The Unknown Truth About Kate McKinnon's Private Life

Some people have it all – including Kate McKinnon. The comedian and actress has plenty of skills under her belt, but there’s a lot about the star the world has never learned.

There are TV shows, and then there’s ‘Saturday Night Live.’ The sketch show has been a season regular for a whopping 45 years after it hit our screens in 1975. ‘SNL’ sees some of the best comedians of the time take to the stage as they give us the laugh we need each week. That’s not all. The show has also welcomed several celebrity guests who have hosted the show and joined the comedians from time to time. Being a part of ‘SNL’ isn’t easy; comedians really have to have what it takes if they want to make people laugh.

Several stars have made a name for themselves on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ including Kate McKinnon. The comedian is famous for her hilarious impersonations, but that’s not the only time she’s kept us entertained over the years. No, Kate is also an established actress who’s appeared in the likes of the comedies ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me,’ and the drama ‘Bombshell.’ Is there no end to her talents? Although Kate McKinnon has become one of the most beloved faces of comedy thanks to her impressive career, there is plenty about the hilarious star the world is yet to learn.

Kate McKinnon tried to start a band with her former girlfriend

Kate McKinnon is known for her comedy skills, but what about her talents as a musician? It turns out that was almost the case as Kate tried to start a band with her ex-partner, Marla Mindelle. Like Kate, Marla also works in the arts as a Broadway star. The pair first started dating in 2013 before things fizzled out a few years later.

They were an incredibly private couple, but one that wanted to make it big. In 2015, Kate and Marla put their love of music and performing together as they formed the Indigo Squirrels. Sadly, they only performed once before they pulled the plug on their relationship, and it doesn’t look as though Kate plans on returning to music anytime soon.

The actress debuted her current girlfriend at the Emmys in 2017

Although Kate McKinnon and Marla Mindelle went their separate ways, it wasn’t long before the comedian seemed to have someone else on her arm. Everyone wanted to know all about the new mystery woman as Kate hadn’t mentioned being in another relationship. She might be a huge personality on stage, but Kate likes to keep many aspects of her life to herself.

It turned out the woman was none other than Jackie Abbot. The couple walked down the red carpet at the Emmys in 2017 before taking their seats in the audience. Their most public display of affection came when Kate stepped up to accept her Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award as the pair shared a brief hug.

Their relationship was later confirmed by Michelle Visage from RuPaul’s Drag Race

It can be hard to keep your private life to yourself when you’re one of the biggest stars on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ It’s even tougher when you’re friends with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Michelle Visage is one of the many judges from the reality competition show ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and was spotted hanging backstage with Kate at the Emmys.

It seems that what Kate lacks in opening up to the public, she more than makes up for with her close friends. The comedian got to pose for a snap with some of the leading cast members. Michelle later uploaded the snap to her social media, where she commented Kate was great and “Her girlfriend Jackie was just as lovely.” Mystery solved.

Jackie Abbott is also into performing and working as a clown

It seems that Kate McKinnon and Jackie Abbott have a lot in common as the pair both work as performers. Jackie is an actress living in New York City who even has an IMDB page all of her own. Her past work is mainly made up of short films, but that’s not the only thing that’s kept this rising star busy all these years.

It turns out that Jackie also works as a clown. Yes, you read that correctly. Jackie’s website says she works as a part-time clown and even lists “clowning” as one of her many skills. When she’s not keeping people entertained, Jackie prefers to be behind the camera. It seems there is no end to her skills as she’s also a talented photographer.

Neither Kate McKinnon nor Jackie Abbott have social media accounts

If there is one thing that keeps many of us busy, it’s scrolling through our favorite stars’ social media pages. You’re out of luck if you want to keep up with Kate McKinnon’s life as the comedian admits she hasn’t got any social media – and she won’t be changing that anytime soon.

