Michaela Watkins

Michaela Watkins is an American actress and comedian. After several years performing with the Los Angeles comedy troupe The Groundlings, Watkins achieved widespread attention for her brief stint as a featured player on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live during its 34th season between 2008 and 2009. Since leaving SNL, she has starred on the Hulu series Casual and on the short-lived sitcoms The Unicorn and Trophy Wife. Watkins has also had recurring roles on other television series, such as The New Adventures of Old Christine, Catastrophe, Enlightened and Search Party and appeared in films such as The Back-up Plan (2010), Wanderlust (2012), Enough Said (2013) and Sword of Trust (2019).
== Early life[edit] ==
Watkins was born in 1971 in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of former Latin teacher mother[1] Myrna Watkins and Syracuse University mathematician father Mark Watkins.[2][3][4] She has two sisters, Rebecca Kent and Sarah Fitts.[2]
Watkins was raised in DeWitt, New York,[5] a suburb of Syracuse, in a Jewish family.[1] After her parents' divorce, Watkins' mother obtained a marketing degree and relocated the family to Boston when Watkins was 15.[1][6]
Watkins attended Moses DeWitt Elementary School and Wellesley High School in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She graduated from Boston University, where she studied theater and acting. Watkins auditioned for a part in a British farce at a community theater when she was 15, and got the part. Joan Rivers was one of her inspirations to go into show business.[1]
== Career[edit] ==
=== Theater[edit] ===
After theater school, Watkins lived and worked in New York City for a year but struggled to build her career. She moved with a friend to Portland, Oregon.[7] She lived there from 1996 to 2000 and appeared onstage with Portland Center Stage and the defunct improv group Toad City Productions.[8] She traveled around the country doing regional theater, then decided to move to Los Angeles.[7]
She was active in Los Angeles Theatre for many years, taking on roles with Circle X Theatre[9] and 2100 Square Feet.[10]
==== Regional theater[edit] ====
* Portland Center Stage: Hamlet (1999), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (1999), Bus Stop (2000)
* Portland Repertory Theatre: Arcadia
* Artist Repertory Theatre: The Misanthrope, How I Learned To Drive as well as Merchant of Venice, The Winter's Tale
* triangle productions: Angels in America, The Food Chain
* Circle X Theatre: Laura Comstock's Bag Punching Dog (2002) – LA Weekly award,[11] Sperm (2004)
* Vineyard Playhouse: Fighting Words by Sunil Kuruvilla (2003)[12]
=== Improv[edit] ===
She became a regular performer at The Groundlings,[13] where she was discovered by Saturday Night Live.[14] Watkins said the appeal of sketch work is that she can write her own material.[1]
=== Television[edit] ===
==== Saturday Night Live[edit] ====
In November 2008, Watkins joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Watkins said (at that time) that she was the oldest woman they ever hired.[1] Watkins has since been surpassed by Leslie Jones, who was 47 when she joined SNL. Watkins made her first major appearance on the show as Arianna Huffington on the November 22nd Weekend Update.[15][16] Watkins remained on SNL as a featured player throughout the rest of the 2008–2009 season, up to the season finale on May 16, 2009.
However, while SNL was on summer hiatus, the news broke in early September 2009 that Watkins, along with fellow castmate Casey Wilson, were both to be let go from the show[17][18] and would not be returning for the 2009–10 season.[19][20]
===== Recurring character on SNL[edit] =====
* Angie Tempura: A geeky, iced coffee-drinking computer nerd who snarks on celebrities and movies and is the creator of the snarky website "Bitch Pleeze" (www.bitchpleeze.com, which redirects to the SNL site). Though she insults celebrities, Angie was revealed to have a crush on Zac Efron.
==== Later TV credits[edit] ====
She recurred as Lucy opposite Hamish Linklater in the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, as well as appearing in recurring roles in the comedy programs Enlightened, New Girl, and Anger Management. She has also made guest appearances on shows such as Hung, Childrens Hospital, Kroll Show, Key & Peele, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Modern Family.
Watkins also starred alongside Malin Åkerman, Bradley Whitford, and Marcia Gay Harden in the short-lived, but well-received[21] ABC sitcom Trophy Wife.[22][23] The series aired for one season from September 2013 to May 2014.[24]
In 2015, it was announced that Watkins would star in the Hulu series produced by Jason Reitman called Casual, which would be executive produced by Liz Tigelaar.[25]
In 2018, she recurred on season two of the Amazon Prime series Catastrophe, playing the sister of lead character Rob Norris (Rob Delaney).[26] From 2019 to 2021, she has co-starred on the CBS sitcom The Unicorn.
