While the comedic world used to be a glorified “Boys Club” it hasn’t stopped a plethora of incredibly funny female comedians and actresses from breaking into the global comedy club and making us laugh. Let’s have a laugh with some of the best female comedians around!
Tina Fey
Tina Fey is one of the best-known female celebrities today. She came onto the scene in 1997 as a writer for "Saturday Night Live" and has never looked back. Besides "SNL," she is best known for creating, writing, and starring in the film "Mean Girls" and the show “30 Rock.”
If you're having a lousy day, we recommend you head to YouTube and check out her hilarious Sarah Palin impression.
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler is a fantastic comedian. She hails from humble beginnings, growing up in Burlington, Massachusetts. She has been involved with acting and comedy since the age of ten! After college, she made the move to Chicago (later New York), to pursue comedy full-time. She has performed with one of the most famous improv troupes, ASSSSCAT, and eventually joined the cast of “SNL” in 2001, after much prodding from Tina Fey.
Her hilarious acts on “SNL”, as well as her memorable portrayal of Leslie Knope on “Parks and Recreation” have made her a household name!
Ali Wong
Comedian, actress, YouTuber, writer, and social media celebrity. If you have not heard of Ali Wong, look her up immediately! She has been performing comedy since 2005 and continues to make audiences laugh each time she takes the stage. She has three stand-up specials on Netflix, “Baby Cobra” (2016), “Hard Knock Wife” (2018), and “Don Wong” (2022), as well as the film, “Always Be My Maybe” (2019).
Her comedic style is warm, heartfelt, and honest, which makes her oh-so-relatable to her audiences. Wong continues on the up and up, and was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2020!
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes has been a mainstay in comedy since she started performing in 1987. She moved from the DC area to New York in 1992 and regularly appeared on Def Comedy Jam with Adele Given, J.B. Smooth, and Bernie Mac in the early 1990s. Her big break came when she opened for Chris Rock at "Caroline's Comedy Club."
She has since been nominated for 14 Emmys with one win, won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Stand-Up Comics in 2001, and won Comedy Central's Commie Award for "Funniest TV Actress" in 2003. Aside from comedy, Wanda is a huge activist for the LGBTQIA+ community and has been ‘out’ since 2008.
Tiffany Haddish
Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Haddish didn’t have a glamorous start in life. She started performing comedy at the age of 17 and has continued to perform ever since. She says the mentorship from many notable comedians such as the Wayans brothers and Richard Pryor helped her find her calling for comedy that "literally saved her life."
She broke out onto the scene with her role on “Girls Trip,” where she starred alongside Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Queen Latifah.
Awkwafina
Rising to fame in 2012 with her rap song "My Vag,” Asian-American comedian Awkwafina is one of the funniest celebrities in the industry. She received critical acclaim and won a Golden Globe for best actress for her role in 2019's “The Farewell”.
She also has starred in “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Shang-Chi,” and her own show “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens,” which airs on Comedy Central. She continues to impress with each performance and makes audiences laugh out loud during her shows.
Amy Schumer
Amy Schumer has been doing stand-up since the early 2000s, but her big break came when she was a contestant on NBC's “Last Comic Standing” in 2007. Since then, Amy has performed multiple stand-up specials for Netflix, won five Emmys with her sketch series “Inside Amy Schumer,” and wrote and starred in her debut film “Trainwreck.”
Amy is also on the New York Times Bestseller list for her book “The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo” and has been nominated for two Grammys and a Tony award! There's no telling how far she will go, but at this rate, she could possibly get an EGOT in the future!
Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman has been performing comedy since 1992 and quickly got an opportunity to write and perform for "Saturday Night Live" in 1993 and 1994. While her time there was short-lived, she used it as motivation to write, perform, and better her craft. She eventually used that experience to write sketches for “The Larry Sanders Show,” which parodied her time at SNL playing ‘The New Writer", a new staff writer whose jokes are not used due to the chauvinism and bias of the male head writer.
Sarah has done many things since with comedy albums, TV shows, and activism. Next time you are looking for a laugh, check her out!
Iliza shlesinger
Iliza Shlesinger is the comedian who won NBC's “Last Comic Standing” in 2008. To date, she has five Netflix specials, has hosted multiple TV shows such as “Excused,” “Separation Anxiety,” and “Truth & Iliza,” and created her own sketch comedy show, “The Illiza Shlesinger Sketch Show.”
