From her days on Saturday Night Live to her many comedic roles on the big and small screens, Jenny Slate's talent and versatility shines no matter what she takes on. Beyond her live-action roles, Slate is also a prolific voice actor with credits in animated series like Bob's Burgers and The Great North, and films like Zootopia and The Batman LEGO Movie, where she brings her unique comedic charm to her characters. To add even more to her versatile talents, she's a stand-up comedian and writer, contributing to the creation of some of her lovable characters like Marcel the Shell.
Slate's distinctive voice, impeccable timing, and ability to infuse humor into relatable roles have cemented her reputation as a comedic force, as well as a serious actress. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to Slate as a performer, taking some time to enjoy her finest film and TV work is a worthwhile experience. Look below and help rank which projects let Slate's humor shine the most.
- 127 VOTESPhoto: NBC
The Plot: Parks and Recreation follows the quirky personalities and every day exploits of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department employees as they navigate the challenges of working in local government. Much like The Office, the series is shot mockumentary style. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) leads the department with unbridled optimism, often to the consternation of her anti-bureaucracy boss, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman).
Slate's Genius: Slate plays one of the Saperstein twins, members of the most annoying family in Pawnee and show-stoppers every time they hit the screen. She's introduced after her brother, Jean-Ralphio (Ben Schwartz), Tom Haverford's frenemy and quasi “business partner," who's always looking to benefit from whatever scam he can capitalize on. If he needs help, his equally quirky sister (who he describes as "the worst person in the world" and a “total klepto, nympho, and pyro”) is always eager to get involved. Though she appears in fewer than a dozen episodes, Mona Lisa is responsible for some of the funniest moments of the show - from her claims that “I have done nothing wrong, ever, in my life,” to her and Jean-Ralphio's sing-songy chant, “Don't be suspicious."
Critical Acclaim: “Parks and Recreation is a rare gem - a TV comedy that's sweet, good-hearted and even inspirational, but also completely hilarious," wrote Gail Pennington for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- 220 VOTESPhoto: Fox
The Plot: The Belcher family - Bob, Linda, and their kids Tina, Gene, and Louise - owns Bob's Burgers, a struggling burger stand in the seaside town of Wagstaff City. The series explores the everyday adventures of running the stand and the ups and downs of family life. Jenny Slate plays Tammy Larsen, an eighth-grader who is an acquaintance of Tina's. While she hangs out with Tina's crowd, she frequently sabotages others to make herself feel better.
Slate's Genius: Slate's Tammy is the frenemy Tina never asked for. At least in the first seasons, Tina treats Tammy with sort of a dismissive respect because she is popular. In later seasons, Tina does push back against Tammy's mean-girl aspects, which is nice to see. Slate plays the petty insecurity of a teen girl exceptionally well, and she reprised the role in the The Bob's Burgers Movie.
Critical Acclaim: CNN called Bob's Burgers “wickedly funny… it's truly refreshing to see something this original.”
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- #66 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- 325 VOTESPhoto: A24
The Plot: Marcel (voiced by Slate) is a tiny shell in miniature shoes, who lives with his grandma, Connie (voiced by Isabella Rossellini) in a house that is now an Airbnb. When a human guest discovers him, he posts a YouTube video of Marcel, hoping to help the shell find his long-lost family. Marcel goes viral and finds his newfound fame can be a both a blessing and a curse.
Slate's Genius: Slate not only serves as Marcel's voice, she actually created the character with her ex-husband and frequent collaborator, Dean Fleischer-Camp. She was staying with a few friends in a hotel room at a wedding in 2010. She felt cramped and started talking in the shell's small voice. It stuck. Camp, an animator, designed the stop motion shell, who actually did became a YouTube star in a series of shorts that eventually led to this feature-length film. Slate's Marcel is not only sweet; he experiences moments of loneliness, sadness, grief and joy. Her ability to give him this range not only makes the movie work, but also makes Marcel one of the most moving, empathetic characters ever seen on the big screen - even at his small size.
Critical Acclaim: Chris Wasser wrote for The Irish Independent, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On delivers a funny and extraordinarily profound story that, though populated by weird little one-eyed seashells in sneakers, is as human as anything you’re likely to encounter. A gorgeous, life-affirming film.”
- 418 VOTESPhoto: Amazon Studios
The Plot: Peter (Charlie Day) and Emma (Slate) bond over both being recently dumped, and both are even more upset to discover that their exes have begun dating new people. Devastated by this revelation, they decide to team up to break up their exes relationships and win them back. As they navigate through various amusing mishaps and obstacles in their scheme, they also start to fall in love with each other.