Kate admits she doesn’t know much about Instagram but thinks it’s filled with nothing but photos of sun glares and coffee. Apparently, she is also worried that she might misrepresent herself and doesn’t want to come across as someone she’s not to her fans. The best bit? Kate says it feels like she’s from the past as she’s never used an emoji and confessed she has no idea what most of them mean.

Kate McKinnon’s sister Emily is also a comedian

There are plenty of skills that run in families. Perhaps your grandma taught you everything she knows about cooking? Perhaps you have musical parents who inspired you to pick up an instrument or two? It seems as though Kate McKinnon and her sister are no exception. Her younger sister, Emily Lynn Berthold, also works as a comedian.

Family reunions with this pair must be a hoot. It turns out that Emily has also acted in a handful of movies throughout her career. Over the years, Emily has learned everything she needs about film and performing at SUNY Purchase and once worked as an editor of media production for a company named MultiVu. Maybe ‘Saturday Night Live’ has some room for one more?

It’s estimated Kate McKinnon is worth millions of dollars

Being a comedian can be great if you love to make people laugh. It seems that it’s also a great career if you want to rake in some serious bucks. At least, that’s the case if you’re Kate McKinnon as Celebrity Net Worth estimates the comedian and actress is worth a staggering $9 million. Her appearances on ‘SNL’ and in various movies have all paid off so far.

SCMP reports that stars of the sketch show earn around $525,000 per year. Working on ‘Saturday Night Live’ for the last eight years means that Kate should have been able to put plenty aside for a rainy day. This is only set to grow as Kate has plenty of TV shows and movies in the pipeline.

Kate McKinnon made a terrible salesperson back in the day

Of course, most stars have to work their way to the top of the ladder. Even being born into a successful family doesn’t always mean someone is guaranteed a ticket to the top. Kate McKinnon is one of the many who has worked in several other careers before her time as a comedian and actress. It’s reported that Kate was once a telemarketer for a SAT-prep company.

Sadly, things didn’t go well for Kate as she landed the role shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated many areas across the US. The comedian says she was forced to call people across New Orleans to see if they wanted to buy some of the expensive classes, knowing that most of them had just lost everything in the storm.

The actress took plenty of odd jobs before she made in in Hollywood

Kate McKinnon didn’t just work as a salesperson before he hit the big time. It appears that she had one strike too many in her first paying career as Kate confessed to Marie Claire that she wasn’t cut out for life as an umpire. Apparently, she would help out at little league softball games, but she only made it through a few games before Kate was given the chop.

The reason? Kate didn’t understand most of the rules and had no idea what she was doing. She did, however, know what she wanted to do as a backup plan. Kate says that she loves to carve wood and decided that she would move to the woods and work as a carpenter if nothing worked out.

Breakfast is and always will be Kate McKinnon’s favorite meal of the day

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it seems as though Kate McKinnon has taken this to heart. The comedian and actress told Oprah magazine that breakfast is by far her favorite meal of the day. Kate even confessed to waking up early to make a huge breakfast each morning.

In the interview, the comedian revealed that she likes a “vegetable quinoa melange” topped with “two poached eggs.” All of this is then washed down with a cup of hot coffee. It seems that Kate likes to start her morning with a bang as the comedian has picked food often thought to be the best to fuel our bodies for the day ahead.

The comedian dreamed of appearing on Saturday Night Live for years

Many of us dream about all kinds of things we want to do as an adult. It could be anything from raking in riches to making it to the top of our career and anything in between. It turns out that Kate McKinnon always dreamt about appearing on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ The comedian has her father to thank for her passion.

In an interview with Glamor, Kate confessed that she was 12 years old when her dad first introduced her to the show. From that day on, Kate knew that she wanted to act alongside the best in the business. She might have had to wait a few years, but Kate’s dreams finally came true in 2012 when she was 28 years old.

Kate McKinnon was the first woman from the LGBTQ community to appear on SNL

Appearing on ‘Saturday Night Live’ was always on the radar for Kate McKinnon. Little did she know at 12 years old that she would set history the moment she stepped onto the set of the show. Kate has always been open about the fact she is a part of the LGBTQ community.

