Sasheer Zamata
Sasheer Zamata | |
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![]() Zamata at a discussion panel at the LBJ Library and Museum, April 2019 | |
Born | Sasheer Zamata Moore[1] May 6, 1986 Okinawa, Japan |
Alma mater | University of Virginia |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2009–present |
Sasheer Zamata Moore[1][2] (/səˈʃɪər zəˈmeɪtə/; born May 6, 1986)[3][4] is an American actress and comedienne known for her work as a cast member[3] on Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2017. She also has served as a celebrity ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union.
Early life[]
Zamata was born in Okinawa, Japan, because of her father's military career.[5] She is the daughter of American parents, Ivory Steward and Henry Moore, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.[6] She was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a graduate of Pike High School.[7] She stated her parents named her after the alien flower-like crystal called the "Sahsheer" from the Star Trek episode "By Any Other Name".[8] She attended the University of Virginia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1][2] Zamata was a founding member of the University's long-form improv comedy troupe, Amuse Bouche.[9] While a student at UVA, she participated in the Disney College Program for one semester, where she portrayed various costumed characters.[10]
Career[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Sasheer_Zamata%2C_Peoples_Improv_Theater%2C_2011.png/220px-Sasheer_Zamata%2C_Peoples_Improv_Theater%2C_2011.png)
Zamata has performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City since 2009.[11] Zamata co-starred in the ABC News hidden camera series Would You Fall for That?[12] She was a cast member on MTV's series Hey Girl.[13] Zamata has also appeared in sketches on Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Inside Amy Schumer.[11] She stars in the webseries Pursuit of Sexiness.[13] Additionally, she has appeared in sketches for CollegeHumor.[14]
Videos on Zamata's YouTube channel include impersonations of Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Tyra Banks, and Beyoncé.[15]
Zamata also voices the character Sally in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Zombie mode.
Saturday Night Live[]
In 2014, Zamata joined the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) during its 39th season. She joined the SNL cast amid a season in which TV critics and black comedians had criticized Saturday Night Live for not being ethnically diverse (specifically, not hiring any black female cast members at the start of the new season and only having five of them in the near-40 years the show has been on the air).[16] Zamata was the first black female cast member on SNL since biracial Maya Rudolph departed midway through the show's 33rd season in 2007.[16][17][18]
Zamata debuted on SNL as a featured player in the January 18, 2014 episode hosted by Drake,[19] in which she impersonated Rihanna.[20][21] She was promoted to repertory player in the first episode of Season 41.[22] Some of her recurring characters include Janelle, a teenage girl who hosts a YouTube channel called How 2 Dance with Janelle but is unaware of how her developing sexuality is coming off to viewers, and Keeley, a contestant on an African-American centric version of Jeopardy! called Black Jeopardy! Some of her celebrity impressions have included the aforementioned Rihanna, Michelle Obama, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, Diana Ross, Lupita Nyong'o, and Taraji P. Henson. She left the show in 2017 after the season 42 finale.[23]
The ACLU and work with women's rights[]
Zamata was named a celebrity ambassador to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 2015, and began work with the Women's Rights Project.[24] The ACLU Women's Rights project seeks to break down gender biases and "ensure equal economic opportunities, educational equity, and an end to gender-based violence".[25] She has spoken out on gender discrimination in the U.S. today, and has advocated for equal rights among women of color, in particular.[26] In an interview with Allure, Zamata opened up about her experiences with discrimination and colorism. Though often stigmatized for her darker skin tone, she hopes to turn her experiences into a message of self-acceptance and body positivity for women in all shades.[27]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Sticks and Stones | Short film | |