If you like crazy characters, strange sounds, and great comedy sketches, she'll be your next favorite comedian!
Joan Rivers
Maybe best known for her interviews on the red carpet, Joan Rivers started her career as a comedian in 1959. She would perform in Greenwich Village alongside other greats such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Woody Allen. She went on to win a Daytime Emmy for “The Joan Rivers Show” and a Grammy for her “Diary of a Mad Diva” Comedy Album.
While she passed away in 2014, her legacy lives on and still makes people laugh to this day.
Chelsea Peretti
Best known for playing the laughable and lovable narcissist Gina Linetti in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Chelsea Peretti has also written for “Parks and Recreation” and "Saturday Night Live." She is a private person and likes to keep to herself.
That's probably why she eloped with her partner Jordan Peele when they decided to tie the knot. However, she still performs and writes regularly and loves making people laugh. Go check out her work, and you too will be rolling on the ground laughing!
Mindy Kaling
Mindy got her first big break as a writer for the mega-hit show "The Office." Remember the iconic scene from where Michael freaks out and screams "NOOOOOO!" upon seeing Tobey? Yep, that's all from Mindy's brilliant brain. She also played Kelley Kapoor on the show where she made her hilarious debut with her on-again/off-again relationship with Ryan, played by co-star BJ Novak.
Since then, she has appeared on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “40-Year-Old-Virgin,” and “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.” She has also created two shows, “The Mindy Project” and “Never Have I Ever” on Netflix, AND penned a (best-selling, we’ll have you know) book, “Why Not Me?” She is truly one of the funniest people on Earth, and if you haven't seen her work, go watch it immediately.
Tig Notaro
Tig Notaro is a comedian, writer, radio contributor, and actress. Her humor is deadpan and observational, which is a deadly combination for success. She has been nominated for multiple Grammys and one Emmy and loves to find humor in everything, even if it's dark.
She is honest and real with her audiences and has earned much praise for that throughout her career. If you get a chance, go see her comedy special “Happy to Be Here.”
Whitney Cummings
Whitney is a comedian, actress, writer, director, producer, and podcaster. But this wasn’t always so — initially, she went to The University of Pittsburgh in the pursuit of becoming a journalist. However, after graduating with her degree in journalism, she moved to LA and worked on MTV's “Punk’d.”
Since then, she has performed four comedy specials, created two shows, “2 Broke Girls” and “Whitney," and launched her podcast “Good for You” with her friend, comedian Benton Ray. She continues to push the boundaries of comedy and adds her own flair, which is unique and thought-provoking.
Leslie Jones
Leslie is an American comedian and actress. She started performing stand-up in college in 1987 and eventually moved to New York to hone her craft based on the advice from Mother Love and Dave Chappelle.
Through the ups and downs, she persisted and eventually landed a role on" Saturday Night Live" from 2014 to 2019. She became the oldest person to land a job on "Saturday Night Live" at the age of 47, but that didn't mean she didn't have a lot to give. She became a mainstay and made audiences laugh with her hilarious characters and sketches. Leslie became a global fan favorite when she provided comedic commentary for the Olympic games in 2018!
Jenny Slate
Jenny first started her acting and stand-up career in 2005 and became known worldwide for her performances on "SNL" and co-creating “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” which is pure comedy gold.
She has also worked on critically acclaimed shows like “Bob's Burgers,” “Parks and Recreation,” “House of Lies,” and “Kroll Show.” A highly underrated comedian — and don’t forget her relationship with the hunky Chris Evans!
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa has numerous awards to her name, including two Primetime Emmys, two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globes.
She has been working in Hollywood since 1997, and her early roles included Sookie St.James on “Gilmore Girls” and Dena Stevens on ABC's “Samantha Who?” Her biggest roles came when she was cast in “Mike & Molly” and “Bridesmaids” (we're still getting over the...Uhm... bathroom scene.)
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea was named on "Time’s 2012 List of the Most Influential People," so there’s good reason for her to be on our list!
She has worked in comedy since 2001 and is best known as a late-night talk show host on “Chelsea Lately,” “Chelsea,” and "Chelsea Handler: Evolution." Chelsea has also written six books that have made the New York Times Best Seller List. She has always kept it 100% real and never fails to deliver pure comedic gold every time.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi is one of the most decorated people in Hollywood and one of the funniest! She started her career in 1982 and has been in show business ever since. She is known for her acting, comedy, authorship, TV personality, and making audiences laugh across the world.
