Aidy Bryant

Last updated

Aidy Bryant
Aidy Bryant.png
Bryant in 2015
Born
Aidan Mackenzy Bryant

(1987-05-07) May 7, 1987 (age 36)
Education Columbia College Chicago (BA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2011–present
Spouse
(m. 2018)

Aidan Mackenzy Bryant (born May 7, 1987) is an American actress and comedian. Bryant is most notable for being a cast member on the NBC late-night sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live for ten seasons, joining the show for its 38th season in 2012, [1] and leaving at the end of its 47th season in 2022. [2] For her work on the series, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, including two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. [3]

Contents

Her other work includes a voice role in the animated series Danger & Eggs (2017) and the Netflix adult animated series Human Resources. She played a starring role in the sitcom Shrill (2019–2021); for the latter, she also served as writer and executive producer and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Early life

Bryant was born in Phoenix, [4] the daughter of Georganne (née Vinall) and Tom Bryant. [5] Her mother owns a boutique, Frances, in Phoenix. [6] Bryant is of English, Irish, and German descent. [7] She has one brother. [8] She graduated from Xavier College Preparatory in 2005. [6] Her parents took her to improv workshops at the now-defunct Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. [9]

She graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a BA in 2009. [10] [11] At Columbia College, she participated in the college's comedy studies program, developed by the Theatre Department and The Second City. [11]

Career

Bryant and Mike Birbiglia

After Bryant graduated from Columbia College, she toured with the musical improv group Baby Wants Candy and was approached by The Second City. [9] She has performed with iO Chicago, The Second City [12] and the Annoyance Theatre. She was a writer and ensemble member for both "Sky's the Limit, Weather Permitting" and "We're All In This Room Together" on the Second City e.t.c. Stage. [10]

Bryant made her debut as a featured player on Saturday Night Live on September 15, 2012. [10] [13] [14] She was promoted to a repertory player during her second season on the show.

In 2013, Bryant appeared with a recurring role in the second season of IFC's Comedy Bang! Bang! , playing the show's segment producer. [15] Bryant also made an uncredited cameo appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 . [16] She has made guest appearances on programs such as Broad City , Documentary Now! , The Awesomes , and Girls . In 2014, Bryant, Eli Bruggemann, Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, and Kate McKinnon were nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the "Home for the Holiday (Twin Bed)". The music video sketch aired on December 21, 2013. [17] She won the award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2015 EWwy awards which honor performances that were snubbed by the Emmys. [18]

In 2016, Bryant had a recurring role as Alice in the Louis C.K. series Horace and Pete . In 2017, Bryant provided the voice of main character D.D. Danger on the animated series Danger & Eggs . [19] In 2018, Bryant received a nomination at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. [20]

In 2019, Bryant starred in the Hulu series Shrill . After Bryant became involved with Shrill, as a co-writer, co-executive producer and as the main character, there was a question of whether she would return for the 2019–20 season of Saturday Night Live although Lorne Michaels encouraged her to work on both shows. [21] [22] [23] Bryant stated that she would work 12-hour days on Shrill and then at SNL afterward, making for 22-hour days. [23] Shrill would run for three seasons ending in May 2021, and Bryant was told that its third season would be the last one after it was shot. [24] [23] Bryant planned to exit SNL after its 45th season, however the COVID-19 pandemic caused her to reconsider leaving after "one last normal year" that concluded with the 2021-2022 47th season. [23] [2]

In 2021, Bryant had signed an overall deal with Universal Television. [25] She voiced Emmy on the adult animated series Human Resources , a spin-off of Big Mouth which premiered on March 18, 2022. [26]

Recurring characters on SNL

Personal life

Throughout her adolescence, Bryant dealt with self-esteem issues related to her weight. [21] Acting and performing improv allowed her to become more confident as a person and as an actress. [21]

On April 28, 2018, Bryant married comedian Conner O'Malley, who was a writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers . [35] They met in 2008 as performers at the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, and became engaged in 2016. [36]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Statue of Liberty Lady
2014KidsSarahShort film
2015Prom QueenTeacher #1Short film
2016 Brother Nature Dana Curlman
2016Darby ForeverDarbyShort film; also writer and producer
2017 The Big Sick Mary
2017 The Star Ruth (voice)
2018 I Feel Pretty Vivian

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012–2014 Shrink Kendra Harnz3 episodes; also writer of 2 episodes
2012–2022 Saturday Night Live Herself / Various characters206 episodes
2012 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday Judge / Patron / Woman2 episodes
2013 Comedy Bang! Bang! Segment Producer2 episodes
2014 The Greatest Event in Television History AmyEpisode: "Bosom Buddies"
2015 Broad City AllieEpisode: "St. Marks"
2015 Documentary Now! Anne SeverinoEpisode: "A Town, a Gangster, a Festival"
2015 The Awesomes Unknown character (voice)2 episodes
2015–2017 Girls Abigail4 episodes
2016 Horace and Pete Alice Wittel4 episodes
2017 Danger & Eggs D.D. Danger (voice)13 episodes
2017 At Home with Amy Sedaris MulaakEpisode: "Out of This World"
2018 Portlandia PatientEpisode: "Shared Workspace"
2018 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Tabby BobattiEpisode: "Party Monster: Scratching the Surface"
2019 The Other Two HerselfEpisode: "Chase Shoots a Music Video"
2019–2021 Shrill Annie Easton22 episodes; also creator, writer and executive producer
2021 Teenage Euthanasia (voice)Episode: "Suddenly Susan"
2021 Big Mouth Emmy (voice)Episode: "Lovebugs"
2021 Santa Inc. Co-Worker / Petunia (voice)Episode: "Spring Awakening"
2022–2023 Human Resources Emmy Fairfax (voice)Main cast
2022 The Kardashians HerselfEpisode: "Live from New York"
2024 39th Independent Spirit Awards Herself (host)Television special

Webseries

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011EnterprenerdsKathy KieltyEpisode: "Short Squeeze"

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultRef.
2014 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Saturday Night Live Nominated [37]
2018 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2021 Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Shrill Nominated

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References

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