Cecily Strong Biography

Fast Facts

• Graduated from the California Institute of the Arts in 2006 with a BFA in Theater
• When she was a child, she would watch old "Saturday Night Live" commercials on VHS every day
• Studied comedy at the Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago
• Quote: "I grew up in theater, so I've got a love for character work and sketch acting․"
• Has appeared at such events as the Chicago Sketch Fest, Chicago Just for Laughs, New York Sketchfest and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
• Her recurring characters on "Saturday Night Live" before being promoted to Weekend Update anchor included The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party and Dana, an insulting retail worker
• Performed at such Chicago theaters as the Goodman Theater, Bailiwick Theater and Mercury Theater
• Joined the all-female improvisation troupe Virgin Daiquiri
• Didn't realize she was officially the "Saturday Night Live" Weekend Update co-anchor until she saw it announced in "The New York Times․"
• Stated that she was inspired by comedian Phil Hartman