Some of her most famous roles include Deloris Van Cartier from “Sister Act,” Celie from “Deep South,” and co-hosting “The View.” However, her most impressive feat is that she is one of a handful of people to have ever earned an EGOT! (at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen is a comedian, writer, producer, and talk-show host and is best known for hosting her show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" from 2003 to 2022. She has one of the biggest reaches of any person in the world, ranking high on the list of "People with the Most Twitter Followers" (over 77 million) and on the list of "People with the Most Instagram Followers (over 124 million).
She has been recognized multiple times for her work, won multiple Daytime Emmys, and has been nominated for three Grammys. Wow, what a feat!
Kate McKinnon
Kate is an actress, comedian, and writer and is best known for her work on "SNL" and “Ghostbusters." Her celebrity impressions and character work have been a staple of her comedy, and she has made millions of people laugh over the years.
She has won multiple Emmys and continues to receive accolades for her comedy. She is also a master impressionist. She's parodied everyone from Hilary Clinton and Justin Biber, to Ellen DeGeneres and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Nicole Byer
Nicole is a comedian, television host, podcaster, and author. She has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for her job hosting Netflix's “Nailed It!,” has hosted three podcasts, “Why Won't You Date Me?,” “Best Friends,” and “Newcomers,” and has made several guest appearances on shows such as “30 Rock,” “The Simpsons,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
She is a busy woman, but when she does find some downtime, she loves to write and spend time with her two rescue dogs named, Clyde and Charlie.
Aparna Nancherla
Aparna is a newer comedian/actress on this list, but that doesn't mean your sides won't hurt after watching her performances. She has written for “Totally Bias” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” released her debut album “Putting It Out There” in 2016, and is also a voice actor.
She was named on "Variety's 10 Comics to Watch" in 2016 and continues to perform stand-up in her free time. She is quirky and relatable and has an Apple TV project coming out soon, so stay tuned for more Aparna!
Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig is a comedian, actress, improviser, writer, and producer and burst onto the scene in 2005 when she joined and soon became a fan favorite of the cast of "SNL." From there, she has gone on to write, produce, and star in many movies and television shows, which include “Bridesmaids," “Despicable Me,” and “Wonder Woman 1984.”
She has also been nominated for several awards and was named as one of "PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2011." There is nothing she can't do, and as she said, "making people laugh is one of the greatest pleasures in the world."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia is an actress, comedian, and producer. She started her career on "Saturday Night Live" and is best known for her work playing Elaine on “Seinfeld" and VP Selina Meyer on “Veep.”
She has already had an illustrious career winning eight primetime Emmys, one golden globe with nine nominations, and earned the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2018. Pretty impressive for anyone in the industry, but she remains humble and states, "(her) family and long walks on the beach have kept (her) sane over the years.” Love!
Samantha Bee
Samantha Bee is a comedian, writer, television host, and political commentator. She rose to fame when she was working on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” as a political correspondent, and she still holds the record for being the longest-serving correspondent, holding the position for 12 years.
From there, she started her own show, “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee", another very funny political commentary show. Samantha's humor is smart and cutting, and one of the reasons she was also named on "Time’s 100 Most Influential People" list of 2017.
Kathy Griffin
Kathy is a comedian and actress who has been in the business since 1980. During her time, she has received numerous accolades, such as a Grammy win, two Primetime Emmy wins, and many more nominations. Her most known comes from her show “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List."
She is sometimes controversial (Trump controversy *cough* *cough*), but is worth a watch! If you haven't already, go check out one of her many Comedy specials on HBO!
Betty White
The late great Betty White was an actress and comedian who helped pioneer early television. She had done anything and everything in Hollywood and spent more than seven decades in the industry. Over that time, she became the first woman to do multiple things; some of her achievements include being the first woman to produce a television show, the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy as a game show host, winning eight Emmys, a Grammy, and holding the world record for "Longest TV Career by a Female Entertainer."
Fans of Betty know how big her heart was and how much she cared about everyone in her life. A true star on and off the film set.
Kristen Schaal
Kristen is an actress, comedian, and writer from Colorado. She has performed comedy since 1999, and although you might not recognize her face, you probably have heard her voice.
You may have heard her lend her voice to the character of Louise Belcher in “Bob's Burgers” and Mabel Pines in “Gravity Falls.” She has also had roles in “Toy Story 3” and “Toy Story 4” as well as “Despicable Me” and “BoJack Horseman.” Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she has received multiple Primetime Emmy Nominations! Keep getting it, Kristen!
