We bring you all the facts about the star of OBVIOUS CHILD…
OBVIOUS CHILD is released in Irish cinemas this week, and stars Jenny Slate as Donna, a woman on the cusp of turning 30, who has never really learned to grow up. When her boyfriend breaks up with her – tired of being the subject of her stand up routines and having an affair with her best friend – Donna makes a series of ill-informed choices, that lead her to having to make some adult decisions for the first time.|
Jenny Slate is a woman on the rise, so we decided to gather together the facts about the actress…
1. The F Word
Jenny Slate joined the cast of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in 2009. In her first episode on the cast, she accidentally said the F Word. Slate stayed on SNL for a year, and impersonated celebrities such as Olympia Snowe, Lady Gaga, Ashley Olsen (alongside Nasim Pedrad as Mary-Kate Olsen), Hoda Kotb, and Kristen Stewart.
2. Marcel the Shell
Do you remember the odd, but sweet little short MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON that did the internet rounds in 2010? Well Slate co-wrote and voiced the stop-motion short film, which was directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp, about a shy, shoe-wearing sea shell.
3. Marcel the book deal
Slate also wrote a children’s book about Marcel the Shell – titled MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON: THINGS ABOUT ME – that was released on November 1, 2011. The book went on to be a New York Times bestseller.
4. The Great Outdoors
Slate is well known for her work on PARKS & RECREATION. She plays Mona-Lisa Saperstein; a loud mouthed, narcissistic and generally awful young woman who starts a relationship with Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari). Mona-Lisa then works at Haverford’s business, where she spends her time sleeping off her dugs binges from the night before and stealing money. Slate’s brash and over the top character is cocky, aggressive and steals every scene she is in.
5. Wedding Bells
In September 2012, Slate married filmmaker Dean Fleischer-Camp, who directed many of Slate’s short films, including MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON.
6. That’s Not All Folks…
It was announced in 2012 that Slate has been hired to write the script for a reboot of the Looney Tunes franchise for Warner Bros. The film is due to be a mix of CGI and live action. The precise details, however, are being kept under wraps for now.
7. Alvin, Simon… Jenny?
Slate’s first major movie role was in ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED, in 2011. She has since appeared in THE LORAX, THIS MEANS WAR, as well as this week’s OBVIOUS CHILD.
8. Stand Up
Before she appeared on PARKS AND RECREATION, BOB’S BURGERS, BORED TO DEATH or GIRLS, Slate spend many years doing stand up. She started when she was 22. Alongside comedian Gabe Liedman, Slate is half of the comedy duo Gabe & Jenny. Their live stand-up shows with Max Silvestri, Big Terrific, was named best new variety show of 2008 by Time Out New York. Throughout 2008 and 2009, Slate regularly performed her one-woman show, Jenny Slate: Dead Millionaire, in New York City.
9. Busy Woman…
Slate currently co-stars with Judy Greer and Nat Faxon in the comedy series MARRIED, and Slate also had a recurring role in HOUSE OF LIES, which also stars her PARKS AND RECREATION brother, Ben Schwartz.
10. Coming up
As well as her TV and writing work, Slate will star in the upcoming comedy film THE LONGEST WEEK, alongside Olivia Wilde, Jason Bateman and Billy Crudup.
OBVIOUS CHILD is released in Irish cinemas on August 28th
Words: Brogen Hayes