Slate's Genius: Slate carries her role as the spurned Emma well. On top of her established ability to draw laughs from any scene, the way she channels the dramatic moments just shows how well-rounded her acting really is. While we all know where I Want You Back is going, we don't mind because the journey is so fun, and Day and Slate's comedic chemistry works wonders. Slate's performance of “Suddenly Seymour” from the musical Little Shop of Horrors is also a high point.
Critical Acclaim: “Slate and Day showcase their neurotic, self-effacing charm. They understand exactly what the movie requires and know how to elevate the material," wrote Robert Levin for Newsday.
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- 515 VOTESPhoto: Fox
The Plot: Set in Alaska, The Great North is an animated series that follows the adventures of the Tobin family, led by single father Beef and his children Judy, Wolf, Moon, and Ham. This is the story of their day-to-day lives in the remote wilderness and all the unusual characters that come with it as they pursue their dreams and bonding as a family. Slate plays 16-year-old aspiring artist Judy, who dreams of one day leaving her hometown.
Slate's Genius: If you've heard Slate's other voice work, you already know she's great at establishing wildly different characters through just altering the way she speaks. Judy is yet another example of Slate's vocal prowess - she's quick-talking, highly-optimistic, and smart as a whip with a touch of the dramatic and a whole lot of humor. Slate relates to the character, which is what makes Judy such a fun watch. She said, “[Judy] is highly artistic and her imagination is just like it's just firing at all times. And while I was a terrible outdoors person, I was highly imaginative when I was sixteen.”
Critical Acclaim: "If the show has a lead, it’s Judy, who drives most of the storytelling with her combination of wide-eyed optimism and big heart. She’s got a little of the Sue Heck from The Middle thing going on and Slate nails the tone whether she’s panicking over kissing a boy at school or talking to her imaginary BFF Alanis Morissette (voiced by the singer herself),” wrote Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com
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- 612 VOTES
The Plot: Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a small but determined bunny with big dreams, becomes the first rabbit to join Zootopia's police force. Though initially assigned to parking duty, she soon stumbles upon a missing otter case, which leads her to realize other animals are missing, too. She enlists a cunning grifter fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to help her get to the bottom of it. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to disrupt Zootopia's peace between predators and prey.
Slate's Genius: Slate plays Assistant Mayor Bellwether, a sweet but overworked sheep who sympathizes with Judy's plight. At least, that's how she seems, before revealing her true nature as a power-hungry criminal mastermind who wants to become the town mayor and will harm anyone who gets in her way. Bellwether works with predators and feels discriminated and disrespected. Removing them from picture is her greatest revenge. Slate plays the surprise villain with hilarious charisma.
Critical Acclaim: “Slate is especially funny as the little sheep, Bellwether, who is eager to help Judy get to the bottom of it all,” wrote Paul McGuire Grimes of PaulGoesToTheMovies.com.
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- #20 of 447 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
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- 713 VOTESPhoto: Universal Pictures
The Plot: A Jack Russell Terrier named Max (Louis C.K.) lives in unassuming and quiet comfort thanks to his owner, Katie. The duo reside in a New York City apartment building, where Max spends his days visiting with his animal neighbors. But when Katie brings a stray named Duke home, nothing is ever the same, thanks to Max's jealousy.
Slate's Genius: Slate plays Gidget, a bouncy Pomeranian puffball who's a total people-pleaser - or, er, "dog-pleaser." She doesn't want any of her friends to feel bad because of something she did. She's always got Max's back, but when she's had enough, it's very clear, as Slate's voice's turns from soft to gruff at at the drop of a hat. Gidget beats up many of the Flushed Pet gang members to help Max. She proves to be such an integral character, she makes a return in Secret Life of Pets 2, with Slate once again on voice duty.
Critical Acclaim: SarahSawAMovie.com's review of The Secret Life of Pets said, “Indeed, it is the cast of this film which makes it so strong; Louis C.K. is great as Max and Jenny Slate is loveably hyperactive as pampered pooch Gidget.”
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- 89 VOTES
My Blind Brother
Photo: Orion Pictures/Starz DigitalThe Plot: Robbie (Adam Scott) is a charismatic but self-centered athlete who is blind, and Bill (Nick Kroll) is his dedicated but often overlooked brother who reluctantly takes care of his needs. Slate plays Rose, who becomes romantically involved with both, without knowing they're brothers. Hilarity and sadness ensue.
