From “Saturday Night Live” to “The Good Place," Maya Rudolph has been making us laugh for over 20 years. Although the actress and comedian made a name for herself by impersonating the likes of Oprah, Beyoncé, and Kamala Harris on "SNL," it's safe to say she's become a cultural icon in her own right, stealing scenes in "Bridesmaids" (you know the one) and showing off her range in the Amazon Original dramedy series "Forever."
And she’s just hitting her stride. Last year, she won not one, but two Emmys for her portrayal of two very different characters: Connie the Hormone Monstress on the animated series “Big Mouth,” and then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris on “SNL.” She also lent her voice to the Hulu series “Eater's Guide to the World,” in which she narrated encounters with people, cultures, and food from around the globe à la David Attenborough meets Anthony Bourdain. Needless to say, we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us in 2021.
Ahead, the multihyphenate actor, producer, and musician (did we mention she's in a Prince cover band?) tells Create & Cultivate about the career mistake that’s given her the biggest lesson and the reason she believes you should always go after what you want.
How did you make your first dollar and what did that job teach you that still applies today?
When I was first starting out, I made my living as a costume assistant. I got to be a part of the creative process, but I also did the majority of the heavy lifting. I don’t forget what goes into that today. When I’m being dressed, that means someone is running around getting my sizes, doing returns, lugging racks of clothes... I think having been on the production side of things is really good for keeping things in perspective.
What career mistake has given you the biggest lesson?
I didn’t go to my “Saturday Night Live” audition because I was given bad advice by an old representative at the time. The advice was based on legalities and I listened because I was young and naive and knew nothing about the business. But the truth is, I wasn’t following my heart. I wanted to be on that show more than anything, it was my childhood dream. And any contract wouldn’t have made a difference to me, I just wanted to be there. I got lucky because the talent scouts came around my theatre again, and when they did, I was ready. I knew what I wanted.
2020 presented everybody around the globe with new, unprecedented challenges. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?
Before the pandemic began, I was definitely on my way to looking at my life and asking myself what makes me happy. Being able to work from home so I can spend more time with my family makes me happy. I was spending a lot more time traveling and driving. And this distilled down my choices for the projects I wanted to do or continue to do. What didn’t feel important went away organically.
When you separate yourself from your job title and the bells and whistles of your business or career, who are you and what do you like to do? How have you remained true and authentic to who you are?
I know that I am still a creative person, but that comes in many forms. I find myself coming back to design more and more. I enjoy creating, and it feels more liberating to create just for the sake of doing so. With less at stake, there are more chances to take risks. And I think I’m finally starting to be less hard on myself, which allows me to try without the fear of failure.
Fill in the blanks:
To be successful, you need to be…
Driven, whether that’s by love or by determination.
I turn bad days around by…
Checking in with my girlfriends who always help me put it into perspective.
If I wasn’t in my job now, I would…
Be a clothing designer.
Three qualities that got me to where I am today are…
Being funny, being a team player, and being a decent person.
The change I’d like to see in my industry is…
Less emphasis on what sex anyone is or how pretty they are and more emphasis on quality. Great is great.