Aubrey Plaza
Aubrey is an actress, comedian, and producer and started her career by performing in improv and sketch shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City. From there, she starred in “Parks and Recreation,” “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” and “Child's Play.”
Diverse, eh? She has a few projects coming out soon, and we're sure her dry and deadpan delivery will continue to make audiences reel with laughter!
Cameron Esposito
Cameron Esposito is a comedian who has been raved about by Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and Carson Daly. Her stand-up mainly focuses on her life, feminism, social justice, and her experiences being LGBTQAI+.
She currently resides in Los Angeles and has created five comedy albums, voices "Carrol the Cloud Person" on “Adventure Time,” and hosts the “Queery” podcast. She’s a breath of fresh air and a voice for change on the comedy scene!
Maya Rudolph
Maya is one of the greats in Hollywood and is best known for her time on "Saturday Night Live" and her incredible Beyonce impression that Queen-B herself would be proud of. She has four Emmys to her name, two from her time on "Saturday Night Live" and two from voicing the hilarious hormone monster for Netflix's “Big Mouth.”
To this day, she continues to act and voice-act and has starred in several movies such as “Luca”, “Bridesmaids,” and “Idiocracy.” She has more work coming soon, so keep your eye out for it!
Natasha Leggero
Natasha is an American comedian and has been a staple on "Comedy Central's Roasts.” Her quick-wittedness, social commentary, and observations have been making audiences laugh for years now, and it's no wonder she keeps being invited to do those roasts.
Outside of stand-up, Natasha lives in Los Angeles and hosts “Rat in the Kitchen,” a game where the hosts and audience members attempt to find the chef who is trying to sabotage the others. Good stuff!
Taylor Tomlinson
A newer comedian on the scene, Taylor Tomlinson, has released two Netflix specials called “Quarter-Life Crisis” and "Look at You.” She has been performing stand-up since the age of 16 and has racked up recognition after recognition since then.
She was a top 10 finalist to NBC's "Last Comic Standing," named on "Variety's 10 Comics to Watch" in 2019, and made it to "Forbes 30 Under 30 List" in December 2021. While she's still young, Taylor is a guaranteed comedy trailblazer!
Nikki Glaser
Nikki is a midwesterner at heart and lives there to this day. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Nikki has been doing stand-up since she was 18. She writes, acts, and hosts and is best known for her work on “Not Safe With Nikki Glaser”, hosting “FBOY Island”, “The Nikki Glaser Podcast,” and “Welcome Home Nikki Glasser.”
She will make you laugh out loud with her honest commentary and point of view. She famously said, "one of the most fun things to do is learn from bombing on stage. Once you do that, you will never be afraid to fail after." Great words of wisdom, Nikki!
Rebel Wilson
Born in Sydney, Australia, Rebel has been performing since she was young. However, acting wasn't her first career choice; mathematics was! She is quoted saying, "I was very academic at high school and was always good with numbers." Rebel ultimately studied Theater and Performance Studies and has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New South Wales.
After having a prolific career in Australia, performing at the Sydney Theatre Company, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and appearing on SBS's “Pizza,” she has since got her big break in Hollywood by starring in the "Pitch Perfect" franchise and the Netflix film "Senior Year."
Michelle Buteau
Michelle originally hails from New Jersey and was born to Caribbean parents. She has been performing comedy since 2001 and got her first television gig with Comedy Central five years later.
She was named one of "Esquire's Top comedians to Watch" in 2017, and her podcast, “Late Night Whenever!” made it to the Times' list of the best podcasts of 2018. She is killing it in the comedy scene and we think she’ll be around for a long time!
Naomi Ekperigin
Naomi is a comedian, actress, and writer. She was born and raised in Harlem and has written for “Broad City” and “Difficult People.” She regularly appears on “2 Dope Queens” and created a number of half-hour specials for Comedy Central.
Her comedic style is hilarious, and she is certainly a person that is on the rise in comedy.
Michelle Wolf
Michelle Wolf is a rising star in the comedy world, that’s for sure. "The Village Voice" has called her "the voice comedy needs right now," and "The Daily Beast," said, "Michelle Wolf is the future of stand-up comedy." That's high praise! She is a comedian, writer, producer, and television host.