Even though she joined ‘SNL’ in 2012, it turned out the show had never had an open woman from the community as a part of the main cast. That’s where Kate stepped in to change history. As if her claim to fame wasn’t enough already, it appears that Kate was only the third person from the LGBTQ community to star on the show, including both men and women.

The actress thanks Ellen Degeneres for inspiring her to announce her part in the LGBTQ community

We all have our own heroes. For Kate McKinnon, it’s Ellen DeGeneres. In January 2020, Kate opened up about her feelings toward the fellow comedian at the Golden Globe Awards. Kate confessed that Ellen’s sitcom “was in the height of its popularity” in 1997 when she first started thinking about her love life.

Apparently, the comedian was lifting weights in the basement when she wondered if she was a part of the LGBTQ community. Kate says this is the moment she first realized she was a part of the community, and she has Ellen’s bravery to thank for opening up to the world. Without Ellen’s announcement, Kate says that she may have never wanted to follow in her footsteps and reveal her true self.

Kate McKinnon says her first crush was none other than Gillian Anderson

Let’s face it; most of us have a celebrity crush. For Kate McKinnon, it was none other than actress Gillian Anderson. The comedian revealed her secret to Vanity Fair, and it wasn’t long before Gillain got involved. Fans everywhere couldn’t believe it when the actress uploaded a young photo of Kate dressed as her ‘X-Files’ character to social media.

That was just the beginning. Kate and Gillian were both cast in the 2018 drama movie ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ when Gillian thought she’d do some research on her co-star. She later told James Corden that she came across a skit of Kate telling the camera about her undying love for Gillian. Apparently, being in the bath at the time made Gillian a little more than uncomfortable.

The comedian never wants to hurt anyone’s feelings with her impressions

If there is one thing that many comedians have learned, it’s they need to have thick skin and learn how to poke fun at other people without being offensive. Sure, a few naughty lines now and then probably won’t do any harm, but it’s essential to find the line before showcasing your talents. Thankfully, years in the business means that Kate McKinnon has perfected her impressions.

That doesn’t mean the comedian breezes through every performance. Kate opened up in an interview with Deadline, where she revealed she often spends a lot of time worrying about someone’s feelings before she brings them to life. It’s been good news so far as Kate added, “there hasn’t been a ton of upset” about any of her performances to date.

Kate McKinnon got her big break impersonating Hillary Clinton during her election run

Comedians need to bring something great to the table if they want to land a spot on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ In fact, even some of the biggest names in comedy have tried their hand at a part more than once only to get turned away. Thankfully, Kate McKinnon had what it took to earn her place as one of the main cast on the sketch show.

However, it wasn’t until Kate brought none other than Hillary Clinton to life that many people stopped and took notice. Hillary was in the middle of her presidential campaign when Kate started to play her on ‘SNL.’ Her quick humor teamed with the perfect way she brought Hillary to life meant that Kate quickly became a fan favorite.

Hillary Clinton first met Kate McKinnon on Saturday Night Live

Kate McKinnon has brought plenty of stars to life throughout her time on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ However, there is one character that’s become one of her most famous: Hillary Clinton. In fact, the comedian has brought Hilary to life on more than one occasion, leading many to think the pair had met many years before.

After all, how else would Kate be able to perfect her mannerisms so well without meeting Hillary in the flesh? It turns out the two women didn’t actually meet until Hillary appeared on ‘SNL’ in 2015. Although she says that all of it has been in good spirit, Hillary did later tell People that some of Kate’s performances have made her question if she really behaves that way.

Early days of writing for Saturday Night Live involved lots of narcotics

A lot of work goes into making every episode of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ However, things have changed a lot over the years. Although the show has been on the air for more than 40 years, the hectic work schedule hasn’t gotten any easier. It turns out that writers used to rely on lots of narcotics to make it through each Tuesday night session.

