Maya Rudolph

Acting, for Maya Rudolph, “comes with a suit of armor and allows me to protect my little, sensitive insides.” The comedian, musician, and all-around performer reflects on the childhood influences that inspired her artistry; by pretending to be other people, she empowers herself to explore different energies and vulnerabilities. When it comes to creating characters, as she’s done for years in animated roles and on “Saturday Night Live,” that empowerment is a joyful process.

Maya booked her childhood dream job of “Saturday Night Live” in 2000, after working as a costume assistant and studying comedy at the Groundlings in L.A. She’s stolen the show in “Away We Go,” “Bridesmaids,” “Wine Country,” and films by her partner Paul Thomas Anderson, and produced and starred on “Maya and Marty” and “Forever.” At the upcoming Emmy Awards, Maya is nominated three times: for her voiceover work on Netflix’s “Big Mouth” as the hormone monstress Connie, and her guest appearances on NBC’s “The Good Place” as The Judge and on “Saturday Night Live,” where she’s returned to play vice presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris.
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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Special thanks to...
- Host: Jack Smart
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social Media: Katie Minard
- Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins
- Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis