Girls, Baby Mama and Date Night.

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Ellen DeGeneres

The first female comic to be invited to chat with Johnny Carson after her stand-up performance, DeGeneres is the host of her own eponymous talk show. In addition to writing several books, the Louisiana-born funnywoman starred in the sitcom Ellen for 109 episodes and has appeared on the big screen in films such as EDtv, Finding Nemo and Dr. Doolittle.

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Mindy Kaling

In 2005, Kaling was hired as the only female writer on NBC’s The Office. She later appeared on camera as Kelly Kapoor. The popular Twitter user also penned a book of comedic essays, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), in 2011 and its 2015 follow-up, Why Not Me? The Darmouth College graduate later developed, produced and starred in her own sitcom, The Mindy Project.

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Kristen Wiig

The Groundlings alum debuted on Saturday Night Live in November 2005, where she quickly became a fan favorite. She left the sketch comedy series in 2011, following the success of the box office smash Bridesmaids, which she starred in and cowrote. Wiig's other acting credits include Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Despicable Me, Friends With Kids, Adventureland and Knocked Up.

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Lena Dunham

Though Dunham’s feature film Tiny Furniture won Best Narrative Feature at South by Southwest in 2010, it’s the HBO series Girls that made her a Hollywood heavyweight. As the series’ creator, producer and star, she earned raves from critics and fans alike – not to mention eight Emmy nominations.

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Melissa McCarthy

McCarthy played one half of CBS comedy couple Mike & Molly, but the Illinois native didn’t become a household name until her breakout role in the 2011 movie Bridesmaids. The actress, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her part in the surprise smash, has also appeared in Gilmore Girls, Ghostbusters and The Heat.

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Wanda Sykes

The tell-it-like-it-is star is best known for her roles in Comedy Central's Wanda Does It, CBS' New Adventures of Old Christine and HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her film credits include Monster-in-Law, Evan Almighty, License to Wed and Pootie Tang. From 2009 to 2010, Sykes hosted her own late-night talk show on Fox.

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Jane Lynch

The actress earned critical praise for her roles in the droll comedies Best in Show, For Your Consideration and A Mighty Wind, and she delighted mainstream audiences with parts in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Lynch later earned a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of the manipulative cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on Fox's Glee.

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Anna Faris

Faris won the lead role in 2000’s Scary Movie, which led to parts in The Hot Chick, Waiting… and Just Friends. She also produced and starred in the 2008 hit The House Bunny. Faris’ other film credits include What’s Your Number?, Take Me Home Tonight and The Dictator. The author went on to star on the CBS sitcom Mom and host her own podcast titled "Anna Faris Is Unqualified."

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Kathy Griffin

The Illinois native is known for making fun of everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Barbara Walters in her stand-up routine. From 1996 to 2000, Griffin played Vicki Groener on the sitcom Suddenly Susan. She later starred in her own Bravo reality series, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. A bestselling author, Griffin has also appeared in several scripted TV shows, including Ugly Betty, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Seinfeld.

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Amy Poehler

From 2001 to 2008, Poehler was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, where she impersonated everyone from Hillary Clinton to Sharon Osbourne. During that time, the actress also appeared on the big screen in Baby Mama and Mean Girls, both costarring her SNL pal Fey. She starred as Leslie Knope — easily her most iconic role — on the NBC series Parks and Recreation from 2009 until 2015.

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Chelsea Handler

After moving from her native New Jersey to L.A., the comedian honed her stand-up act and later appeared on Oxygen’s hidden camera prank show Girls Behaving Badly. In 2007, she began hosting E!’s Chelsea Lately, which went on to become one of the channel’s highest-rated programs. Handler, who is also a successful author, left E! in 2014 for a Netflix talk show that was canceled after two seasons.

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America Ferrera

The actress earned an Emmy for her portrayal of the optimistic fish-out-of-water lead character in ABC’s Ugly Betty. Ferrera also showed off her comedic chops in Superstore, Gotta Kick It Up! and Our Family Wedding.