==== Producing, writing[edit] ====
Watkins co-created (with writing partner and fellow Groundling, Damon Jones)[27] the short-lived 2014 USA Network comedy series Benched.[28] The series starred Eliza Coupe and Jay Harrington and premiered on October 28, 2014.[29] Watkins and Jones were also executive producers on the show.[30]
=== Film[edit] ===
Watkins has appeared in supporting roles in films such as Enough Said, In a World...,[31] Afternoon Delight, The Back-Up Plan, Wanderlust, They Came Together and Lazy Eye.
=== Podcasts[edit] ===
In 2020, Watkins appeared in the supporting role of Irene O'Connor in the musical podcast In Strange Woods.[32][33]
== Personal life[edit] ==
Watkins is married to Fred Kramer, who is a founding partner of Reason Ventures and General Manager of Critical Mass Studios, Inc.[34] Kramer used to be Executive Director of the Jewish World Watch organization, a Los Angeles-based anti-genocide non-profit, focused on the situations in Sudan and Congo.[35]
== Filmography[edit] ==
=== Film[edit] ===
Year	Film 	Role 	Notes
1998	Inconceivable 	Marcy 	
2008	Yoga Matt 	Jill Goering 	Short film
2010	The Back-up Plan 	Mona 	
2010	The Prankster 	Miss LaFleur 	
2010	Welcome to the Jungle Gym 	Principal Gilly 	Short film
2010	Worst Enemy 	Wooly 	Short film
2011	Una Hora Por Favora 	Elissa 	Short film
2012	Wanderlust 	Marisa Gergenblatt	
2012	Thanks for Sharing 	Marney 	
2013	In a World... 	Dani 	
2013	Afternoon Delight 	Jennie 	
2013	iSteve 	Melinda Gates 	
2013	Bunion 	Therapist 	Short film
2013	Enough Said 	Hillary 	
2014	They Came Together 	Habermeyer 	
2016	Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie	Ivana Trump 	
2016	Punching Henry 	Mara 	
2016	Lazy Eye 	Mel 	
2017	Person to Person 	The Widow 	
2017	Brigsby Bear 	Louise Pope 	
2017	The House of Tomorrow 	Mrs. Whitcomb 	
2017	How to Be a Latin Lover 	Gwen 	
2017	The House 	Raina Theodorakis 	
2018	Dude 	Jill 	
2018	Ibiza 	Sarah 	
2018	Under the Eiffel Tower 	Tillie 	
2018	Antiquities 	Dolores Jr. 	
2019	Brittany Runs a Marathon 	Catherine 	
2019	Sword of Trust 	Mary 	
2019	Good Boys 	Saleswoman 	
2020	The Way Back 	Beth 	
2020	Bad Therapy 	Judy Small 	
2020	For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close 	Narrator 	
2021	Werewolves Within 	Trisha Anderton 	
2023	You Hurt My Feelings 	Sarah 	
2023	The Young Wife 	 	
2023	Paint 	Katherine 	
2023	Suze 	Suze 	
2024	The American Society of Magical Negroes 	 	
2024	 	 	
2024	 	 	
2024	 	 	
=== Television[edit] ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
2001 	Charmed 	Andrea 	Episode: "Death Takes A Halliwell"
2003 	Without a Trace 	Marla 	Episode: "Maple Street"
2003 	Miss Match 	Susan Scott 	Episode: "Divorce Happens"
2004 	Strong Medicine 	Julia 	Episode: "Bleeding Heart"
2006 	Medium 	Clerk 	2 episodes
2006 	Modern Men 	Amanda 	Episode: "Pilot"
2006 	Grey's Anatomy 	Nikki Ratlin 	Episode: "Superstition"
2006 	Malcolm in the Middle 	Receptionist 	Episode: "Hal's Dentist"
2006 	7 Deadly Hollywood Sins 	Jennifer 	4 episodes
2007 	Revenge 	Mary-Louise 	Unsold TV pilot
2008 	Man Stroke Woman (US version) 	Various 	Unsold TV pilot
2008 	Frank TV 	Julia Roberts 	Episode: "#2.1"
2008 	Californication 	Executive 	2 episodes
2008–09	Saturday Night Live 	Various 	15 episodes
2008–09	The New Adventures of Old Christine 	Lucy 	7 episodes
2009 	Eli Stone 	Judge Leigh Rappaport 	Episode: "Sonoma"
