Ian Brady

Who is Kristen Wiig?

Kristen Wiig is an acclaimed actress and comedian best known for her breakout role on Saturday Night Live (SNL) starting in 2005. Her film debut came in 2007 with Knocked Up, followed by notable roles in Adventureland, Extract, Whip It, and MacGruber. Wiig’s career reached new heights with her performance in Bridesmaids, which earned her widespread recognition and an Oscar nomination. This success facilitated her departure from SNL in 2012, after which she continued to build a versatile film career, starring in movies such as The Skeleton Twins and the all-female reboot of Ghostbusters.

Early Life

Kristen Carroll Wiig was born on August 22, 1973, in Canandaigua, New York. She moved with her family to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at age 3, and later settled in Rochester, New York. Her parents divorced when she was 9, and Wiig was raised by her mother alongside her older brother Erik, who is mentally disabled. Even as a child, Wiig displayed a quirky sense of humor. She later shared a memorable anecdote from her youth: “I used to carry my dad’s empty guitar case around the neighborhood because I wanted people to think I played the guitar. I would put Flintstones vitamins in it in case I got tired, so I could pop some and keep walking.”

Though she exhibited early comedic tendencies, Wiig did not pursue performance until later in life. According to The Guardian, she was initially terrified of public speaking during her time at Brighton High School in Rochester. Wiig went on to study art at the University of Arizona, where she enrolled in an acting class. Although she was nervous about the prospect of speaking in front of others, she quickly developed a passion for acting, encouraged by her supportive teacher.

Pursuing an Acting Career

While attending the University of Arizona, Wiig worked at a plastic surgery clinic, where she was tasked with creating drawings of clients’ post-surgery bodies. However, she soon realized her true calling. Reflecting on a pivotal moment in her life, she recalled, “I looked in the mirror and was like, ‘OK, if you could do anything, what would it be?’ And I thought, ‘I would move to L.A. Just try to act.'” The next day, she packed up her car and headed for Los Angeles, despite feeling anxious about the decision.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Wiig took a job folding clothes at Anthropologie, and over the next few years, worked various odd jobs, including selling peaches at a farmer’s market, catering Hollywood events, babysitting, working in a floral design shop, and even selling hot dogs at the mall. Unsatisfied with traditional acting classes, a co-worker introduced her to the Groundlings, a renowned improv troupe that has launched the careers of many notable SNL stars, including Will Ferrell and Maya Rudolph. Wiig was captivated by the experience, later describing the Groundlings as life-changing.

Saturday Night Live

Wiig joined the Groundlings, where she quickly distinguished herself among a talented cast. Her memorable characters, such as the overly enthusiastic Target clerk, the crotchety Aunt Linda, and various iconic impressions like financial advisor Suze Orman and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, became staples of her comedy. Recognizing her talent, SNL producer Lorne Michaels invited Wiig to audition for the show. She was hired midway through its 31st season, relocating from Los Angeles to New York on short notice.

Wiig made her SNL debut on November 12, 2005. Over the years, her characters—such as the one-upping Penelope and the excitable Gilly—became fan favorites. By 2008, Wiig had established herself as one of the hardest-working comedians on the show, appearing in more sketches per episode than any other cast member. Following Amy Poehler’s departure, Wiig became the longest-serving female cast member. Her work earned critical acclaim, including an Emmy nomination in 2009. That same year, Entertainment Weekly named her one of the “25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood.” Reflecting on her success, Wiig once remarked, “It’s a mystery to me what makes people laugh. I just try to be as real as possible.”

Films

Wiig made a notable film debut in 2007 with a standout performance as a passive-aggressive television executive in Knocked Up, following her success on Saturday Night Live. This marked the beginning of a successful transition into film, where she starred in a variety of projects, including Adventureland, Extract, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut Whip It, and MacGruber—a spinoff of an SNL sketch featuring Wiig alongside fellow cast member Will Forte.

Wiig continued to make her mark in high-profile comedy films, such as Despicable Me (2010) and Bridesmaids (2011). Bridesmaids was a major success, both critically and at the box office, earning Wiig a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film. In 2012, Wiig bid farewell to SNL with a heartfelt exit as she filmed her final episode as a cast member.

After the success of Bridesmaids, Wiig began focusing on smaller, character-driven comedies such as The Skeleton Twins (2014), where she starred alongside her former SNL co-star Bill Hader, Welcome to Me (2014), and The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015). She also earned an Emmy Award nomination for her performance in the 2014 comedy miniseries The Spoils of Babylon. Returning to larger-scale films, Wiig appeared in the 2015 blockbuster The Martian.

Wiig continued her versatile career with voice work in Despicable Me sequels and How to Train Your Dragon. She starred in the 2016 all-female reboot of Ghostbusters, a major moment in her career. That same year, she appeared in Masterminds, alongside Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, and Kate McKinnon, although the film received mixed reviews despite its strong cast. Wiig also had a cameo in the 2017 psychological thriller Mother! and a supporting role in Where’d You Go, Bernadette (2019), alongside Cate Blanchett.

In 2020, she took on the role of the villainous Cheetah in the superhero sequel Wonder Woman 1984, followed by the 2021 comedy Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

Personal Life

While Wiig’s on-screen personas often involve bold, over-the-top characters, she is known to be more reserved in her personal life. She was previously married to actor Hayes Hargrove from 2005 to 2009, a topic she has generally chosen not to discuss publicly. In 2019, Wiig announced her engagement to longtime partner Avi Rothman, and in 2020, the couple welcomed twins via surrogate. In February 2021, Wiig confirmed that she and Rothman had married.