The Subtle Funnywoman: Kristen Wiig
From:
Tracey Anderson
252 days 5 hours 32 minutes ago
Kristen Wiig, the comedic actress and impressionist, is not getting her fair share of kudos. Yes, she's in a Vanity Fair spread as one of the funniest women in entertainment. Yes, she's a current cast member of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. And yes, she's getting bit roles in some of the year's biggest comedy movies (Knocked Up, Walk Hard). Yet, she's still not generating the buzz she so rightly deserves.
Wiig is one of those actresses that are almost more interesting when they aren't speaking. Her expressions and mannerisms are as funny and controlled as a perfectly-timed pratfall by Chevy Chase or Will Ferrell. She has nailed the sidelong glance. In fact, if The Office ever has an open casting call for Jim Halpert's sister, Wiig should do it. She would be killer at quick camera glances.
Two weeks ago, after the news of Elliot Spitzer broke, SNL opened the show with Bill Hader playing Spitzer with Wiig as his wife. She didn't say a word the entire sketch--but was by far the funniest part of the scene. Her eyes speak volumes.
Another example of her subtle hilariousness can be found in this recently-posted video on FunnyorDie.com. She plays a public access reporter interviewing a Teacher of the Year winner.
It seems the guys over at SNL are aware of the talent they have found in Wiig--her airtime keeps increasing and she's getting meatier sketches based on her characters. She might actually have cracked the code of making the transtition from sketch comedy TV to movies: take small, more impactful roles instead of jumping right into lead roles based on your small screen personas. (It never, ever works.)
Wiig, keep it up. You're the type of funnywoman smart women want to watch.
