Actor Biography

A natural talent with an undeniable energy, Michaela Watkins has made her mark through a variety of impressive and unforgettable roles. She was most recently seen in two feature films that premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, the first, Lake Bell's comedy, In a World, the second, Jill Soloway's Afternoon Delight, with Kathryn Hahn, Josh Radnor, Juno Temple, Jessica St. Claire and Jane Lynch.

Watkins was the Courtney Cox-directed film, Just Before I Go, opposite Sean William Scott. In addition she appeared in Fox Searchlight's Untitled Nicole Holofcener Film, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener and Toni Collette. Watkins completed production on David Wain's They Came Together, co-starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. Feature film credits include her stand-out roles in the Universal Pictures comedy Wanderlust, opposite Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, and the indie dramedy Thanks for Sharing, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo.

Watkins' television credits include recurring roles on FX's Anger Management, opposite Charlie Sheen, Fox's New Girl, with Zooey Deschanel, HBO's Enlightened, opposite Laura Dern, as well as such other hit TV shows as The New Adventures of Old Christine, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parenthood, Grey's Anatomy and Californication.

Watkins hails from the Los Angeles main stage company The Groundlings Theater, where many distinguished SNL alum have performed. She joined the SNL cast mid-season in 2008-09 and made her mark with spot-on impressions of Arianna Huffington, Barbara Walters and Kathie Lee Gifford's sidekick, Hoda Kotb.

Born in Syracuse, NY and raised in Boston, Watkins pursued a career in regional theater before moving to Los Angeles. She studied acting and theater, and received her B.F.A. from Boston University.