In September 2024, Ashley Padilla was at Glendale’s Americana at Brand outdoor mall with her mother when she received life-changing news: she had been cast as a featured player on “Saturday Night Live.”
Just prior to this, Padilla was at Barnes & Noble purchasing copies of her new book, “Fashion First,” which she co-authored with Diane Keaton, her former boss. She recalled feeling nervous as the announcement loomed. “I was terrified,” she admitted. “I feared people would react negatively, questioning why I was chosen.”
The tension was broken by Padilla’s mother, who struck up a conversation with a chatty woman nearby. Padilla shared details about her book and even gifted a copy to the woman. Her mother then proudly revealed Padilla’s upcoming role on “SNL,” prompting the woman to take a photo with Padilla, marking the first time they shared the news with someone outside their circle.
Unbeknownst to the woman, her spontaneous snapshot with Padilla could become a prized memento. Since joining “SNL” in its milestone 50th season, Padilla has swiftly emerged as a standout talent in the sketch comedy series.
Padilla recently appeared on Variety‘s “Awards Circuit Podcast,” where she discussed her career journey and participated in their 10 Questions Quiz. Tune in below!
According to Latenighter.com, Padilla dominated the recently concluded Season 51 with the most screen time and appearances, a first for a featured player. Notable moments included her portrayal of a suburban mom grappling with her changing views on Donald Trump.
Padilla, originally from Livermore, California, moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a career in comedy. “I was just following what made me laugh,” she explained. “I found my niche here, especially in character performances.”
She honed her skills with the renowned Groundlings troupe, which she describes as “comedy college.”
“In Groundlings, you start with improvisation, and then progress to writing your own material,” she said. “This was daunting but essential for creating sketches that I now contribute to ‘SNL.'”
Padilla credits this training for her success on “SNL,” noting that she still finds it surprising to be part of the iconic show and is thrilled with the positive response she has received.
“I’m amazed because all I want is to do great work,” she said. “I feared people wouldn’t accept me, but to have my humor appreciated is more than I could have hoped for.”
Padilla prefers to keep her personal life private, steering clear of social media. “I perform best when I’m focused and not distracted,” she said. “Social media feels too distracting to me.”
“I live a pretty uneventful life,” she added about her limited online presence. “What would I even share? Watching ‘Survivor’ and eating tuna?” she quipped, suggesting it could be material for an “SNL” sketch.
10 QUESTIONS WITH ASHLEY PADILLA:
1. Childhood nickname: “My sister used to call me ‘Ass Pee’ instead of Ashley. It’s hurtful, and people shouldn’t be called that!”
2. Something you loved as a kid but can’t believe you were into it now: “When I was really young, I loved pretending to be a witch. I don’t do that anymore, though I thought I could do potions!”
3. Go-to Karaoke or sing-in-the-shower song: “Anything that’s on, or a lot of Ariana Grande.”
4. Give me an alternate title for your show: [not asked]
5. What’s your secret talent? “I can do this with my tongue. I should have done that in my ‘SNL’ test.”
6. Favorite ice cream flavor: Vegan cookie dough.
7. The one item you couldn’t live without: “My brain said my family, and that’s not what this is.”
8. What TV show in all of history do you wish you were a cast member of? “‘The Office.’ I watch it over and over again.”
9. Fictional character you most admire: Carrie Bradshaw.
10. Your personal hot take: “Everyone just needs to leave each other alone and stop being mean. It’s a simple but good take. We don’t need to fight over everything.”
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere you download podcasts.