Buzzfeed reports that writers would stay up all night as they came up with the craziest things they could imagine, all with the help of some illegal substances. Thankfully, things have changed now. Business Insider says the show starts to take shape on Monday, get written on Tuesday, practiced on Wednesday, sets are built on Thursday, and Friday is dedicated to rewrites and rehearsals.

SNL was partly created to give Johnny Carson more vacation days

Would you believe that ‘Saturday Night Live’ was actually created thanks to the late TV host Johnny Carson? That’s right; he was working on the talk show ‘The Tonight Show’ and wanted the chance to take vacation days in the week. Johnny asked NBC to stop running reruns on the weekend, so they could be used if he wanted some time off in the week.

NBC agreed, but the network knew it needed something to fill the weekend spot. In the end, they hired TV producer Lorne Michaels and asked him to develop a new show. It wasn’t long before ‘SNL’ was born and became an instant hit with the fans. Thankfully, it seemed that everything worked out for everyone.

The opening line in SNL had to be altered as Saturday Night Live already existed

It might be hard to imagine a world where another ‘Saturday Night Live’ already exists, but that was the case when the sketch show first hit the air in 1975. NBC already owned the name, thanks to its variety show hosted by Howard Cosell. However, it only ran for 18 episodes before the network pulled the plug.

The director of the show, Don Muscher, says that he considers it to be “one of the greatest disasters” ever to hit the small screen. The existing show meant that rather than saying “it’s Saturday Night Live,” the show was forced to use the catchphrase “Live From New York, it’s Saturday Night!” ‘SNL’ is now the only show by the name, but the catchphrase stuck.

The stage for Saturday Night Live has to be changed in less than two minutes

There are so many great things about ‘SNL.’ One of the most memorable parts of the show is the sketch that opens each episode. Here, the cast gets into character and breaks into a storyline before the opening credits have a chance to roll. That’s until someone breaks character and yells the famous opening line.

The opening credits are short and sweet, meaning the crew has to work fast if they want to get things perfect. After all, they are live on air. That means the cold open and monologue set has to be dismantled and rebuilt in just 1 minute 42 seconds. It appears the cast has had plenty of practice as they’ve managed to nail it every single time.

The elevators to the studio are too small for a car

Perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering how the cast manages to get all of the props to the stage each week? After all, they are often designed with all the finer details in mind, and a lot of work goes into bringing each one to life. It seems that things aren’t as easy as they seem to the audience at home.

It turns out the elevators at the studio are pretty small. In fact, they’re so small that a car can’t fit inside. So how do they get it up to the studios? By cutting it in half and bringing it up in two pieces. The crew then has to reassemble the car in the studio before getting it out of the building again.

Several stars have been rejected from Saturday Night Live

Believe it or not, but some of the biggest names in comedy have actually been rejected from ‘Saturday Night Live’ over the years. Jim Carrey is one on the list after the comedian auditioned for the 1980 and ‘81 season. Lorne Michaels told Vanity Fair that he never got to see the audition before someone else rejected Jim.

Stephen Colbert is another rejected star, but he did manage to work on the ‘TV Funhouse’ as the actor voiced some of the characters. Someone put in a good word with Lorne as they thought Lisa Kudrow would be a great fit for ‘SNL.’ Although the producer flew to Los Angeles to see Lisa in her stand-up comedy routine, he eventually picked actress Julia Sweeney instead.

It’s thought stars earn thousands of dollars per episode, but not everyone cashes in

Being a comical genius is one thing, but earning big bucks for your talents is another. Who said that comedians can’t enjoy the high life? ‘SNL’ stars have certainly got a taste of riches over the years as Parade magazine estimates that leading cast members earned $24,000 per episode back in 2017.