Her most notable works are writing for "Late Night Show with Seth Meyers," "The Daily Show," "2018 White House Correspondents Dinner performance," and her stand-up special "Joke Show." A hilarious person and someone you should go and watch immediately.
Lucille Ball
Best known for portraying Lucy in “I Love Lucy”, Lucille is one of the most famous people in Hollywood. The actress, comedian, and producer worked in the show business for 47 years.
She’s won 5 Primetime Emmys, one Golden Globe, earned two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. She is so loved by her fans and was a true pioneer in the film and television industry.
Gilda Radner
Gilda is comedy royalty. She was cast as one of the original seven cast members of "Saturday Night Live," and her performance on the show earned her an Emmy.
Since her time on the show, she received a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for “It's Always Something”, got her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and married Gene Wilder. Today, her legacy lives on — husband Gene Wilder established the Gilda Radner Hereditary Cancer Program to screen high-risk patients. While she is no longer with us, she will always be remembered as a true comic and lover of life.
Lily Tomlin
Most millennials know her as Ms. Frizzle from the “Magic School Bus” rather than Lily, but Lily is much more than that. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and then went on to become an actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer.
Her breakout role was on the Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In Variety Show from 1969 to 1973 and has earned a Golden Globe, a Grammy, two Tonys, and seven Emmys. She is an extremely decorated individual, and her humor lives on to this day!
Molly Shannon
Molly is an actress and comedian who was a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" for seven seasons. After her time there, she went on to perform in numerous roles such as “Night at the Roxbury”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and the wild, hilarious ride that is “Talladega Nights.”
She has been nominated for multiple Emmys and other awards too! She is a wonderful comedian and has more stuff coming soon! Keep a look out for her next work!
Anna Faris
Best known for her roles in “Scary Movie” and "House Bunny” Anna has been making audiences laugh on the big and small screens. She was born in Baltimore and moved to Washington State around the age of 6. Initially, acting wasn't going to be her main career.
She actually thought she would act on the side and then write a book as her main source of income, but a last-minute decision to turn down a receptionist job in London and move to LA set her down the path of stardom! She found a successful career in acting as well in the podcast realm. She dishes out advice to her fans through her popular podcast "Unqualified."
Doris Roberts
Doris Roberts' career spans seven decades, and she’s earned five (!) Primetime Emmys for her work! Best known for playing Raymond's mother in the CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond,” she is so much more than a television actress.
She has also performed on Broadway, where she started her career, and on the silver screen. She is a hilarious woman and now enjoys spending retirement with her kids and grandchildren in St. Louis.
Allison Janney
An American actress, Allison Janney, is having a fantastic career. So far, she has an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe, seven Primetime Emmys Awards, and two Tony awards. Her career has spanned film, television, and theater, and there is no sign she is stopping soon.
She has been a favorite actress in Hollywood circles and continues to impress with each role. She cemented her legacy as one of the funniest celebrities and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch has an impressive resume. In a career that has spanned television and film, she has earned five Emmy Awards, two Screen Actor Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe.
She is best known for her work on “Glee” but also has had key roles on “Two and a Half Men,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and hosts “Hollywood Game Night.” In 2013, she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is still a force to be reckoned with in the acting world.
Kristen Bell
Kristen is an actress and singer who actually got her start on Broadway. Luckily for us, she soon made a transition onto our screens. She is best known for her work on "Veronica Mars," and "The Good Place" as well as for voicing Anna in "Frozen."
Her comedic relief is to die for, and her interviews are A1 funny. Even though she is not a comedian by trade, that doesn't mean she won't make your sides hurt laughing.
Rachel Dratch
A graduate of the world-famous Second City and Improv Olympics, Rachel has been performing comedy since 1994. Her breakout role came from being cast in "Saturday Night Live," and has also performed alongside Adam Sandler in “Click,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” as well as performing on “King of Queens.”
Even recently, she was nominated for a Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play! Keep up the work!
Lisa Kudrow
Best known for her role as the wonderfully weird Phoebe Buffay in the iconic sitcom “Friends,” Lisa has had a great career that isn't over yet. She actually has her degree in Biology from Vassar College, and it wasn't until Jon Lovitz told her she should pursue comedy that she began doing improv at the Groundlings.
From there, she went to perform in television and film, racking up numerous nominations, a Primetime Emmy, and two Screen Actor Guild Awards. Not bad for someone who fell into comedy later in life!
