Kristen Wiig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kristen Wiig
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Wiig in 2013
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| Born |
Kristen Carroll Wiig
August 22, 1973 Canandaigua, New York, U.S.
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| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Hayes Hargrove
(m. 2005; div. 2009)Avi Rothman
(m. 2020) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
Kristen Carroll Wiig (born August 22, 1973) is a talented American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. She first became known for her comedy work in Los Angeles. Kristen Wiig rose to fame in the late 2000s. This was thanks to her seven years on the TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL). She was on the show from 2005 to 2012.
While on Saturday Night Live, Wiig was nominated four times for an Primetime Emmy Award. This award is for best supporting actress in a comedy show. She also acted in popular movies like Knocked Up (2007) and Paul (2011). She also helped write and starred in the hit movie Bridesmaids (2011). This film was very successful with both critics and audiences. For Bridesmaids, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. In 2012, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
After leaving Saturday Night Live, Wiig continued to act in many films. These include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) and The Martian (2015). She also starred in Ghostbusters (2016) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Kristen Wiig has also lent her voice to animated movies. Some of these are Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010). She was also nominated for more Emmy Awards for her roles in TV series like The Spoils of Babylon (2014) and Palm Royale (2024).
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Early Life and Education
Kristen Wiig was born in Canandaigua, New York. Her father, Jon Wiig, managed a marina. Her mother, Laurie, was an artist. Kristen also has an older brother named Erik. Her family background includes Norwegian, Irish, English, and Scottish roots. The name Wiig comes from a place in Norway called Vik. Kristen's grandfather, Gunnar Wiig, moved from Norway to the U.S. as a child. He became a well-known broadcaster in Rochester, New York.
When Kristen was three, her family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She went to elementary and middle school there. At age 13, her family moved back to Rochester. She finished high school at Brighton High School.
Wiig first went to Roanoke College. She then returned to Rochester and attended community college. At this time, she didn't plan to be a performer. Later, she studied art at the University of Arizona. She took an acting class to meet a school requirement. Her teacher saw her talent and told her to keep acting. She was about to start a job at a plastic surgery clinic. But the day before, she decided to move to Los Angeles. She wanted to become an actress.
Career Highlights
Starting Out: SNL and First Movies (2000–2010)
Kristen Wiig moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She worked different jobs to support herself. She performed with comedy groups like Empty Stage Comedy Theatre and The Groundlings. She found that improvisational comedy suited her best. Being part of these groups helped her improve her skills. In 2003, she appeared on a TV show called The Joe Schmo Show. It was a funny show that made fun of reality TV.
Her manager encouraged her to try out for Saturday Night Live. She sent in an audition tape. On the tape, she played her famous character, the Target Lady. She joined SNL on November 12, 2005. She became a full cast member in 2006.
Wiig was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards. These nominations were for her amazing work on SNL. She was known for her many funny characters and impressions. Entertainment Weekly magazine praised her performances on the show. She also voiced Lola Bunny in The Looney Tunes Show from 2011 to 2014.
Kristen Wiig made her first movie appearance in 2006. It was a Christmas film called Unaccompanied Minors. She then appeared in the comedy Knocked Up (2007). Between 2008 and 2010, she had supporting roles in several comedies. These included Semi-Pro (2008) with Will Ferrell. She also voiced a beaver mom in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009). She had roles in Whip It (2009) and Extract (2009). In 2010, she voiced characters in two big animated movies. These were Despicable Me and How to Train Your Dragon. Both of these movies became very popular film series.
Becoming a Star (2011–2016)
The year 2011 was a huge moment for Kristen Wiig's career. The comedy movie Bridesmaids was released. She wrote this movie with her friend Annie Mumolo. The film was a big hit, earning over $280 million worldwide. In the movie, Wiig played a woman facing many challenges as her best friend's maid of honor. Critics loved the movie, saying it was very funny and honest.
For her work in Bridesmaids, Wiig was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. This showed her talent not just as an actress, but also as a writer.
Her last performance as a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live was on May 19, 2012. The show celebrated her time there with many SNL stars. These included Amy Poehler and Will Forte. She has since returned to host the show several times.
In 2013, Wiig starred in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. She played the love interest of the main character, played by Ben Stiller. Critics praised her performance in the film. She also appeared in the comedy sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. She worked again with Will Ferrell and Steve Carell in this movie. With Will Ferrell, she also starred in the TV miniseries The Spoils of Babylon (2014). She received an Emmy nomination for her role in this series.
In 2014, she voiced Ruffnut Thorston again in How to Train Your Dragon 2. She also starred with Bill Hader in the movie The Skeleton Twins. They played estranged twins who reunite. This film was well-received by critics. In 2015, she played a woman with a personality disorder in Welcome to Me. She also appeared in the successful science fiction movie The Martian with Matt Damon.
In 2016, Wiig played a villain in Zoolander 2. She spent many hours each day getting her character's unique look ready. She also starred in the all-female Ghostbusters reboot. In this movie, she played an author who fights ghosts with other paranormal experts. She also voiced a hot dog bun in the animated comedy Sausage Party.
Recent Roles (2017–Present)
In 2017, Kristen Wiig continued her voice work in Despicable Me 3. She also appeared in the film Downsizing with Matt Damon. In 2020, she played the villain Cheetah in the superhero movie Wonder Woman 1984.
Wiig and Annie Mumolo teamed up again in 2021. They co-wrote and co-starred in the comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. This movie received positive reviews. Also in 2021, she played Aunt Carlotta in the Netflix movie A Boy Called Christmas. In 2024, she produced and starred in the TV series Palm Royale.
Personal Life
Kristen Wiig was married to actor Hayes Hargrove from 2005 to 2009. She later dated musician Fabrizio Moretti from 2011 to 2013.
In 2019, she became engaged to actor Avi Rothman. They had been dating for three years. In January 2020, they welcomed twins, a son and a daughter, via surrogacy. In February 2021, Kristen Wiig confirmed that she and Avi Rothman had gotten married. The family lives in Pasadena, California.
Selected Film and Television Work
Kristen Wiig has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Here are some of her notable roles:
- Movies:
* Knocked Up (2007) * Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (voice, 2009) * How to Train Your Dragon (voice, 2010) * Despicable Me (voice, 2010) * Bridesmaids (2011) - also co-writer * The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) * The Skeleton Twins (2014) * The Martian (2015) * Ghostbusters (2016) * Sausage Party (voice, 2016) * Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) * Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) - also co-writer and producer * A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
- Television:
* Saturday Night Live (2005–2012) - Herself/Various characters * The Looney Tunes Show (voice, 2011–2014) - Lola Bunny * The Spoils of Babylon (2014) * Palm Royale (2024)
Awards and Recognition
Kristen Wiig has received many awards and nominations for her work.
- She was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine in 2012.
Images for kids
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Wiig at an event for the 2008 Time 100 list
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Wiig at the Sydney premiere of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty in 2013
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In Spanish: Kristen Wiig para niños