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Amy Sedaris

Known for playing Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central television series Strangers With Candy, Sedaris is a former member of Chicago-based Second City comedy troupe. She has made guest appearances on several TV shows, including Just Shoot Me!, Sex and the City, My Name Is Earl, Sesame Street and Raising Hope.

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Betty White

Beloved as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls, White's other notable film and TV roles include The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Proposal, Hot in Cleveland, Mama's Family and You Again. When she was 88, the animal health advocate became the oldest person to ever host Saturday Night Live.

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Casey Wilson

Wilson made her first major television appearance as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She spent two seasons on the show from 2008 to 2009. Two years later, she was cast as the over-the-top Penny Hartz on ABC's Happy Endings. Wilson's other notable TV and film roles include Bride Wars, Julie & Julia and The Guilt Trip.

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Christina Applegate

She played ditzy bombshell Kelly Bundy on Fox’s Married…With Children in the ‘90s, but Applegate has also enjoyed success on the big screen with roles in 2002’s The Sweetest Thing, 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, 2008’s The Rocker and 2010’s Going the Distance. The actress also appeared on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who? and the NBC sitcom Up All Night.

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Courteney Cox

She played the uptight Monica Gellar on Friends from 1994 to 2004, but Cox proved she can poke fun at herself in films and TV shows such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Scrubs. She showed an entirely new side of humor when she played Jules Cobb on Cougar Town from 2009 to 2015.

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Fran Drescher

The New York native made her feature film debut in 1977's Saturday Night Fever. Drescher later starred in The Nanny, which ran from 1993 to 1999. During her tenure on the show, she also served as writer, producer and director. Her other TV credits include Living With Fran, The Fran Drescher Show and Happily Divorced.

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Elizabeth Banks

Banks made her feature film debut in 1998's low-budget indie Surrender Dorothy, but since then, the Mkasschusetts-born star has appeared in a string of box office hits, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, W., Role Models, Our Idiot Brother, Wet Hot American Summer and People Like Us. She also had a recurring role on NBC's hit series 30 Rock.

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Jennifer Aniston

Since her days as Rachel Green on Friends, the actress has appeared in several hit comedies including Along Came Polly, Rumor Has It..., The Break-Up, He's Just Not That Into You, The Bounty Hunter, The Switch, Just Go With It and Horrible Bosses. She later returned to TV with The Morning Show.

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Jane Krakowski

Known for her roles in 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Ally McBeal, Krakowski has also appeared on the big screen in Open Season, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, National Lampoon’s Vacation and The Rocker. She has also been performing on Broadway since the late ‘80s.

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Cheryl Hines

Known for her role as Larry David’s wife on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, the Florida native starred on ABC’s Suburgatory as well. She also appeared in TV shows such as Hannah Montana, Brothers & Sisters and Scrubs. In 2009, Hines made her directorial debut with Serious Moonlight.

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Jenna Fischer

Before she won over fans as Pam Halpert on The Office, Fischer appeared on TV shows including That '70s Show, Miss Match and What I Like About You. She also starred in the 2007 movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, in addition to 2010's A Little Help and 2011's Hall Pass.

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Whoopi Goldberg

Before she joined The View, Goldberg was a successful movie star in the 1980s and 1990s. Her most notable comedic works include Sister Act, Burglar, Eddie, The Associate, The Little Rascals and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Goldberg is one of few people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony (EGOT).

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Jennifer Coolidge

The Boston-born star gained fame with roles in 2000's American Pie and Best in Show, 2001's Legally Blonde, 2003's A Mighty Wind, 2004's A Cinderella Story and 2006's For Your Consideration. Coolidge, an alumna of The Groundlings in L.A., has appeared on the small screen in CBS' 2 Broke Girls and ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus

After a stint on Saturday Night Live in the early '80s, Louis-Dreyfus was cast as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld in 1989. Her other notable TV credits include The New Adventures of Old Christine, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep.