2010 	Parenthood 	Lucy Estman 	Episode: "Team Braverman"
2010 	Miami Medical 	Carla 	Episode: "Time of Death"
2011 	Mad 	Samus Aran / Sam Puckett / Mom (voice)	Episode: "The Straight A-Team/Gaming's Next Top Princess"
2011 	Curb Your Enthusiasm 	Saundra 	Episode: "The Safe House"
2011 	Hung 	Judy 	Episode: "Don't Give Up on Detroit or Hung Like a Horse"
2011 	Private Practice 	Laura Martin 	Episode: "Deal with It"
2011–13	Enlightened 	Janice Holm 	9 episodes
2011–15	New Girl 	Gina 	5 episodes
2012 	The Life & Times of Tim 	Homeless Woman (voice) 	Episode: "Pudding Boy/The Celebrity Who Shall Remain Nameless"
2012 	Bent 	Carol 	Episode: "HD"
2012 	Childrens Hospital 	Detective Lacey Briggs 	Episode: "The Return of the Young Billionaire"
2012 	Key & Peele 	Mary Magdalene 	2 episodes
2012 	Modern Family 	Susan 	Episode: "Schooled"
2012–22	Robot Chicken 	Nerd's Mom / various (voice) 	8 episodes
2013 	NTSF:SD:SUV:: 	Beth 	Episode: "Extra Terrorist-rial"
2013 	Comedy Bang! Bang! 	Amber 	Episode: "Gillian Jacobs Wears a Red Dress with Sail Boats"
2013 	Anger Management 	Lisa 	2 episodes
2013–14	Trophy Wife 	Jackie Fisher 	22 episodes
2013–14	Kroll Show 	Various 	2 episodes
2014–15	Married 	Stacey 	2 episodes
2014–16	Drunk History 	Nurse / Julia Child 	2 episodes
2014–19	Transparent 	Connie / Yetta 	6 episodes
2015 	Marry Me 	Janet L'Amour 	Episode: "Dead Me"
2015 	The Goldbergs 	Señora Taraborelli 	2 episodes
2015 	Veep 	Patti 	Episode: "East Wing"
2015 	The Comedians 	Wendy Myers 	Episode: "Partners"
2015 	Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp	Rhonda 	6 episodes
2015–18	Casual 	Valerie Meyers 	36 episodes
2016 	Pickle and Peanut 	Pickle's Mom / various (voice) 	Episode: "What Lies Beneath/The Rat King Moves In"
2016 	Another Period 	Brothel Madam 	Episode: "Joplin"
2016–17	Angie Tribeca 	Melanie Burke 	2 episodes
2016–21	American Dad! 	Various voices 	5 episodes
2016–21	Family Guy 	Girl Pulling Train (voice) 	2 episodes
2017 	Speechless 	Becca 	Episode: "O-s-Oscar P-a-Party"
2017 	Nobodies 	Herself 	Episode: "Not the Emmys"
2017 	Idiotsitter 	Windy 	2 episodes
2017 	Danger & Eggs 	Various voices 	Episode: "Finding Cheryl/The Trio"
2017 	Playing House 	Dr. Laura Meredith 	Episode: "You Wanna Roll with This"
2017 	The Guest Book 	Phyllis 	2 episodes
2017 	The Mick 	Trish 	Episode: "The Friend"
2017 	Do You Want to See a Dead Body? 	Herself 	Episode: "A Body and Some Pants"
2017 	Easy 	Karen Treska 	Episode: "Conjugality"
2017 	No Activity 	Erin 	Episode: "Golden Age of Tunnels"
2017–20	Big Mouth 	Cantor Dina Reznick (voice) 	6 episodes
2019 	Wayne 	Maureen McNulty 	3 episodes
2019 	Catastrophe 	Sydney 	2 episodes
2019 	Schooled 	Ms. Taraborelli 	Episode: "CB Likes Lainey"
2019 	Get Shorty 	Ali Egan 	6 episodes
2019–21	The Unicorn 	Delia 	Main cast
2020 	Search Party 	Polly Danzinger 	6 episodes
2020 	Make It Work! 	Herself 	Television special
2021 	Close Enough 	Brienne Bishop (voice) 	Episode: "Where'd You Go, Bridgette?/The Erotic Awakening of A.P. LaPearle"
2021 	Archer 	Hijacker (voice) 	Episode: "Lowjacked"
2022 	The Dropout 	Linda Tanner 	3 episodes
2023 	History of the World, Part II 	Israeli Ambassador 	Episode: "VII"
2023 	Tiny Beautiful Things 	Amy Adler 	2 episodes
2024 	Dinner with the Parents 	Jane Langer 	Main
=== Podcasts[edit] ===
Year 	Title 	Voice role
2020–21	In Strange Woods	Irene
== References[edit] ==
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