Leslie Mann
Leslie Mann is an American actress and is best known for her roles in “Knocked Up”, “This is 40”, and “17 Again.” She was born in San Francisco and raised in Newport Beach. You can say California runs in her veins.
She has had a great career so far in Hollywood, and if you are looking for a good giggle you can also watch her in “Funny People,” “Rio,” and “The Change-Up.”
Rashida Jones
Rashida has done a lot in Hollywood to break out of her famous father's (Quincy Jones's) shadow. From producing to writing, directing, and acting, you can find her behind and in front of the camera. A few of her most prominent roles have been on “Boston Public,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “On the Rocks.”
She even has a Grammy to her name for Best Music Film for her work on “Quincy,” a documentary about her father on Netflix. Rashida, you keep getting it, and we will be laughing with you along the way!
Ellie Kemper
Best known for her roles as Erin Hannon on “The Office” and Kimmy Schmidt on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Ellie is as funny as they come. She is originally from St. Louis and actually had Jon Hamm as her teacher in high school! Small world!
She attended Princeton and then Oxford before moving on to work in film and television. Her work has garnered her two Primetime Emmys and seven Screen Actors Guild awards. She has much more to give, so watch this space!
Cecily Strong
Cecily is a California native and a super successful "SNL" cast member. She joined the show in 2012 and is best known for her sketch characters such as "The Girl you Wish Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party" and "Cathy Ann."
Her work also includes roles in "Ghostbusters," "The Female Brain," and her own show "Schmigadoon!," which plays on Apple TV+. For her work, Cecily has been nominated twice for Primetime Emmys for her roles at "SNL." There's no debate that Cecily Strong is a... strong comedian!
Margaret Cho
Margaret has done it all; stand-up, acting, music, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and artistry, to name a few. She has been performing stand-up since the age of 14 when she won a comedy contest to open for Jerry Seinfeld in the '90s. From there, she performed at colleges around the US and was named the "Campus Comedian of the Year."
Since then, she has appeared in film, toured for her comedy specials, and produced two music albums. She will continue to be a part of the social consciousness with her comedy and advocacy for Asian and LGBTQ+ communities and is one of the funniest women in comedy.
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah, also known as Dena Owens, is a rapper, singer, and actress. Her work has garnered her one Academy Award Nomination, one Golden Globe, one Grammy, a Primetime Emmy, and a BET Lifetime Achievement award. She is the first female hip-hop artist to get nominated for an Oscar and the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She has been and continues to be a trailblazer in the industry and one of the funniest people in the industry.
Fortune Feimster
One of the busiest people out there right now, Fortune has a bright future ahead of her. She is a writer, actor, and stand-up comedian. She started as a writer and panelist for “Chelsea Lately” and starred in “The Mindy Project” and “Champions” for Hulu and NBC, respectively.
Fortune has released a few comedy specials that have been met with critical acclaim. She has made me roll on the floor laughing, so if she is in a city near you, go check her out!
Aidy Bryant
She is one of the funniest people we've seen perform. She is an American actress and comedian from Phoenix, AZ, and is one of the best performers "Saturday Night Live" has ever had.
She starred on the show between 2012 and 2022 before starring in her own show, "Shrill," on Hulu. Aidy now voices Emmy on "Human Resources”, but she sure has several projects on the horizon. Check out her work, and you will be laughing right along!
Jane Curtin
Jane is an American actress and comedian. Along with Gilda Raner, Jane's first big break was as an original cast member of "Saturday Night Live."
She went on to win back-to-back Emmy awards for her time on “Kate & Allie” and starred in the hit series “3rd Rock from the Sun.” She is a pioneer for women in the industry and has helped pave a road for women to excel in comedy.
Nasim Pedrad
Nasim's roots go back to Tehran, Iran, where she was born. As a child, she emigrated with her father to the US, where she would eventually find her love for comedy.
Nasim is best known for her work on "Saturday Night Live" and sees herself as an actress, writer, and comedian. She later started in "Mulaney," "New Girl," "Scream Queens," and "People of Earth." Nasim has also appeared in "Despicable Me 2", and Disney’s live-action "Aladdin."
Catherine O'Hara
Moira Rose!!! (“Schitt's Creek” fans, rejoice!) AKA Catherine O'Hara is a Canadian-American actress, comedian, and writer. She was born and raised in Toronto, where she would eventually get noticed as a member of The Second City improv troupe.
