Summary

• Saturday Night Live has been a solid career platform for female comedians ever since the show began in 1975.
• Many of the most celebrated SNL cast members have been the women on the show.
• Multiple female SNL cast members have gone on to have incredibly successful careers after leaving the show, with names like Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler all receiving their big break as part of the Saturday Night Live lineup.

The many SNL female cast members who have appeared on the show since it started in 1975 are a key reason Saturday Night Live has remained successful for so many years, and it remains a solid platform for the careers of women in comedy. Female comedians have often been at the forefront of the entertainment industry, with names like Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, and Phyllis Diller leading the way. SNL has mirrored this fact since its inception, some of the best comedians on Saturday Night Live have been women.

These comedians have been a huge part of one of the longest-running shows in television history and many moved into successful careers after leaving SNL, from hosting TV shows to becoming movie stars, and so much more. Many of these cast members stand as the industry's best thanks to their comedic timing, longevity, and iconic characters. With the show constantly rotating comedians throughout the years, these SNL female cast members helped open the door for the next big female comedians of the future to step into their spots.

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15 Vanessa Bayer

2010-2017

Vanessa Bayer starred on Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2017, making her a cast member for seven seasons. She also proved her talents to critics, earning an Emmy nomination along the way (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017). Bayer joined the cast in 2010 as a featured player and was promoted to repertory status in 2012. Her Miley Cyrus impersonation was spot-on, and she once did it in a segment opposite the real Miley Cyrus on the show.

One of Vanessa Bayer's most popular characters was Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy on Weekend Update and child actress Laura Parsons, who would perform dramatic scenes in roles typically played by adults in movies like Forrest Gump, Brokeback Mountain, and The Wolf of Wall Street. After SNL, she starred in the show Single Parents, had a recurring role in Will & Grace, and voiced characters in several animated movies.

14 Aidy Bryant

2012-2022

Aidy Bryant first appeared on SNL in 2012 and finished her time on the series in 2022, making audiences laugh with her recurring characters and brightening up any skit she appeared in for 10 seasons. Her most popular role saw her impersonate former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in several of SNL's political sketches. She also portrayed an unnamed woman who would appear in pornography movies but was completely oblivious to the situation.

Other recurring sketches include Morgan on the Girlfriend Talk Show with Cecily Strong, Li'l Baby Aidy in musical sketches, and an incredible impersonation of Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Other recurring sketches include Morgan on the Girlfriend Talk Show with Cecily Strong, Li'l Baby Aidy in musical sketches, and an incredible impersonation of Texas Senator Ted Cruz. She also had some of the funniest legitimate breaks on screen, when she would laugh and break character. While starring on SNL, Bryant also voiced characters in Big Mouth and Human Resources and appeared in the TV show Shrill, which she created for Hulu.

13 Cheri Oteri

1995-2000

Cheri Oteri was on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2000 with several original character skits from the grouchy Rita DelVecchio, who would yell at children in her Philadelphia neighborhood, to fast food employee Nadeen, who would tell customers to "simmer down." However, Oteri's still best known for the cheerleader skit where she and Will Ferrell were awkward yet enthusiastic cheerleaders for the Spartans' chess team. This ended up as one of SNL's most beloved recurring sketches.

Oteri also had a decent number of impressions she perfected during her time on the show, from Barbara Walters and Alanis Morissette to Debbie Reynolds, Fran Drescher, and Tori Spelling. Since leaving Saturday Night Live, Cheri Oteri has appeared in comedy movies like Bad Parents and Grown Ups 2 and voiced roles in animated TV shows like Inside Job, Puppy Dog Pals, and The Fairly OddParents.

12 Ana Gasteyer

1996-2002

Ana Gasteyer was on SNL from 1996 to 2002 and is arguably best known for her spot-on celebrity impressions which she perfected over the years she was a Saturday Night Live cast member. Gasteyer's most-known celebrity impersonation is Martha Stewart in various segments about crafts and cooking that were always SNL fan favorites. She also perfected Celine Dion in a skit where she hosted The Celine Dion Show. Other notable impressions include Joy Behar, Joan Rivers, Sally Jesse Raphael, and many more.

Since leaving SNL, Gasteyer has starred in movies like Mean Girls, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and Happiest Season.

Gasteyer also had some original characters, including Bobbie Mohan-Culp, an opera-voiced high school music teacher, and Margaret Jo McCullen, an NPR radio show host about cooking alongside Molly Shannon. Since leaving SNL, Gasteyer has starred in movies like Mean Girls, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and Happiest Season. She also starred in Suburgatory and had a recurring role in The Goldbergs.

