How a childhood talent for accents launched a decade of Saturday Night Live stardom
In short: Kate McKinnon transformed from a college improv enthusiast into one of the most decorated performers in Saturday Night Live history. Known for her uncanny celebrity impressions and bizarre original characters, her decade-long tenure on the show redefined sketch comedy and paved the way for a diverse career in film and literature.
Born in 1984 on Long Island, McKinnon’s comedic trajectory began early. By fifth grade, she discovered that performing with a British accent could elicit powerful reactions from an audience, a realization she later described as the genesis of her life’s work. This interest in character-driven performance deepened at Columbia University, where she co-founded a musical improv group and participated in elaborate college pranks. Her formal training in theatre provided the foundation for a career that would eventually span sketch comedy, voice acting, and authorship.
McKinnon joined Saturday Night Live in 2012, quickly rising to repertory status by 2013. Her time on the show was defined by a remarkable range of celebrity impressions, including Hillary Clinton, Jeff Sessions, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, alongside memorable original characters like the traumatized Colleen Rafferty and the intoxicated Sheila Sovage. Her work earned her ten Primetime Emmy nominations and two consecutive wins for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016 and 2017. She eventually became the show's longest-tenured female cast member before departing in 2022.
Beyond the sketch stage, McKinnon has cultivated a multifaceted career. She has voiced characters for animated series like Nature Cat and The Magic School Bus Rides Again, and appeared in films such as Ghostbusters and Barbie. Her creative output extends to writing, where she has authored the Millicent Quibb middle-grade book series. Whether hosting the National Book Awards or collaborating with her sister Emily Lynne on audio projects like Heads Will Roll, McKinnon continues to leverage the same dedication to character and voice that first captivated her as a child.
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