2009 | Michelle Obama's Breaking Point | Michelle Obama | Short film |
2010 | Tyra Banks Exclusive 2010 | Tyra Banks | Short film |
2011 | Subway Rush | Short film | |
2012 | White Powder | Short film | |
2012 | Three to One | Short film | |
2013 | Black Superheroes | Short film | |
2013 | Tie | Short film | |
2013 | Best Buy Real Home Theater Experience | Short film | |
2013 | Little Horribles | Short film | |
2014 | The Re-Gift | ACE Party Girl | Short film |
2014 | The Crumb of It | Sasheer | Short film |
2014 | Intimate Semaphores | Sasheer | Segment "Cake" |
2014 | Grow a Guy | Friend | Short film |
2015 | The Jay Z Story | Beyoncé Knowles | Short film |
2015 | Prom Queen | Teacher #2 | Short film |
2016 | Sleight | Georgi | |
2016 | Yoga Hosers | Principal Invincible | |
2017 | Deidra & Laney Rob a Train | Ms. Spencer | |
2017 | The Outdoorsman | Mona | |
2018 | I Feel Pretty | Tasha | |
2018 | The Weekend | Zadie Barber | |
2020 | Spree | Jessie Adams | |
2021 | The Mitchells vs. the Machines | Jade (voice) |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Acid Tests | Karen | |
2011 | Beyonce as a Mommy | Beyonce | |
2011 | Jest Originals | Chelsea | Episode: "TOMS 'One 4 One' Gone Wrong" |
2012 | Blue Ivy | Episode: "Blue Ivy in the Nursery" | |
2012 | UCB Live! | Herself | |
2012–2013 | Fodder | Various | 14 episodes |
2012–2015 | CollegeHumor Originals | Various | 5 episodes |
2013 | The Morning After | Herself | Episode: "Once You Go Black..." |
2013 | Thingstarter | Woman on Street | Episode: "iNotRacist" |
2013 | PITtv | Mom | Episode: "Gay-Doh" |
2013 | Above Average Presents | Various | 3 episodes |
2013 | Inside Amy Schumer | Sales Girl | Episode: "Bad Decisions" |
2013 | Would You Fall for That? | Herself | |
2013–2015 | UCB Comedy Originals | Various | 9 episodes |
2013–2015 | Pursuit of Sexiness | Sheer | Main cast |
2014 | Dream Jobs | Madison | |
2014 | Inside Amy Schumer | Tess | Episode: "Slut-Shaming" |
2014–2017 | Saturday Night Live | Herself/Various | Main cast; 74 episodes |
2015 | Lucas Bros. Moving Co. | Blackneficent (voice) | Episode: "For the Love of Moving" |
2016 | Night Train with Wyatt Cenac | Episode: "Cleve & Steve" | |
2016 | Transparent | Asra | Episode: "Elizah" |
2016 | People of Earth | Marcy | Episode: "Significant Other" |
2016 | Albert | Maisie (voice) | TV movie |
2017 | The Special Without Brett Davis | Episode: "Raddisson" | |
2017 | Sasheer Zamata: Pizza Mind | Herself | Internet streaming special |
2017 | BoJack Horseman | Jewelry Store Clerk (voice) | Episode: "Ruthie" |
2017 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Ms. Stern | Episode: "Making Love" |
2017–2018 | Loosely Exactly Nicole | Kim Whitfield | Recurring |
2019 | Corporate | Jessica | Recurring |
2019 | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | Guest Correspondent | Episode: 110 (Season 4) |
2019 | Historical Roasts | Rosa Parks | Episode: "Martin Luther King Jr." |
2020 | Finding Your Roots | Herself | Episode: "Homecomings" |
2020 | The Last O.G. | Isis | 3 episodes |
2020 | Robbie | Ava | Main cast |
2020 | Woke | Ayana | 7 episodes |
2020 | The George Lucas Talk Show | Herself | Episode: "Yoda Hosers" |
2020 | The Fungies! | Cool Mom / Mama Lemon (voice) | 2 episodes |
2021 | Tuca & Bertie | Kara | TBA |
2021 | Home Economics | Denise | Main cast |
2022 | Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur | Adria (voice) |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2016 | Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: Zombies in Spaceland | Sally |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Friedman, Molly (January 8, 2014). "Sasheer Zamata's path to 'Saturday Night Live'". Daily News (Web ed.). New York City.
