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Kate McKinnon

Kate McKinnon

Actor · Born January 6, 1984 (42) · Sea Cliff, New York, USA

2 Primetime Emmys · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Kate McKinnon Berthold (born January 6, 1984) is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2012 to 2022, where she became known for her character work and celebrity impressions. For her work on the series, she was nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and nine for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2016 and 2017. McKinnon starred in the Logo sketch comedy series The Big Gay Sketch Show (2007–2010), voiced lead roles in the PBS Kids animated series Nature Cat (2015–2025) and the Netflix animated series The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017–2021), and portrayed Carole Baskin in the Peacock miniseries Joe vs. Carole (2022). McKinnon has appeared in films, including Sisters (2015), Office Christmas Party (2016), Rough Night (2017), The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018), Yesterday (2019), Bombshell (2019), The Bubble (2022), Barbie (2023), and The Roses (2025). Description above from the Wikipedia article Kate McKinnon, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 6, 1984 (42)
From
Sea Cliff, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 54 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 17% in 30 days

What are Kate McKinnon's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
31%
Bonds
30%
Society
13%
Morality
9%
Power
9%
Survival
5%
Ideas
5%
Friendship10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 11 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 3

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 13

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 14 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 14
Trickster
4 of 14
Hero
3 of 14
Mentor
1 of 14
Herald
1 of 14
Shapeshifter
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
13
Absurd
13
Bittersweet
7
Tense
7
Hopeful
9
Other
28

How their films linger

Fun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kate McKinnon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kate McKinnon's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

54 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 22 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Wrong Girls(2026)

    as Dr. Olsen

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • In the Blink of an Eye(2026)

    as Coakley

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Roses(2025)

    as Amy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A Minecraft Movie(2025)

    as Alex (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Martha(2024)

    as Martha Stewart

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Barbie(2023)

    as Barbie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • DC League of Super-Pets(2022)

    as Lulu (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Bubble(2022)

    as Paula the Studio Head

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Joe vs. Carole(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer · as Carole Baskin

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again: The Frizz Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Ms. Fiona Frizzle (voice)

  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Ms. Fiona Frizzle (voice)

  • Bombshell(2019)

    as Jess Carr

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Yesterday(2019)

    as Debra Hammer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Family(2018)

    as Jill

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Spy Who Dumped Me(2018)

    as Morgan

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Irreplaceable You(2018)

    as Glass Half Full Kate

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Ferdinand(2017)

    as Lupe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again(2017)

    Show 26 episodes · as Ms. Frizzle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Friends from College(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Shawna

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Rough Night(2017)

    as Pippa

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Detroiters(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Lindsay (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Leap!(2016)

    as Regine / Mother Superior / Felicie's Mother (US version)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Office Christmas Party(2016)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Masterminds(2016)

    as Jandice

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Ghostbusters(2016)

    as Jillian Holtzmann

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Finding Dory(2016)

    as Wife Fish (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Angry Birds Movie(2016)

    as Stella / Eva the Birthday Mom (voice)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Sisters(2015)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Nature Cat(2015)

    Show 152 episodes · as Squeeks (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Difficult People(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Abra Cadouglas

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Spoils Before Dying(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dallas Boudreau

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Staten Island Summer(2015)

    as Mrs. Bandini Jr.

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Ted 2(2015)

    as Kate McKinnon

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • China, Il The Musical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Sunshine

  • Giant Sloth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Nina

  • Life Partners(2014)

    as Trace

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Balls Out(2014)

    as Vicky

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Toy Story of Terror(2013)

    as PEZ Cat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Hannah Has a Ho-Phase(2012)

    as Nicky

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Comedy Bang! Bang!(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Effie Villalopolus

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • My Best Day(2012)

    as Heather

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • China, IL(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Sunshine (voice)

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Robotomy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mrs. Crunshine

  • Mr. Ross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Debby

  • Concierge: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mary

  • Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • The Big Gay Sketch Show(2006)

    Show 25 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • The Venture Bros.(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eenie-Meanie (voice) · as Nikki Fictel (voice) · as Nikki Fictel / Mrs. Fictel (voice) · as Redusa (voice) · as Thalia / Nikki Fictel / Mrs. Fictel (voice) · as Warriana (voice) · as Warriana / Alexis Warrington (voice) · as Warriana / Dot Comm (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Farmer's Date (voice) · as Karen Griffin (Heavy Flo) (voice) · as Philippa (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Hettie Mae Boggs (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Dedicated to Morris Burke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • One Attempt Remaining (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Lunch Witch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Grunhilda

  • Thumb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles, 49 of them dated from 1989 to 2026; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Barbie (2023)

$1.4B worldwide

Highest rated

Toy Story of Terror (2013)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Barbie (2023)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19892026

Peak 2017 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 52 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thProducing1 of 53: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s1 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s34 · acting2020s10 · 10 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 8% of 25 roles
1318

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 Primetime Emmys from 13 major nominations, 2014–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  2. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  3. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  4. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  5. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  6. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  7. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  8. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Comedy
Show 2 earlier years
  1. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  2. 2014
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Kate McKinnon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

The Big Gay Sketch Show (2006)

98th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Toy Story of Terror (2013)

Midcredits 91st · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kate McKinnon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles10–45 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles14–62 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles15–83 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles9–68 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles13–47 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kate McKinnon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kate McKinnon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Theodore Shapiro shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles