Top 10 Hardest Impressions That SNL Cast Members Nailed

#10: Vanessa Bayer as Jennifer Aniston/Rachel Green

Some impressions are good… and then there are those so convincing, they get the real deal to show up. Vanessa Bayer built her reputation on a series of pitch-perfect impressions. With that said, though, her claim to fame is her Jennifer Aniston, nailing Rachel Green’s quirky cadences and that instantly recognizable, slightly nasally delivery. But the bit reached legendary status when Aniston herself joined Bayer at the Weekend Update desk alongside Colin Jost and Michael Che. What could’ve been awkward turned into comedy gold, as Aniston gamely played along and Bayer proved her impression held up right next to the original. When your subject gives you the stamp of approval, you’ve officially nailed it.

#9: Jay Pharoah as Denzel Washington

When viral impressionist Pharoah joined “SNL” in 2010, he didn’t just come with a knack for impressions — he came with a full arsenal. Chief among them was his uncannily sharp Denzel Washington. Pharoah didn’t just mimic Washington’s voice; he captured the Oscar winner’s mannerisms, cadences, and signature intensity so precisely it was like watching Denzel play himself. The impression first turned heads in the “Returns and Exchanges” sketch. Overnight, he was branded the show’s new master impressionist. While his catalog would grow to include everyone from Barack Obama to Kanye West, it was his pitch-perfect Denzel that proved he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of his peers in “SNL” history.

#8: Cecily Strong as Jeanine Pirro

Some impressions are tough because everyone knows the subject. Others are tough because hardly anyone does. Cecily Strong’s Jeanine Pirro fell firmly into the latter camp. The longtime Fox News host and judge wasn’t exactly a household name outside of politics, making Strong’s ability to build a recurring impression around her all the more impressive. Strong leaned into Pirro’s fiery monologues, sharp hand gestures, and unapologetic bravado, transforming a niche political personality into a one-woman show. The impression typically found Strong-as-Pirro downing multiple glasses of booze while ranting, teetering on the edge of chaos, but never breaking character. The sheer commitment and precision turned a difficult, hyper-specific target into one of her signature roles.

#7: Bill Hader as Keith Morrison

Bill Hader’s range of impressions was staggering, but few were as oddly specific — and oddly perfect — as his take on “Dateline NBC” host Keith Morrison. Hader parodies the Canadian broadcasting legend’s stately demeanor as being ghoulishly fascinated by the true crime stories he narrates, leaning all the way into those quirks. With his head tilted, eyebrows raised, and a singsong cadence that turned grim details into almost gleeful punchlines, Hader captured exactly what makes Morrison such a singular TV presence. What could have been a niche, throwaway impression became one of Hader’s standout recurring bits, proving his gift for spotting the eccentricities others might overlook. By making even tragedy sound cheerful, Hader nailed an impression both difficult and unforgettable.

#6: James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump

By the time Nashville native Johnson joined “SNL” in 2021, Donald Trump impressions had been done to death. But Johnson’s version was so eerily accurate, it felt like the bar had been reset. Where others leaned on caricature, Johnson nailed the fine details: the wandering tangents, the rambling syntax, even the sing-song cadence of Trump’s voice. The result was less parody and more uncanny imitation, so much so that many called it the most accurate Trump impression ever done on the show. It was literally his ticket to SNL: Johnson was hired almost entirely on the strength of his viral Trump videos. In a sea of lookalikes, his impression stood out because it sounded indistinguishably real.

#5: Melissa Villaseñor as Lady Gaga

Melissa Villaseñor brought an impressionist’s toolkit to SNL, with a repertoire that ranged from pop divas to movie stars. But one of her finest (and funniest) was her take on Lady Gaga. Villaseñor didn’t just mimic Gaga’s voice: she bottled the singer’s innately theatrical delivery and penchant for dominating the spotlight. The bit reached its comedic peak during a Weekend Update appearance, wherein Villaseñor insisted she wasn’t doing a Gaga impression… while clearly doing a spot-on Gaga impression. The sketch became a showcase for her uncanny ear and genuine musical chops, proof that Villaseñor could transform a larger-than-life star into a hilarious character without turning her into caricature.

#4: Maya Rudolph as Beyoncé

Plenty of SNL impressions thrive on exaggeration, but Maya Rudolph’s Beyoncé works because it feels both affectionate and just slightly unhinged. Rudolph has long been celebrated for her musicality and larger-than-life characters, and her Queen Bey impression showcases both. Where she really shines is in the recurring “Hot Ones” parody sketches, where her perfectly poised Beyoncé slowly unravels under the heat of progressively spicier wings. Watching the usually composed superstar lose her cool — while still trying to maintain that iconic elegance — became instant comedy gold. Rudolph’s impression succeeds because it doesn’t mock Beyoncé, it magnifies her aura, and then cleverly lets the format chip away at it. The result: one of her most memorable recurring roles.

#3: Kristen Wiig as Björk

Kristen Wiig’s Björk was an unexpectedly perfect fit, a culmination of everything else the “SNL” legend had tackled. The Icelandic singer is already one of pop’s most eccentric personalities, known for her whimsical speech patterns and surreal imagery, and Wiig leaned all the way in. She would drift through interviews in chittering tones about befriending woodland creatures, nonsense that somehow still felt like something Björk herself might actually say. It’s a deceptively difficult impression, because it’s not just about mimicking a voice: it’s about embodying an otherworldly persona. Wiig captured the electronic music pioneer’s idiosyncratic magic perfectly, making her Björk a cult-favorite recurring character.

#2: Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton

Some public figures are born to be impersonated. Hillary Clinton is not one of them. Her stately, measured demeanor makes her a tough target for comedy: there’s no wild voice or exaggerated quirk to latch onto. That’s exactly why Kate McKinnon’s impression stands out. Rather than going broad, McKinnon zeroed in on Clinton’s polished mannerisms and steely determination, then twisted them just enough to reveal the vulnerability and awkwardness beneath. Whether portraying her as unflappable and ambitious or nervously relatable, McKinnon managed to make a career politician funny without veering into outright parody. Her Hillary became a central figure in “SNL’s” 2016 election coverage, showing how even the most “bland” subjects can be mined for rich, enduring comedy in the right hands.

#1: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

Every so often, an “SNL” impression becomes bigger than the show itself. That was the case when Tina Fey returned to Studio 8H in 2008 to play then–vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. What made it so difficult is what also made it iconic: Palin wasn’t a decades-long public figure with well-established tics. She was brand new to the national stage, and Fey had to find the comedy in real time. Her genius lay in amplifying Palin’s folksy cadences, pageant-queen smiles, and overconfident charm until they became instantly recognizable. The impression was so dead-on that many viewers still conflate Fey’s parody lines with Palin’s real quotes.

Which “SNL” impression on our list blew you away? Are there any notoriously difficult impressions we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!