Sasheer Zamata

Sasheer Zamata

Sasheer Zamata performing at the Peoples Improv Theater in 2011
Born Sasheer Zamata Moore[1]
(1986-05-06) May 6, 1986
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Alma mater University of Virginia
Occupation Actress, comedian
Years active 2009–present

Sasheer Zamata Moore[1][2] (born May 6,[3] 1986),[4] known professionally as Sasheer Zamata,[3] is an American actress and comedian who is a cast member[3] on Saturday Night Live. Her first appearance on the show was January 18, 2014. She also has served as a celebrity ambassador for the ACLU.

Early life

Zamata was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a graduate of Pike High School.[5] She is the daughter of Ivory Steward and Henry Moore, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.[6] 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.[7]

Career

Zamata has performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City since 2009.[8] Zamata co-starred in the ABC News hidden camera series Primetime: Would You Fall For That?[9] She was a cast member on MTV's series Hey Girl.[10] Zamata has also appeared in sketches on Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Inside Amy Schumer.[8] She stars in the webseries Pursuit of Sexiness.[10] Additionally, she has appeared in sketches for CollegeHumor.[11]

Videos on Zamata's YouTube channel include impersonations of Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Tyra Banks, and Beyoncé.[12]

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 black cast members Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson, TV critics, and other 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).[13] Zamata is the first black female cast member on SNL since Maya Rudolph departed midway through the show's 33rd season in 2007 and the first black female cast member to be born after Saturday Night Live's television debut in 1975.[13][14][15]

Zamata debuted on SNL as a featured player in the January 18 episode hosted by Drake,[16] in which she impersonated Rihanna.[17] Her debut received positive reactions.[18] She was promoted to repertory player in the first episode of Season 41.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. 1 2 "Graduates and Degree Candidates" (PDF). University of Virginia. May 21, 2008. p. 39. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bios: Sasheer Zamata / Featured Player". NBC. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Sasheer Moore, 23: McCarren Park, Williamsburg, Brooklyn". Time Out New York. New York City. July 21, 2009.
  5. ↑ Scott, Jonathan (January 7, 2014). "Indy Native Sasheer Zamata Joins SNL Cast". Indianapolis Monthly. Emmis Communications.
  6. ↑ Lindquist, David (2014-01-09). "Sasheer Zamata's mom: 'SNL' player is late-night ready". Indystar.com. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  7. ↑ "Friends & Alumni |". 4mcveys.com. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  8. 1 2 "UCB Theatre – Sasheer Zamata". Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ ""WOULD YOU FALL FOR THAT?" AIRS FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 9 PM ET ON ABC". ABC PR. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. 1 2 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "'SNL's' Sasheer Zamata: 5 Funny Sketches and Impersonations (Video)". Hollywoodreporter.com. January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Rhodan, Maya (January 6, 2014). "SNL Finally Gets a Black Female Cast Member". Time. Time Warner.
  14. ↑ Gennis, Sadie. "Kenan Thompson Blames SNL's Diversity Issue on Lack of Talented Black Comediennes". TV Guide. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ De Moraes, Lisa. "UPDATE: 'SNL' To Audition Black Female Cast Hopefuls Monday, Pick One For January Start". Deadline: Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 6, 2014). "Sasheer Zamata Joins Saturday Night Live as New Cast Member". Deadline Hollywood. PMC.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ "SNL Promotes Beck, Bennett and Sasheer to Repertory Players". Splitsider.com. 2015.

External links

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