This did vary depending on each person’s writing credits and seniority within the show. However, it’s reported that Alec Baldwin often earns a lot less. The actor is famous for his part as the President of the United States. So how come Alec takes home just $1,400 each episode? It seems that Alec must have a lot less to do with the show than some of the top comedians.

Eddie Murphy saved Saturday Night Live from being canceled

Eddie Murphy is one of the many stars who have built their career on ‘Saturday Night Live’ over the years. However, he was just a nobody when he first signed up for the show. Lorne Michael walked away from ‘SNL’ at the end of the ‘80s season after troubles with network executives – but he did eventually return.

Many of the writers and other high-ups walked away with Lorne, meaning the show needed to find a way to survive – and fast. Eddie was brought in for some cameo roles, but he didn’t get a lot of recognition until well into the season. Suddenly, the tumbling ratings started to turn around as Eddie brought in viewers from across the nation. Without Eddie, ‘SNL’ probably would have been canceled.

Most of the sets are destroyed after they’re used on the show

If there is one thing that many of us have noticed, it’s that ‘Saturday Night Live’ loves to use a ton of sets in each season. Although it takes many hours to bring them to life, most of them are destroyed after they’ve been used. Only a few of them, such as the Oval Office or other well-used sets, get to survive.

Apparently, the network doesn’t want to pay for acres of storage space to keep a set that may or may not be used again. That’s not all. Some of the stars of the show have even gotten the chance to design their own sets over the years, as both Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon have worked behind the scenes.

Larry David quit SNL without warning and then denied it happened

It’s not just the comedians who have to work hard to land a spot on ‘Saturday Night Live;’ it turns out the writers also have to battle if they want to get their sketch used on the show. Apparently, writer Larry David had enough of his work getting pushed to one side. He had written for the show throughout the 1980s, but only a few of his sketches ever made it to the final show.

In the end, Larry walked up to the then-producer and announced he quit. Sadly, Larry quickly realized how much money he’d just lost. It’s reported the writer turned up on Monday morning like nothing happened and continued to work for ‘SNL’ throughout the rest of the season.

Mindy Kaling was forced to turn down a writing role on Saturday Night Live

Some comedians will do anything to get the chance to work on ‘SNL.’ Mindy Kaling is one of the many who dreamed about the day she got to write for the show, but her dreams were never meant to be as the timing didn’t work out. Mindy had just been cast in the mockumentary ‘The Office’ even though she’d always dreamed of working with ‘SNL.’

The creator of ‘The Office’ told Mindy that if she were cast in the show, he would break her contact and let her go and act. However, he wouldn’t if she was asked to write as Mindy already wrote for ‘The Office’ and had other work to do. The result? Mindy has to reject writing for ‘Saturday Night Live.’

The Beatles almost reformed on Saturday Night Live as a prank

The end of the Beatles was enough for superfans everywhere to break down and cry. People couldn’t believe that arguably the biggest pop group ever to walk the Earth had come to an end, but the guys all wanted to work on their own music. Six years after the split, in 1976, a promoter offered the group $230 million to reunite, but they quickly declined.

Shortly after, Lorne Michaels suggested the Beatles got back together for a guest spot on ‘SNL.’ John Lennon later shared that he and Paul McCartney were watching the show and almost got a cab to the studios as a prank. Unfortunately, the pair decided they were too tired to make an effort, meaning the world never got their wish.

The audience voted Andy Kaufman off Saturday Night Live

Comedian Andy Kaufman was one of the biggest stars of the time and signed up to become one of the first stars of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Although his acts were often ahead of their time, Andy kept everyone on their toes as no one knew what he would pull next. From Elvis to lip-syncing and everything in between, Andy had it all.

Sadly, the then-producer of the show wasn’t impressed with his antics and wanted him out. Andy decided to let the audience vote to decide if he should stay or go. In the end, the ‘Keep Andys’ scored 169,186, while the ‘Dump Andys’ received 195,544. That was it. Andy sealed his own fate and was forced to walk away from ‘SNL.’