Slate's Genius: Rose is all over the map, but in an extremely relatable way. Her boyfriend dies at the beginning of the film, and while she blames herself, at the same as she's somewhat relieved that the relationship is over. She constantly worries that she's a bad person, and in a sense, she is. She stays in a relationship with Robbie simply because she feels like she shouldn't dump a disabled person, but cannot get Bill out of her head. By all accounts, this character shouldn't be likable, but Slate imbues Rose with such convincing sincerity that we root for her happy ending.
Critical Acclaim: “None of this would work without a rock-solid cast, and Slate stands out in particular. A comedienne so utterly lacking in self-consciousness that she sometimes seems unaware she's on camera, Slate can take something as simple as putting her panties on backward and turn it into a inexplicably uproarious bit of physical comedy,” wrote Andrew Barker for Variety.
- 99 VOTES
Landline
Photo: Magnolia PicturesThe Plot: This 2017 family comedy is set in 1995, following the relationships between the members of the Italian-Jewish Jacobs family and their significant others. Slate plays Dana, who's about to be married, but is bored and has a wandering eye. Her little sister, Ali (Abby Quinn), also discovers their dad is having an affair, and the girls are unsure of what to do.
Slate's Genius: Slate runs the gamut of emotion in Landline and is as convincing in her painful moments as her comedic ones. Her range is displayed beautifully after she cheats and looks at herself in the mirror, facing what she's done. Even when Dana makes some not-so-savory moves that we wouldn't tolerate in anyone else, we still can't help but like her here. She also has some of the funniest throwaway lines in the film.
Critical Acclaim: "Wistful nostalgia is a big part of Landline's charm... Luckily, we have [Gillian] Robespierre and [Jenny] Slate to make sure that it's brought to us with all the quirk (sometimes a bit too much), charm, and hilarity that's become their trademark,” said Andrea Thompson of Cultured Vultures.
- 109 VOTESPhoto: Comedy Central
The Plot: Nick Kroll's hilarious 2013-2015 sketch comedy show features characters that revolved around the pop culture of the 2010s, specifically reality shows of that time. Each episode is meant to reflect the concept of “channel surfing" through myriad cable offerings (much the way The Groove Tube did in the early '70s.) Slate appears in some of the most popular skits, including “PubLIZity,” and “Karaoke Bullies.”
Slate's Genius: Kroll Show only lasted three seasons, but it achieved plenty of greatness in that short run. Slate played some of the most memorable characters, like Liz B., one half of the hottest PR agency in LA, PubLIZity, who mixes up idioms in the best possible way, as well as Niece Denise, the overly shy karaoke singing teen in need of self-confidence. Kroll and Slate play off each other well, which is likely why they've continued to collaborate in numerous projects over the years.
Critical Acclaim: Eric Adams of The A.V. Club wrote, “The show’s writers and performers - many of whom, like Jon Daly and Jenny Slate, came up alongside Kroll through the Upright Citizens Brigade - push to build a world for the small population of personalities they’ve been carrying around in their pockets all this time.”
- 113 VOTESPhoto: A24
The Plot: Slate plays Donna, a New York City stand-up who endures a breakup, a job loss, and unplanned pregnancy after a one-night stand with a man named Max (Jake Lacy). In true stand-up fashion, she takes many of her problems to the stage. When Donna decides on an abortion, however, she doesn't know how to tell Max.
Slate's Genius: Unlike the leads in other pregnancy-centric comedies like Juno and Knocked Up, Donna has no intention of ever having the baby. Her self-awareness that's too she's immature for parenthood is its own sort of maturity, which Slate understood. “It was important for Donna to be strong but breakable, and most importantly, lovable. I didn’t want her to be an a**hole. I didn’t want her to be somebody that was a silly mess. I wanted her to be somebody who was complicated. I wanted the story to be a story about a woman who makes a clear decision and then has a complicated experience with that.”
Critical Acclaim: “The film opens with Donna (Jenny Slate) on-stage, in the midst of doing a set, one that is immediately disarming, honest and legitimately funny. It feels unscripted. It's a bit of a mess. Her delivery is spontaneous, even down to moments where she loses track of what she is saying and has to find her way back to the joke,” wrote Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com.
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- 121 VOTESPhoto: A24
The Plot: Evelyn Wang's (Michelle Yeoh) marriage and laundromat business are both headed for oblivion. Her relationships with her daughter and father aren't going well, either, and her business is being audited by the IRS. And if that's not enough, she learns in the IRS offices that she must connect with herself in several parallel universes to prevent the destruction of the multiverse by an alternate-universe version of her daughter.
