Claim: Tina Fey's original role at SNL was writing.

Elizabeth Stamatina `` Tina '' Fey -LRB- -LSB- feɪ -RSB- born May 18 , 1970 -RRB- is an American actress , comedian , writer , and producer . She is known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live -LRB- 1998 -- today -RRB- , for her impression of former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin , and for creating acclaimed series 30 Rock -LRB- 2006 -- 2013 -RRB- and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt -LRB- 2015 -- present -RRB- . She is also well known for writing and co-starring in the film Mean Girls -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , as well as appearing in such films as Baby Mama -LRB- 2008 -RRB- , Date Night -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , Muppets Most Wanted -LRB- 2014 -RRB- , and Sisters -LRB- 2015 -RRB- .   Fey broke into comedy as a featured player in the Chicago-based improvisational comedy group The Second City . She then joined SNL as a writer , later becoming head writer and a performer , known for her position as co-anchor in the Weekend Update segment . In 2004 , she co-starred in and wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls , which was adapted from the 2002 self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes . After leaving SNL in 2006 , she created the television series 30 Rock for Broadway Video , a situation comedy loosely based on her experiences at SNL . In the series , Fey portrays the head writer of a fictional sketch comedy series . In 2008 , she starred in the comedy film Baby Mama , alongside former SNL co-star Amy Poehler . Fey next appeared in the 2010 comedy film Date Night and the animated film Megamind . In 2015 , she created and produced the television series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt , originally for NBC and eventually for Netflix . Her other films include Sisters and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot .   Fey has received nine Emmy Awards , two Golden Globe Awards , five Screen Actors Guild Awards , and four Writers Guild of America Awards . Her autobiography Bossypants topped The New York Times Best Seller list for five weeks . In 2008 , the Associated Press gave Fey the AP Entertainer of the Year award for her satirical portrayal of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a guest appearance on SNL . In 2010 , Fey was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor , becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the award . On January 13 , 2013 , Fey hosted the 70th Golden Globe Awards with her long-time friend and fellow comedian , Amy Poehler , to critical acclaim . The duo hosted again the following two years , generating the highest ratings for the annual ceremony in a decade and receiving similar acclaim .