Top 10 Best Kate McKinnon Acting Performances
#10: Carole Baskin “Joe vs. Carole” (2022)
In 2020, “Tiger King” introduced us to a wild story about shady ongoings in the big cat conservation world, and had many people hooked. Upon additional research for “Joe vs. Carole”, which is based on a podcast, McKinnon discovered there was a lot to explore. The limited series explains the conservationist’s hostile feud with Joe Exotic. And in addition to being an executive producer on the project, the actress brilliantly plays the now-infamous Carole Baskin. McKinnon said she was drawn to the role because she “like[s] weirdos.” Well, she certainly nailed that aspect of the character. The show arguably struggled to match the craziness of the real story, but we loved seeing McKinnon dig her claws into this part.
#9: Sam “Sisters” (2015)
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This 2015 comedy sees McKinnon playing Sam, one member of an apparently experienced party-throwing couple. It’s a very small role, but it lets the star flex her brilliant comedic skills. She and Colleen Werthmann, who plays her partner Cray, brilliantly riff off one another with an exceedingly ridiculous list of must-have party essentials. An extended scene shows just how far the actress is willing to go to make audiences laugh, with her ideas becoming increasingly nonsensical. We honestly don’t know how anybody could keep a straight face watching this. It’s such an underrated performance, and McKinnon definitely deserved more screen time.
#8: Mary Winetoss “Office Christmas Party” (2016)
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In another party-themed movie, McKinnon plays Mary from H.R,, who tries to keep the employees in check. So what eventually becomes a full-on Christmas rager is perhaps her worst nightmare. But even she ultimately has to blow off some steam. McKinnon steals every scene, whether she’s enforcing rules or letting her hair down. Even in a movie full of big names like this one, we can’t tear our eyes away from her – or her non-denominational sweater. It’s a real credit to just how talented and funny she is. This brilliant performance is the holiday gift that keeps on giving year-round.
#7: Jandice Gartrell “Masterminds” (2016)
“Masterminds” is a tongue-in-cheek comedy inspired by the 1997 North Carolina Loomis Fargo robbery. McKinnon plays protagonist David’s eerily stoic fiancée Jandice. She’s one of the few people who could play such a sinister character and still have us doubled over with laughter. David and Jandice’s hilarious engagement photoshoot, for instance, proves that even without dialogue, McKinnon’s one of the funniest people in the room. Also, she and Zach Galifianakis share such incredible chemistry that we would’ve loved to be on set during their scenes. Plus, any movie where Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig share the screen is always worth watching.
#6: Morgan Freeman “The Spy Who Dumped Me” (2018)
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Even while fighting off bad guys, Kate McKinnon still knows how to generate the big laughs. And although she plays the best friend, she’s certainly no second banana. While certain critics found the film’s comedy to action ratio uneven, McKinnon’s fiery, bubbly and side-splittingly hilarious Morgan was a highlight for many. Her unique brand of comedy skillfully challenges the film’s never ending stream of clichés so well that they circle back to being refreshing. She and Mila Kunis are a dream team, but the former’s performance makes a strong case for giving the wacky bestie top billing. Come for the female-led action-comedy, but stay for McKinnon zany energy and hilarious one-liners.
#5: Lupe “Ferdinand” (2017)
Lupe the “calming goat” was a standout character in the screen adaptation of this classic children's book. An overeager, eccentric trainer with a heart of gold sounds like the perfect fit for McKinnon, and it was. Indeed, she made the character a joy to watch, both for the funny moments and the heartwarming ones. And apparently, some of Lupe's hilarious facial expressions were actually inspired by the actress, especially the sassy side-eye. Given the imagination required in voice acting, it's no surprise that this is among her strongest performances. McKinnon’s played many hilarious characters, but this one reminds us that she is the GOAT.
#4: Jess Carr “Bombshell” (2019)
This 2019 movie made waves, and for good reason. McKinnon plays Jess, a "closeted liberal" working at Fox News at the time when its notorious misconduct scandal was being exposed. She takes new girl Kayla, played by Margot Robbie, under her wing, and they become close. Despite Jess being one of her more serious parts, McKinnon manages to interject humor into most of her scenes. However, as much as we love this queen’s comedy, it's so refreshing seeing her take on something totally different, especially since she nails it. Clearly, there's nothing she can't master, and we can't wait to see her spread her acting wings even further in the future.
#3: Pippa/Kiwi “Rough Night” (2017)
No one plays the kooky friend quite like Kate McKinnon, and "Rough Night" gave her the perfect playground to let her freak flag fly. She joins bachelorette Jess and her other friends on what turns out to be a weekend they'd rather forget. As always, McKinnon’s a total scene-stealer, thanks to her unpredictable shenanigans and pronounced Aussie accent, which she actually mastered through podcasts. The film's premise is one we've all seen before, but Pippa – aka Kiwi – is one of a kind, and we adore her. No matter what you thought of the film, McKinnon’s performance was undeniably the life of the party.
#2: Debra Hammer “Yesterday” (2019)
Imagine waking up to a world where you're the only one who remembers The Beatles — that's the story of "Yesterday." McKinnon is Debra Hammer, an agent who hears artist Jack – the only person who remembers the band – singing their songs. And she smells an opportunity for cash. Of course, she has no recollection of The Beatles, so she assumes the tunes are his. In reality, someone like Hammer would be highly unlikeable. Yet McKinnon's charm and comedic flair work their magic, making her one of the movie's most compelling individuals. A particularly amusing highlight is when she tears Jack to shreds over his appearance and previous failures. While some were on the fence about the movie itself, we think McKinnon's Debra was a hit. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Herself, “Ted 2” (2015) We Couldn’t Talk About McKinnon Without Mentioning SNL in Some Capacity Ms. Fiona Felicity Frizzle, “The Magic School Bus Rides Again” (2017-20) We Can’t Think of a Better Person to Voice the Younger Frizzle Sister Jill, “Family” (2018) A Small Part With a Major Impact Régine Le Haut / Mother Superior / Félicie's Mother, “Leap!” (2016) We’re Treated to the Star’s Voice Acting Through Three Different Characters Wife Fish Inez, “Finding Dory” (2016) A Brief but Memorable Appearance
#1: Jillian Holtzmann “Ghostbusters” (2016)
Although the movie was met with mixed opinions, McKinnon's Holtzmann was an adored breakout character. A mad scientist in the best possible way, Jillian marches to the beat of her own drum. We've seen McKinnon play many characters that fit similar descriptions, but none quite as distinct as this one. In addition to being as hilarious as ever, she went the extra mile with her facial expressions and actions in a way we simply couldn't ignore. Kate McKinnon's merely in a league of her own, and it was practically impossible to fault her performance. Jillian Holtzmann was unapologetically wacky, weird, and wonderful, and audiences loved her for it.
