Kristen Schaal
Kristen Schaal
Kristen Schaalis an American actress, voice artist, writer, and comedian. She is best known for her roles as Mel on the HBO series Flight of the Conchords, Louise Belcher on FOX animated comedy Bob's Burgers, and Mabel Pines on Gravity Falls. Other notable roles include her appearances as a commentator on The Daily Show, Amanda Simmons on The Hotwives of Orlando, Hazel Wassername on 30 Rock, Victoria Best on WordGirl, Trixie from the Toy Story franchise, and Anne on Wilfred...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actress
Date of Birth24 January 1978
CityLongmont, CO
CountryUnited States of America
I would be an actress for the rest of my life just because it's really relaxing. Writing is hard work, and stand-up is so stressful before you get on stage, but acting is a complete ensemble experience.
I never really saw myself as a standup comedian. I always just thought of myself as someone who used the eight minutes or 10 minutes she was allotted and had a blast.
You go from nobody looking at you to people taking second looks. I remember really loving it - and then feeling so guilty for loving it. Like, 'That's gross, Kristen.' Also, telling myself it could go away at any moment, and I'd be so sad.
I used to go to open mics in New York when I was starting out, and it was mostly just people who wanted an audience to look at them for eight minutes on a stage.
The more women sit down and write something in a woman's voice for a woman, they more you'll see women in comedy because gender doesn't define sense of humor. Imagination and intelligence and perspective do.
I just really like people, and being a freelancer can be lonely during the day, when you're at home trying to write anything you can. 'Flight Of The Conchords' was so wonderful because I had a family for two years.
In the U.K., there's absolutely no money for television. So you can do pretty much whatever you want. They're not losing money on any of the shows, so they'll give you a lot of creative freedom. In the United States, there are millions and millions of dollars at stake, so they need a sure formula.
It's not hard to be a woman in comedy as long as you're also a writer. You have to create your opportunity.
I've been lucky. The projects I've gotten to work on are projects I'd want to watch myself. That's what I try to shoot for.
'Rock of Love' with Bret Michaels was fun. He's a lovable guy.
My sensibilities are like, 'I want it to be weirder.'
I'm not really a control person, and I'm a big believer in collaboration. I like to have a friend.
I don't enjoy reality television at all. I have to say that I get it, though. I watch some of it, and I understand why people enjoy it.
I definitely had a Paul Rudd crush. He's great.