11 Cecily Strong

2012-2022

Cecily Strong joined SNL in 2012 after making her name with The Second City and iO Chicago. Her first season on the show was in 2012 as a featured player, and she became a repertory player in 2023 and the co-anchor on Weekend Update with Seth Meyers. Her more popular sketches include Kyra, the co-host of The Girlfriends Talk Show (with Aidy Bryant), and Cathy Anne, the drug-adducted neighbor of Michael Che. She ended up as the longest-running SNL female cast member in the show's history.

Strong also received critical acclaim for her performance. She earned her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2020 and then her second in 2021 - both for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Other than Saturday Night Live, Strong has appeared in the 2016 Ghostbusters movie and stars as one of the lead characters in the Apple TV+ musical-comedy series Schmigadoon! with Keegan-Michael Key.

10 Laraine Newman

1975-1980

Founder and original cast member of The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California, Laraine Newman was also a part of SNL’s original cast in 1975. From 1975 to 1980, Newman provided comedy relief to millions of viewers on the late-night comedy sketch sensation, although she openly struggled with her fame and status on the show.

Her best-known characters were Connie Conehead, Valley Girl Sherry, and the bemused co-host of E. Buzz Miller’s public-access cable TV show.

Newman lent her talents to some of the most memorable sketches in SNL's history. Her best-known characters were Connie Conehead, Valley Girl Sherry, and the bemused co-host of E. Buzz Miller’s public-access cable TV show. Newman has had an over 40-year career in both film and television. After leaving SNL, she appeared in The Flintstones, Jingle All the Way, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Most recently, she voiced Ms. Janeth in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans and made a surprise appearance on Ghosts in the episode, "Trevor's Body."

9 Jane Curtin

1975-1980, 2015

Jane Curtin was part of the original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” of Saturday Night Live on NBC in 1975, and she remained there until 1980. Ironically, of the original cast members, she was probably the most “strait-laced.” Not a party-goer or a participant in the culture surrounding the set, once the last dialogue was said, she went home avoiding the infamous SNL show wrap-up parties. Arguably, her most recognized character was Prymaat, one of the Coneheads.

Although Curtin had moderate success in film, most of her accomplishments were in television. She had a hit series in the 1980s on CBS with Katie and Allie, alongside Susan St. James. Curtin won back-to-back Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series while portraying Allison “Allie” Lowell. She also appeared for six seasons as Dr. May Albright in the smash series, 3rd Rock From the Sun. Most recently, she had a role in Unforgettable and appeared in th movies, Godmothered, Queen Bees, and Jules.

8 Molly Shannon

1995-2001

Molly Shannon was a stand-out and fan favorite since day one. She was an SNL cast member from 1995 to 2001, and her best-known character is Mary Katherine Gallagher, a Catholic high school teenager who sticks her fingers in her armpits when she gets nervous and takes a long-lasting smell. This leads to her doing it more when starring in a school play or singing in the choir. Her character was so popular that it spun off into a feature movie, Superstar, alongside cast alumni Will Ferrell.

Shannon started appearing in movies while part of the SNL cast, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Wet Hot American Summer.

Shannon started appearing in movies while part of the SNL cast, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Wet Hot American Summer. Since leaving the show, she remained prolific, with roles in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Never Been Kissed, Marie Antoinette, and Life After Beth. Shannon also voiced Wanda in the Hotel Transylvania movie series and recently took on a recurring role in the upcoming season of Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

7 Kate Mckinnon

2012-2022

Winner of an American Comedy Award in 2014 and several Primetime Emmy Awards (with nine total nominations), Kate Mckinnon was a feature cast member of Saturday Night Live from 2012 until 2022. She was the longest-tenured SNL female cast member in the show's history, surpassing Amy Poehler until Cecily Strong broke her record. There are countless famous McKinnon sketches throughout her history of the show, which helps her status as one of the best comedians to grace SNL.

These include “CNN Equality Town Hall Cold Open,” in which she plays candidate Elizabeth Warren speaking on equality in America. Other sketches included “Diner Lobster” and “Teacher Fell Down,” where she plays a Madison High teacher who falls in class but does not get up, only to teach life lessons from the floor. Other than SNL, she has appeared in several highly successful films, including Ghostbusters, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and Barbie.

6 Rachel Dratch

1996-2006

Rachel Dratch was a Saturday Night Live cast member from 1999 to 2006. Her cast of famous characters includes the Boston Teen "Denise" and Sheldon from "Wake Up Wakefield." But, her most famous is easily Debbie Downer, the depressed woman who annoys others with her dialogue that is usually so absurd it's humorously confusing. One of her most memorable sketches came in 2017 when Dratch appeared as a “Patriot of New England” in a Revolutionary War-themed sketch parodying the Super Bowl.

