Though she came to fame through her larger-than-life performances on shows such as Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler has used her success to foster and inspire new generations of women through humorous, yet honest art.
Poehler’s parents – both of whom were high school teachers – ensured their daughter grew up with a frank perspective of the world from an early age. Not only did they encourage her to follow her dreams, but suggested she meet as many people and try as many things as she could in the process.
So she did. During high school, Poehler drifted through various social circles and extracurricular activities, but from the moment she first tried improv comedy she was hooked. While studying at Boston College, she recalls a defining moment that took place during a public speaking class with classmate Craig Finn, who would go on to become the frontman for The Hold Steady: “I remember feeling like we both knew a secret. We were going to keep performing no matter what, and we both were going to have no money, stability, or children for the next 10 years.”
After years of balancing study for her media and communications degree with experimentation of her craft as part of the college’s improv troupe, My Mother’s Fleabag, Poehler graduated in 1993, and moved to Chicago. There, she joined Second City, one of the country’s most prestigious comedy theatres, and met lifelong friend Tina Fey.
Soon after, Poehler joined the Upright Citizens Brigade, a relatively new improv group that included future figureheads of comedy like Adam McKay, Ian Roberts, and Horatio Sanz. For the next three years they performed in Chicago, before relocating to New York in 1996. They found initial success as regulars on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which lead to a three-season run of a television show on Comedy Central.
Poehler’s talent truly entered the limelight when she was cast on Saturday Night Live in 2001. Joining as a feature player, she graduated to full cast member in her first season, making her the third person to ever reach that achievement. By 2004 she was co-anchoring the show’s longest-running skit, Weekend Update, alongside Tina Fey.
Poehler was a household name for lovers of comedy, and soon she began appearing in films. Tina Fey cast as the mother of the antagonist in her film Mean Girls (even though Poehler was only seven years older than the actress playing her daughter, Rachel McAdams), cameoed in 2006 film Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, and in 2007 starred alongside husband Will Arnett in Blades of Glory.
2008 was a tremendous year for Poehler. She was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the Emmys, marking the first time an SNL cast member was recognised in the category. Later in the year she gave birth to her first child, and soon after announced that she was leaving Saturday Night Live. A ‘Best of Amy Poehler’ episode was aired in April 2009.
Four months after departing SNL, Poehler’s new show, Parks and Recreation, aired on NBC. Featuring an ensemble cast, Poehler’s character was initially portrayed as a bit of an idiot, as had so many of her characters in the past. In season two, the show took a tonal shift, and was subsequently widely acclaimed. Poehler’s Leslie Knope was redefined as a woman of ambition, a proud feminist, and a strong leader. The role saw her nominated three times for Best Actress at the Emmys (her combined five losses saw her unite with Mad Men’s Jon Hamm to host a ‘Losers Afterparty’ for the 2013 Emmys, at which anybody who had previously won an award had to donate to charity in order to gain entry) and twice for Outstanding Writing on a Comedy Series.
Thankfully, she won the 2014 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy, an event she co-hosted with Tina Fey.
Poehler’s most impactful work comes in the form of Smart Girls at the Party, a digital series co-created with producer Meredith Walker and recording artist Amy Miles as part of a mission“dedicated to helping young people cultivate their authentic selves”. Developed in 2008, each episode features Poehler interviewing a woman with a particular talent, point of view, or community interest. Mattel’s Barbie was a sponsor of the show’s first season.
“We wanted to build a brand that attempted to combat the deluge of shit young people see every day online. It actually all started with the idea of one simple show. It would be a ’Charlie Rose’-type interview show for girls that ended in a spontaneous dance party. We wanted to celebrate the curious girl, the non-famous, the everyday warrior.”
In 2012, Youtube’s ‘Original Channel Initiative’ funded the show, in order to produce new content that would be distributed through the platform. The channel’s most popular videos feature a candid Poehler answering questions posed by fans on topics such as their bodies, emotions, and the importance of being a powerful woman, all issues she has dealt with throughout her life.
“I had already made a decision early on that I would be a plain girl with tons of personality, and accepting it made everything a lot easier. If you are lucky, there is a moment in your life when you have some say as to what your currency is going to be. I decided early on it was not going to be my looks. I have spent a lifetime coming to terms with this idea and I would say I am about 15 to 20 percent there….Decide what your currency is early. Let go of what you will never have. People who do this are happier and sexier.”
In 2014, Smart Girls was acquired by Legendary Entertainment. Rebranded as Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, the movement has over 1.3 million likes on Facebook, and 8.5 million views on its videos.
That same year, Poehler released her memoir, Yes Please. The title does more than sum up the book. It sums up Amy Poehler herself.
“‘Yes please’ sounds powerful and concise. It’s a response and a request. It is not about being a good girl; it is about being a real woman.”