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Julie Bowen

Born in Baltimore, the actress is best known for playing Carol Vessey on Ed and Claire Dunphy on Modern Family. Bowen's film credits include Happy Gilmore, Multiplicity, Jumping the Broom and Horrible Bosses.

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Whitney Cummings

A former cast member of MTV’s Punk’d, Cummings appeared in the NBC sitcom Whitney and cocreated the CBS hit 2 Broke Girls in 2011. She also served as an executive producer on the Roseanne reboot and has appeared in episodes of House, What About Brian and The Tony Rock Project. 

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Kat Dennings

Long before she landed one of the lead roles in CBS' 2 Broke Girls, Dennings gained notoriety after a 2000 appearance in Sex and the City. Her other notable works include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The House Bunny, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Charlie Bartlett, Raise Your Voice and Thor.

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Lisa Kudrow

After Friends ended in 2004, the Emmy Award winner starred in the short-lived but critically-adored series The Comeback. She later produced, wrote and starred in Web Therapy. Kudrow’s other notable credits include Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, Clockwatchers, The Opposite of Sex, Analyze This and Easy A.

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Rashida Jones

Jones played Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, Karen Filippelli on The Office and Louisa Fenn on Boston Public. Her film roles include I Love You, Man, Our Idiot Brother and The Muppets. In 2012, Jones cowrote and starred in the rom-com Celeste and Jesse Forever.

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Rosie O'Donnell

In the early '90s, O'Donnell appeared in films such as A League of Their Own and Sleepless in Seattle. From 1996 to 2002, she hosted an eponymous daytime talk show. An author of three books, O'Donnell also released two Christmas albums. She briefly appeared as a cohost on The View, and from 2011 to 2012, she hosted her own show on the OWN network.

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Krysten Ritter

Before landing the titular role on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Ritter played the hilarious sidekicks in 2008's What Happens in Vegas, 2009's Confessions of a Shopaholic and 2010's She's Out of My League. She also appeared in several episodes of Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls and 'Til Death.

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Sofia Vergara

The Colombian actress became a household name thanks to Modern Family, though she'd been working steadily since the mid-'90s. Vergara's other hits include Soul Plane, Madea Goes to Jail, The Smurfs, New Year's Eve, The Three Stooges, Dirty Sexy Money and Hot Properties.

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Margaret Cho

Cho's 1994 sitcom, All American Girl, was one of the first shows to prominently feature an East Asian family. Though the series was canceled, Cho went on to appear in episodes of Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock and Sex and the City. Cho has also appeared on the silver screen in 17 Again and Fakin' da Funk. In 2008, the comedienne starred in VH1's reality sitcom The Cho Show.

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Rebel Wilson

The Australian star played one of Wiig's dopey roommates in 2011's Bridesmaids. Since then, Wilson scored scene stealing roles in What to Expect When You're Expecting, Bachelorette, Pitch Perfect and Pain & Gain.

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Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel earned her first Emmy nomination for her role as Jess Day in Fox's New Girl. Deschanel, who is also a musician, has proven herself as a comedienne on the big screen in films like Elf, Failure to Launch, (500) Days of Summer, Our Idiot Brother and Your Highness.

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Maya Rudolph

She starred alongside Christina Applegate in NBC's Up All Night from 2011 until its cancellation in 2013, but before then, Rudolph was a fan favorite on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007. The actress has appeared on the big screen in films such as Bridesmaids, Grown Ups, Friends With Kids, Away We Go and MacGruber.

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Rachel Dratch

From 1999 to 2006, the Massachusetts native was a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She appeared in the 2009 movie Spring Breakdown with Amy Poehler and Parker Posey, and in 2012, Dratch published her first memoir, Girl Walks Into A Bar: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters and a Midlife Miracle. Dratch's other TV and film credits include 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, King of Queens, Monk, Wizards of Waverly Place and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.