SNL’s latest star takes a break from doing riotously funny impressions of Ellen and Martha to reveal her best bad-kissing experience.
DETAILS: As Saturday Night Live’s new resident impressionist, you’ve played the Spanish woman who botched a Jesus fresco, the Long Island Medium, Penélope Cruz, and Ellen on Ellen…with Ellen. Who was the first person you nailed?
KATE MCKINNON: Barbara Walters when I was 12, because I was copying Cheri Oteri’s impression. Then in high school there was a teacher who had a distinctive voice with a lateral lisp. It was very high and very strange. I did the homeroom announcements every morning, and one day I did them as her. It caused a real ruckus.
DETAILS: You made out with Louis C.K. for a sketch when he hosted last year. What was it like?
KATE MCKINNON: If you asked me to seriously kiss someone on a screen, I would be very uncomfortable. But I will lick any part of your face. So what was just supposed to be a little gross turned into a dance of mouths and of hair and of teeth. He’s the best bad kisser. There’s no one I’d rather bad kiss.
DETAILS: You were part of the Upright Citizens Brigade for five years, but they don’t pay their actors. What’s the worst job you had to take in those days to make ends meet?
KATE MCKINNON: I worked as a telemarketer for an SAT-prep company. That was the worst of it, because I had to call people in post-Katrina New Orleans and offer them this very, very expensive SAT class. And I’m not even a good salesman. I couldn’t sell crack to a crackhead.
DETAILS: Really? Give us your best pitch.
KATE MCKINNON: “Hello? Hi, this is Kate from Kaplan SAT Prep. Um, do you—are you interested in, um, maybe an SAT…like, an SAT class, you know?” And they’d ask, “How much is it?” And I’d be like, “It is very expensive. You’re going to freak out when I tell you. It’s $1,000. Yeah, I know. It’s ridiculous. I’m so sorry to bother you.”
DETAILS: The seventies were a notoriously drug-addled era in Studio 8H. What do you guys do to cut loose these days?
KATE MCKINNON: The after-party is always at a restaurant, and for me, the fun starts when I get a cheese platter. That’s as fucked-up as I get.