...Zamata, who at the time still used her last name, Moore, suffered during college.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Graduates and Degree Candidates" (PDF). University of Virginia. May 21, 2008. p. 39. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Bios: Sasheer Zamata / Featured Player". NBC. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ^ "Sasheer Moore, 23: McCarren Park, Williamsburg, Brooklyn". Time Out New York. New York City. July 21, 2009.
- ^ Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 7, 2020
- ^ Lindquist, David (January 9, 2014). "Sasheer Zamata's mom: 'SNL' player is late-night ready". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Scott, Jonathan (January 7, 2014). "Indy Native Sasheer Zamata Joins SNL Cast". Indianapolis Monthly. Emmis Communications.
- ^ ABC's Match Game Season 2 Episode 12, aired 14 May 2017; Zamata was a panelist for this episode, and the topic of her name came up when introduced by host Alec Baldwin.
- ^ "Friends & Alumni |". 4mcveys.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Sasheer Zamata Tells Desus and Mero About Her College Job at Disney World". Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "UCB Theatre – Sasheer Zamata". Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ ""Would You Fall for That?" Airs Friday, August 9, 9 p.m. ET on ABC". ABC PR. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b O'Neal, Sean (January 6, 2014). "Saturday Night Live has officially added its first black female cast member in years". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ Friedman, Molly (January 8, 2014). "Sasheer Zamata's path to 'Saturday Night Live': 'SNL's' first black female cast member in several years, a star of the web series 'Pursuit of Sexiness,' shares a college and an improv troupe with Tina Fey". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ^ "'SNL's' Sasheer Zamata: 5 Funny Sketches and Impersonations (Video)". Hollywood Reporter. January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Rhodan, Maya (January 6, 2014). "SNL Finally Gets a Black Female Cast Member". Time. Time Warner.
- ^ Gennis, Sadie. "Kenan Thompson Blames SNL's Diversity Issue on Lack of Talented Black Comediennes". TV Guide. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ De Moraes, Lisa. "UPDATE: 'SNL' To Audition Black Female Cast Hopefuls Monday, Pick One For January Start". Deadline: Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 6, 2014). "Sasheer Zamata Joins Saturday Night Live as New Cast Member". Deadline Hollywood. PMC.
- ^ Thomas, Rebecca (January 19, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live': Sasheer Zamata Debuts, But How'd She Do? - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ^ Chan, Robert (January 19, 2014). "Sasheer Zamata, the First Black Woman on 'SNL' in 6 Years, Makes Her Debut | Yahoo TV - Yahoo TV". Tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ^ "SNL Promotes Beck, Bennett and Sasheer to Repertory Players". Splitsider.com. 2015.
- ^ Antoinette Bueno (May 21, 2017). "Sasheer Zamata Leaving 'Saturday Night Live'". Entertainment Tonight.
- ^ Report, Electronic Urban (October 29, 2015). "'SNL's' Sasheer Zamata is ACLU Celebrity Ambassador on Women's Rights - EURweb".
- ^ "Women's Rights", American Civil Liberties Union
- ^ "Saturday Night Live's Sasheer Zamata: Let's Talk About Privilege".
- ^ Siegael, Elizabeth (March 21, 2017). "Saturday Night Live's Sasheer Zamata Speaks Out About Colorism". Allure. Condé Nast. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
External links[]
- 1986 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American comedians
- Actresses from Indianapolis
- African-American actresses
- African-American female comedians
- American expatriates in Japan
- American film actresses
- American impressionists (entertainers)
- American sketch comedians
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- American women comedians
- Comedians from Indiana
- University of Virginia alumni
- Upright Citizens Brigade Theater performers