Slate's Genius: Slate plays “Debbie the Dog Mom,” who shows up at the laundromat to pick up her laundry. She later shows up to duke it out with Evelyn in the IRS building along with Jobu Tupaki's other minions. She's not in the film for very long, but she wields that Pomeranian like a meteor hammer. Debbie ends up regretting it - or her parallel self does, anyway. Evelyn gathers her powers and sends the dog flying to the other side of the IRS office and knocking Debbie out in the process. It's a small role, but a memorable one.
Critical Acclaim: Emma-Jane Betts of The Digital Fix wrote, “Everything Everywhere All at Once will remind you of why you love cinema. It is fresh, creative, and will leave you laughing and shedding some tears.”
- 130 VOTES
The LEGO Batman Movie
Photo: Warner Bros. PicturesThe Plot: When the Joker discovers Batman doesn't consider him a primary foe, he sets out to prove that theory wrong. In this fight, Batman faces the challenge of not going it alone. The LEGO Dark Knight must reluctantly call on his superhero friends for help.
Slate's Genius: Slate's version of Harley Quinn, the Joker's girlfriend, is one of the top portrayals among critics and fans, even though it's in LEGO form. According to Slate, her wild nature is important to get right: "I think that Harley is just bonkers enough… there's a way to play it, I guess, where she could just be purely jealous that his [Joker's] eye is anywhere else, but like, I like to play it that she's, like, demented dedicated to… being his right-hand man and whatever he likes. I think she just think she just likes to grab onto his coattails and ride the ride."
Critical Acclaim: “The LEGO Batman Movie isn't just a superhero story; it's a crash course in what makes a superhero story. And most of it is fairly insightful, humorous, and/or well observed - clearly from the mind of die-hard comic book aficionados,” wrote Steve Prokopy for Third Coast Review.
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- 140 VOTESPhoto: Lionsgate Premiere
The Plot: Joshy’s (Thomas Middleditch) fiancée Rachel (Alison Brie) commits suicide on his birthday. Four months later, he and his friends opt to still have the bachelor party getaway they were planning, because they can't get their money back on the house they were about to rent. From partying and bar hopping to playing board games, no one knows how to help Joshy with his grief, so they ignore it until everything comes to a head.
Slate's Genius: Slate plays Jodi, a woman who meets the boys at a bar and goes back with them to their rental, where she connects with Ari, whom she doesn't know is married. The movie was generally improvised, and Slate didn't want to play the part just to move Ari's story forward. She said in an interview with PopSugar, “I didn't want to play a female character who is just in the film to show the male character more of who he is. That's not why I want to be there. That's not what I want to do in life, that's not what I want to do with my characters.”
Critical Acclaim: “The always adorable Jenny Slate brings a much-needed, warm female presence as their random, new friend," wrote Christy Lemire for RogerEbert.com.
- 151 VOTESPhoto: Apple TV+
The Plot: Laura (Rashida Jones) and Dean (Marlon Wayans) are a married couple stuck in a rut. She's an author who is busy with the kids, while he travels a lot for work. She's been questioning his fidelity and confiding in her playboy father, who thinks men can't be monogamous and encourages her to hire a private investigator with his help.
Slate's Genius: Slate plays Vanessa, a mom who Laura chats with about her problems at school drop-offs. However, those conversations aren't something she looks forward to. Slate is in a minor role here, but performs it to the fullest. Her vapid going-nowhere chatter perfectly conveys that when Laura's seeking a quiet moment, she just can't get one.
Critical Acclaim: “The most lively moments of On the Rocks don't belong to Jones or Murray but to Jenny Slate, who pops up throughout the film as an amusingly self-involved mom-friend of Laura’s," wrote Ann Hornaday for The Washington Post.
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- 164 VOTESPhoto: Disney Junior
The Plot: The 2018 version of Muppet Babies features the Muppets we've al come to know and love - Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, and more - as toddlers, using their imagination to embark on exciting journeys and solve problems. Led by their caregiver, Miss Nanny (voiced by Slate), the Muppet Babies play and find adventure together in a colorful playroom filled with toys and gadgets.
Slate's Genius: Slate's Miss Nanny is somewhat like the teacher in the Peanuts specials - Miss Nanny does talk, but she's only seen from the neck down, creating a certain distance that keeps the focus on the toddlers. Nevertheless, Slate manages to bring an informative kindness and caring to her character. “She’s a good nanny and a caretaker for them because she nurtures what they have inside of themselves which is really sweet," Slate said of the role.
Critical Acclaim: “As the endlessly benevolent and wise overseer of an unruly but big-hearted brood of muppets, Slate’s Miss Nanny is effortlessly sweet without being cloying and sincere without being overly sentimental,” said Nathan Rabin of Fatherly.com.
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