Since then, she has starred in numerous film and television shows, earned a golden globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Primetime Emmys, and six Canadian Screen Awards. Her work is hilarious and should be seen immediately.
Paula Pell
When you think, "I wonder how Saturday Night Live is always funny?" remember the name, Paula Pell! She was a writer on the show from 1995 to 2013 and one of the reasons the show was so funny for 19 seasons!
After "SNL," she went on to write and produce "30 Rock" with Tina Fey. Although she has been behind the scenes for most of her career, she still deserves to be credited for all of the characters and skits she helped create. She was named one of the funniest women in comedy!
Jessica Williams
Jessica is an American Actress and comedienne from California. She is best known for her work on “2 Dope Queens” podcast and as a senior correspondent on "The Daily Show."
However, some audiences may even remember her from her work early work on Nickelodeon's “Just for Kicks” in 2006. A fun fact about her is that she became the youngest correspondent on "The Daily Show" ever! Amazing!
Phoebe Robinson
Phoebe is an American comedian based in New York City. She is the co-creator of “2 Dope Queens” with her work-partner Jessica Williams. She is known for her writing which has been featured in "Glamour," The New York Times," and "Vanity Fair."
Outside of writing, she performs stand-up and has appeared on "The Last Comic Standing," "Late Night with Seth Meyers," and "The Today Show." As one of the rising stars in the industry, she will make you laugh out loud and is a person to see, ASAP!
Megan Mullally
Best known for her role as Karen Walker on NBC's sitcom “Will & Grace,” Megan was actually a ballerina growing up! She studied it from the age of six, performed with the Oklahoma City Ballet, and studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City. It wasn't until she was at Northwestern University that she began performing on stage in a different capacity.
It seems like that was a great move for her because since then, she has earned many nominations and two Primetime Emmys, and three Screen Actor Guild Awards. Although she stopped performing ballet a while ago, she can still perform a perfect pirouette.
Lena Dunham
Not afraid of controversy, Lena Dunham is an American writer, director, actress, and producer that tells it like it is. She is best known as the creator, writer, and star of HBO's show “Girls,” which is inspired by her own life experiences.
Lena was named as one of "Time’s 100 Most Influential People" in 2013 and has earned several Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe Awards. She will make you laugh and cry all in the same episode and deserves to be named one of the funniest celebrities in the industry today.
Courteney Cox
Courtney Cox has been in the game since she was cast in Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" music video in 1984. Since then, she went on to play one of the most famous TV characters, Monica, in “Friends”, starred in "Scream", and most recently gained critical acclaim for her role in "Cougar Town."
She now is producing the Facebook Watch documentary, “9 Months with Courteney Cox”, which follows "people across the country of various race, religion, and class as they self-document their pregnancy." She has grown since her first role and continues to perform in Hollywood to this day.
Jennifer Aniston
A major pillar in "Friends," Jennifer has had an illustrious career; her role as Rachel Green on the sitcom alone garnered her an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actor’s Guild Award.
After her time there, Jennifer went on to star in “Marley & Me,” “We're the Millers,” and “The Morning Show,” where she earned her second Emmy. She has been one of the world's highest-paid actresses and continually is on Forbes’ Top Earning Actresses List. She is still hard at work and has no plans of stopping anytime soon. Keep getting that bread, Jenny!
Jenna Fischer
Television's favorite office receptionist, Pam Beesly from "The Office," I mean Jenna Fischer, is one of the funniest celebrities in Hollywood! She is from St. Louis, MO., and has been acting since she was six. Although it took Jenna a few years to get her big break after moving to Los Angeles — eight to be exact — she finally landed the role of Pam Beesly in 2005.
For her work on “The Office,” she was nominated for seven Screen Actor Guild Awards, winning two, and nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Perseverance does pay off, and Jenna is a shining example of that!
Julie Bowen
Mrs. Dunphy is that you?! Yes, Julie Bowen is best known for playing Claire Dunphy on ABC's “Modern Family”; however, most people forget she was also on “E.R.” and on “Boston Legal.”
Not to mention the fact that one of her first roles was as the PR manager in Adam Sandler’s classic “Happy Gilmore”! Julie has earned numerous awards nominations which include 6 Primetime Emmy nominations with 2 wins and 3 Screen Actor Guild Awards. Great job, Mrs. Dunphy!