Dratch has had several small roles in movies over her career, including appearances in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Wine Country, Sisters, and I Love My Dad.

Dratch has had several small roles in movies over her career, including appearances in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Wine Country, Sisters, and I Love My Dad. She also has a long career as a television guest star in shows like Animal Control and Mr. Mayor, and voice roles in animated shows like Grimsburg, American Dad, and Harley Quinn.

5 Maya Rudolph

2000-2007, 2012, 2021

Maya Rudolph, the daughter of acclaimed singer Minnie Riperton, appeared on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007. Her godmother was R&B artist Tina Marie, which could be a reason why she impersonates famous singers so well. Her first touch of fame was with the alternative rock band, The Rentals, known for the songs “Friends of P” and “Waiting.” Her gambit of impressions includes Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Her most famous sketches are "Donatella Versace Goes Skiing" and "Celebrities Visit Jay Z and Beyonce to See Their New Baby." But her abundance of talent does not stop there. She went on to have a fantastic career when she left SNL. She appeared in movies like MacGruber, Bridesmaids, Zookeeper, Inherent Vice, Sisters, and Licorice Pizza. She also has several voice roles in The Angry Birds Movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.

4 Kristen Wiig

2005-2012

Nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series from 2009 to 2012, Kristin Wiig was an SNL cast member with an impressive run. Her best impressions include Suzan Orman, Kathy Lee Gifford, Madonna, and Gwen Stefani. Some of Wiig's greatest characters and sketches on SNL are the Target Lady, Penelope, a guest at a party who speaks in a nervous, shaking voice, and her recurring part in the reality TV spoof, The Californians.

Wiig has gone on to have one of the best post-SNL careers of anyone on the show, with some major starting performances in movies.

Wiig has gone on to have one of the best post-SNL careers of anyone on the show, with some major starting performances in movies. She had one of the lead roles in Bridesmaids, one of the most successful R-rated female-driven comedy movies of all time. She also was the lead in the Ghostbusters reboot in 2016. Other major roles include the villainous Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984, the co-lead in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and a key role in the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale.

3 Amy Poehler

2001-2008

Actress, comedian, director, and producer Amy Poehler was a cast member on SNL from 2001 to 2008. Poehler was promoted from featured player to full cast member in her first season, making her the first woman and the second cast member to do so. She co-anchored Weekend Update with Seth Myers and announced live on the Weekend Update on December 13, 2008, that it would be her last show, thanking her family and friends.

Some of her famous sketches are “Mom Jeans” and “Meet Your Second Life,” alongside Tina Fey, cementing the pair as SNL’s dynamic duo. Poehler is also known for her role in Parks and Recreation as Leslie Knope and for the movie, Inside Out, in which she is the voice of Joy. Poehler received 23 Primetime Emmy nominations but didn't win until 2016, when she returned to SNL for a guest performance. She also won a Golden Globe Award for her work on Parks and Recreation.

2 Gilda Radner

1975-1980

Part of the seven original cast members, Gilda Radner was on Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1980. Her most famous sketch was personal advice expert, Roseanna Rosannadanna, which was based on a New York reporter, Rose Ann Scamardella, and Baba Wawa, a parody of Barbara Walters. The famed news anchor herself loved the parody, saying Radner was the first person to impersonate a famous news anchor, something everyone does now (via YouTube).

Sadly, Radner received a diagnosis of stage IV ovarian cancer, never appearing in another movie or TV show after the diagnosis, and died in 1989.

Radner won an Emmy in 1978 for her role on SNL. Unfortunately, her career was cut short by ill health. She made the film Hanky Panky, where she met her husband Gene Wilder, as well as The Woman in Red and Haunted Honeymoon. Sadly, Radner received a diagnosis of stage IV ovarian cancer, never appearing in another movie or TV show after the diagnosis, and died in 1989. She won a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word or Non-musical Recording in 1990 for It's Always Something​​​​​.

1 Tina Fey

1997-2006

Tina Fey worked on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2007. She was co-anchor of Weekend Update (with Jimmy Fallon) and co-writer. Fey came back and hosted SNL five times, the first cast member to do so and only the third woman to perform the same feat, making her the most memorable of the SNL female cast members. Her best-known character is probably former Vice President candidate from Alaska, Sara Palin, and her most memorable sketch is “Mom Jeans” with Rachel Dratch.

Her career was huge even outside of Saturday Night Live. Fey starred on 30 Rock for seven years and some of her notable movies are Mean Girls (in which she wrote the screenplay), Baby Mama, Date Night, Sisters, Free Guy, and A Haunting in Venice. On TV, she also starred in Only Murders in the Building, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She and fellow SNL co-star Amy Poehler also hosted the Golden Globes on multiple occasions.