Biography And Filmography:

A graduate of the University of Virginia and veteran of Chicago’s famous "Second City" improv comedy group, Tina Fey has climbed her way to the top of the show business ladder. She first shot to attention as a writer and cast member on the cult favorite television show “Saturday Night Live” in 1997 where she took the Weekend Update co-anchor spot next to Jimmy Fallon, and later, to Amy Poehler. After showing her script writing ability on the smash hit Lindsay Lohan movie “Mean Girls”, she left the “SNL” cast to write and star in the hit television sitcom, “30 Rock” (2006- ) alongside Alec Baldwin and fellow SNL cast member Tracy Morgan. Also in 2008, she became a hit with her uncanny portrayal of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.

Born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey on May 18, 1970 in Upper Darby Pennsylvania, she developed her love for comedy at an early age.  In 1988, she started taking classes at the University of Virginia, where she earned a degree in theater and drama. After graduation in 1992, she relocated to Chicago where she supported herself working at the YMCA. Working during the day, she spent her evenings taking classes at "The Second City" Training Center. 

It was here that she tried her hand at stand-up comedy, and her hard work polishing her comedy routine paid off. By 1994, she was invited to join "The Second City" cast and joined the comedy troupe of "The Upright Citizen’s Brigade" – the improvisational comedy team that included Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz. Tina developed a working comedy routine with troupe member Rachel Dratch. The show "Dratch & Fey" won great reviews in its 1999 debut at Second City and its 2000 run at New York's Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater.

Her hard and persistent comedy work finally gained her the attention needed to move up to the big leagues. In 1997, she got her big break by being invited to join the writing staff of Saturday Night Live. Even though she was one of the only female writers on staff, she proved herself in the competitive environment of sketch comedy. This won her the respect of executive producer Lorne Michaels, who became a supporter for the actress and writer. She was then asked to join the cast full-time and signed on to become an official SNL cast member in 1998 while still working as a writer.

In 1999, she was promoted to head writer. As co-anchor of Weekend Update, the show’s long-running newscast spoof, she was joined by Jimmy Fallon, who turned out to be the ideal comedic partner for her. After Fallon left the show to seek a career in movies, she was joined by Amy Poehler, marking the first two-woman anchor team in the shows Weekend Update history.

In 2004, she wrote the script and co-starred in the movie comedy, “Mean Girls” starring Lindsay Lohan  and Rachel McAdams, where Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is a hit with 'The Plastics', the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett), the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George (McAdams). Developed and filmed for a relatively small amount of money, $30 million, the Lindsay Lohan vehicle was a smash hit, grossing nearly $150 million at the box office. Riding the success of “Mean Girls,” Tina quickly found herself in demand by everyone in Hollywood. Her next big Hollywood break was the landing of a development deal with NBC television that resulted in her first original production in 2006 – the smash hit sitcom, “30 Rock” starring Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan.

Largely based around her experiences on SNL, “30 Rock” found the approval of Lorne Michaels, who was executive producer. Fey worked as star, head writer and producer for the show that also starred movie veteran and favorite “SNL” guest host Alec Baldwin. The show got off to a slow start due to a much publicized last minute casting change. Her longtime friend and co-star Rachel Dratch was let go in favor of actress Jane Krakowski. An added frustration was the first episode of “30 Rock” did not perform well in the ratings, placing third for the night. Despite the bad showing, “30 Rock” was still liked enough by NBC Executives to move it to the Thursday night’s “must-see TV” comedy line-up. In 2007, the “30 Rock” executive producer, creator and star won an Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series.

Her next big movie success was as head writer for the comedy "Curly Oxide and Vic Thrill" (2009) starring funny man Sacha Baron Cohen, about an eccentric punk-rocker who forms a band with a rebellious young Hasidic Jew. 

Watch The Best Of Tina Fey On SNL Weekend Update

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