Rosie O'Donnell
An American comedy icon, Rosie O'Donnell has been performing stand-up since she was a teenager. She later moved into acting and starred in “A League of Their Own”, “Hocus Pocus”, and “Sleepless in Seattle.” Although Rosie did not receive any awards for these roles, she did earn a few Emmys for her talk show, “The Rosie O'Donnell Show.”
She is still acting and can be seen on “SMILF”,” I Know This Is True”, and “American Gigolo.” Go check out her work, and we promise it will make you laugh!
Sofia Vergara
Sofia was the highest-paid actress on television for seven years straight, between 2013 and 2020. Best know for playing Gloria on ABC's “Modern Family”, she got her start as a model when a photographer discovered her while walking on a beach. Funnily enough, her first appearance was on a Pepsi commercial aired in Latin America.
She quickly put away the soda and has since acted on TV and in numerous films! Keep getting those checks, Sofia, and we will keep laughing along with you!
Zooey Deschanel
Most people don't know this, but besides being absolutely hilarious, Zooey Deschanel is a musician as well! She can sing, play ukulele, and performs in Jazz cabaret. Zooey is best known for her roles in “Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,” “500 Days of Summer,” and “New Girl.”
She has received many nominations for playing Jess in “New Girl,” including Emmys and Golden Globe nominations. While she does more acting now, she loves to relax by singing and getting back to her roots as a musician.
Tracee Ellis Ross
As the daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross and music business manager Robert Ellis Silberstein, Tracee grew up around show business. However, her school was always important to her and she graduated from Brown with a degree in theater. Tracee's breakthrough was her role on CW's “Girlfriends” which also earned her two NAACP Image Awards and one BET Comedy Award.
She then starred in “Blackish,” which earned her more NAACP Image Awards along with many Primetime Emmy nominations. Her career is far from being over, and if you are looking for a laugh, check out her work!
Ilana Glazer
A New York native, Ilana Glazer, actually has her degree in psychology! She began her comedy journey when she took an improv class at the Upright Citizens Brigade in 2006 when she was studying at New York University. From there, Ilana has been killing it in the industry.
She is best known for co-creating and co-starring in “Broad City” and earned a couple of Emmy nominations for that show! As a rising star, you should get familiar with her name; it will be around for a while!
Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is originally from the corporate world and began performing stand-up when she was working for Yahoo! Later when she was working at Google, she left to pursue writing and comedy full time. Even though it took her a while to break through, and she almost quit a few times, TikTok ended up giving her the break she needed.
She went viral and has been a rising star since 2020. She even has two best-selling books, “How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings” and “100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meeting.” Keep an eye out for her, and go check out her Netflix special “Everything's Fine” if you are looking for a good laugh.
Mary Beth Barone
Mary Beth Barone is a multi-talented mainstay! Not only is she a comedian but she is also a YouTuber, actress, and social media star. She came into public consciousness when she created and hosted her show titled “Drag His Ass: A F*ckboy Treatment Program,” her appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and her Comedy Central Special.
She has been listed as one of Comedy Central's Next Up Comedians and will be sure to make you laugh with her performance. Check her out if she comes around your feed!
Jen Kirkman
Jen Kirkman isn't the most famous comedian on our list, but that doesn't mean she isn't funny. She has been in the industry since 1998 when she started performing stand-up in the Boston area. She then moved to NYC and Los Angeles and continued performing there. She has two critically acclaimed Netflix Specials, “I'm Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)” and “Just Keep Livin’?", as well as a New York Times Best Seller “I Can Barely Take Care of Myself (Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids).”
Although she has been behind the scenes as a writer and producer for most of her career, her work will make you burst out laughing!
Moms Mabley Loretta
Mary Aiken, best known as Jackie "Moms" Mabley, is an American comedian and actress. She began her career performing on stage and became one of the best-known entertainers on the African-American vaudeville circuit. From there, she recorded numerous comedy albums and appeared in television and film, including “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.”
She was one of the first openly gay comedians in the 1920s and 30s and helped pave the way for other women in the industry. She goes down in history as a legend, and other greats like Whoopi and Wanda Sykes list her as one of the most influential people in their lives. Thank you for everything, Moms!
Patti Harrison
Patti Harrison is a rising star in comedy! She is known for her roles on “Shrill,” “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” and her activism on Instagram. She started her comedy journey by performing improv with her college troupe at Ohio University and later moved to NYC and LA to pursue comedy full-time.
Her career is budding and she was named one of "Variety's 10 Comics to Watch" in 2019. Patti is a hilarious person so if you need a good laugh, check her out!