Maya Rudolph Talks Getting To Play Kamala Harris On SNL, And The Special Moment She Shared With Dana Carvey

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Maya Rudolph has achieved incredible success in comedy, starting with improv at The Groundlings and then becoming a star on Saturday Night Live. She’s brought joy to millions with films like Bridesmaids and recently expanded her role to executive producer with the show Loot. But there was one dream she always held: performing a Presidential impression for Lorne Michaels and the rest of the SNL cast—something she never expected to actually do.

Maya Rudolph recently chatted with Amy Poehler on her podcast and shared the story of finally receiving the call from Lorne Michaels – the one she’d waited for years to get. Apparently, the offer came after many people already assumed she was on board. As a woman of color, Rudolph also admitted she never imagined seeing a presidential candidate who shared her background.

Throughout the entire run of the show, I never worried about getting a call for a role like this. There simply weren’t any candidates who looked like me running for President during that time. It felt incredible to play a character who resembled me and was campaigning for the highest office.

I recently spoke with the actress, and she shared that she’s generally game for any acting challenge her colleagues suggest. However, when it comes to portraying a real political figure, she feels you absolutely have to look the part. She admitted she never expected to be asked to play one, and honestly, didn’t think it would happen in her career.

I’m versatile and eager to take on any challenge the show throws my way. I’m ready for anything! Of course, sometimes there are roles I just don’t fit physically, and that’s understandable.

Kamala Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live during a period when many former cast members were returning to impersonate politicians. Notably, Dana Carvey was back playing Joe Biden, and she had the opportunity to appear in an episode with him.

What Maya Rudolph Realized She’d Learned From Dana Carvey When They Did SNL Together

The comedian explained that Dana Carvey was part of the Saturday Night Live cast she’d watched growing up, and she realized she’d been imitating their style in her own work. This became clear when she finally met him and realized how much he’d influenced her.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of that experience. The cast was truly exceptional – a dream group to work with. I especially connected with Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Jan Hooks, and Phil Hartmann, and I didn’t fully appreciate how much they would influence me. I remember after our first show, Dana playfully messed around and created a fun atmosphere, saying he just wanted to include everyone and enjoy himself. In that moment, I realized that’s exactly what I wanted too, and I think he showed me how.

It’s always wonderful when something special happens, but as a longtime viewer of Saturday Night Live, it’s amazing to consider everything that had to align for Maya Rudolph and Dana Carvey to share the stage. The performance was absolutely perfect.

Initially, Joe Biden ended his presidential campaign, making Kamala Harris the nominee after a particularly bad debate – a moment Dana Carvey later recognized as a turning point. Subsequently, Maya Rudolph had the chance to perform a historic cold open alongside Kamala Harris. Although James Austin Johnson has delivered many notable Donald Trump impressions recently, Rudolph still expresses appreciation for the experience and the colleagues she worked with during the last election.

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2026-01-07 16:09