For years, Amy Sedaris was a Hollywood powerhouse that the average viewer wouldn’t be able to recognize by name. She was constantly cast in supporting roles that required pinpoint comedic talent and a knack for knowing how to steal a scene.
But in recent years, she’s come into her own and a devout fanbase has formed. Nowadays, she’s being cast by everyone from Netflix to Disney…not to mention the fact that she has very own show on TruTV. Here are Amy Sedaris’ best roles throughout the years, ranked.
Victoria, Ghost Team (2016)
Ghost Team was a halfbaked comedy starring Jon Heder and Justin Long. It was supposed to follow a group of ghosthunters who think they’ve actually stumbled upon real ghosts. The move is, in general, quite bad. Sedaris plays Victoria, a fake psychic medium who tags along because she needs the money and manages to steal every scene she’s in, giving you a reason to sit through the rest of the crap just to see her performance.
Louise Laffer, Alpha House (2013-2014)
Deb, Elf (2003)
Elf is a perennial holiday favorite about an elf named Buddy who discovers that he is, in fact, actually human and that his father a big shot businessman in New York City. Buddy travels to New York to meet his real father and creates havoc and mayhem everywhere he goes.
In the film, Sedaris plays the father’s high-strung secretary. While it isn’t Amy Sedaris’ most comedic role ever, she plays a solid supporting part in one of the most beloved holiday films in modern times. Aside from Sedaris, the cast includes Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, and even Bob Newhart.
Jen, Chef (2014)
Chef was an unexpected hit film from creator Jon Favreau about Carl, a bigtime chef who quits his job at a fancy LA restaurant and decides to operate his own food truck. The movie comes together because of its excellent cast including Favreau, as well as Sofie Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downy Jr., and of course, Amy Sedaris. Sedaris plays a sleazy publicist who is always trying to “help” Carl get more famous. The role was perfect for Sedaris and allowed her to ad-lib and improv a variety of impromptu jokes. Even her outtakes reel from the film is hilarious.
Pam, Broad City (2014-2019)
Amy Sedaris appeared in two episodes of Broad City as Pam, a struggling real estate agent who sells some of New York’s less glamourous properties. Although her role in the show isn’t big, it’s absolutely hysterical and memorable.
The series was a critical hit and secured some excellent ratings for Comedy Central. However, as the seasons went on, viewership began to slip (due in part to the rise of streaming services) and the show aired its final episode in 2019. The show retains a strong cult following and is considered by many to be one of the best original series of the 2010s.
Everyone on At Home With Amy Sedaris (2018-Present)
Amy Sedaris is known for her ability to create unique characters through her props, costumes, and facial expressions. She took this to a whole new level on her TV show At Home with Amy Sedaris, where she plays multiple characters. From the cranky know-it-all, Patty Hogg, to the horny regional wine-delivery worker, Ronnie Vino, Sedaris has a wide arsenal of tricks to create numerous characters that somehow all come together perfectly in one of TV’s wackiest shows.
Princess Carolyn, BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
Sedaris had a leading role in the animated series as Princess Carolyn, a high-strung talent agent (Sedaris has a knack for playing high-strung agents). What made BoJack Horseman so fascinating though, was that, while it appeared to be a comedy on the surface, the series was actually a drama.
Many of the characters go through very real problems in the show, and there’s an underlying sense of melancholy beneath the jokes that had a way of really sticking with viewers. Much of the show’s success is also due to its talented cast.
Peli Motto, The Mandalorian (2019-Present)
Fans were shocked when Amy Sedaris unexpectedly propped up in The Mandalorian during episode five. Sedaris played Peli Motto, a docking bay repairwoman who is tasked with looking after The Child (aka: Baby Yoda). Sedaris was an instant hit and the internet exploded over her surprise appearance. One of the episode’s Easter eggs was that her outfit was purposefully designed to resemble Ellen Ripley’s from Alien. Immediately after her appearance, fans began demanding that she return for season 2.
Mimi Kanassis, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-????)
Amy Sedaris starred in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Mimi Kanassis, a desperate socialite who will do literally anything for popularity. The series was filled with wacky antics and hilarious dialogue, but the addition of Sedaris took the show to a whole new level.
And for fans of the show, there is some potentially good news. It was announced in mid-2019 that Netflix had begun production on a Kimmy Schmidt movie, but since then, no mentions of the project have been made. Fans should keep their eyes and ears open for future announcements regarding the film.
Jerri Blank, Strangers with Candy (1999-2000, 2006)
Strangers with Candy is the ultimate definition of a cult hit. Most people don’t even know about the show. Those who do are devout fans who can quote it line by line. The basic premise of the show is that Jerri (Amy Sedaris) is a 46-year-old high school freshman. Thirty-two years prior, she dropped out of school and ran away from home. She was a boozer, a user, and a loser… she even stole the TV. But now, she’s back in school and learns that though the faces may have changed, the hassles are just the same. It’s raunchy, rude, crude, offensive, and downright hilarious. The show was co-created by, and also stars, Stephen Colbert.
