In January 2014, Sasheer Zamata joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” halfway through its 39th season. Her addition was a long time coming for the show — Zamata was the first black woman to join the show’s cast in seven years. And it was the fulfillment of a life-long dream for Zamata, who’d wanted to be on the show ever since she was a child.
Before she made it to “SNL,” Zamata spent years honing her act, with regular stand-up and improv shows, stints with the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, and her own Web series, “Pursuit of Sexiness.”
While “SNL” is on summer break, Zamata is on the road for her latest stand-up tour. She’ll be in Portsmouth at 3S Artspace on Saturday, Aug. 8. The Sound recently caught up with her about improv, living in New York, and the only time she’s been star-struck on “SNL.”
Did the characters you and Nicole Byer portray in your Web series “Pursuit of Sexiness” originate onstage at the Upright Citizens Brigade?
The characters Nicole and I play in “Pursuit of Sexiness” are heightened versions of ourselves. Everything in the series stems from a place of truth, so the scenarios and characters we deal with are loosely based on things we’ve encountered in real life.
How did the series come about?
The series came about when Nicole came to me and said she wanted to write a series on “two awful people,” and I said, “I’m down.”
Would you want to see it as a television show, or do you prefer it as a series of shorts?
I like having the series online, so we can play out ideas in small digestible chunks, but I wouldn’t turn down a TV deal if someone offered it to us.
Will there be another season?
Yes, we already have another season written and we’re hoping to shoot it in the fall.
You co-founded an improv troupe at the University of Virginia, then went on to perform with the UCB in New York. You do stand-up, as well as scripted comedy on “SNL” and on the Web. These are all pretty different types of performing. What do you feel most comfortable doing? Is it important for you to continue doing improv?
You’re right — these are different types of performance. I don’t know if there is a form that I feel most comfortable doing. I like them all, and I keep doing them because they’re all still fun to me. That’s kind of how I decide to do most things in my life: “Do I think this is fun?” If yes, then I’ll do it, if no, then I have to question why I’m really doing it. And I think I’ll always love improv. It’s how I first got into comedy, and I love creating a new thing with people on stage each time I do it.
Was getting on “SNL” a longtime ambition for you?
Yeah, I’ve wanted to be on “SNL” since I was a kid. Someone in one of my middle-school classes told me she could see me on “SNL,” and I took that as the highest compliment. I can’t remember who gave me that compliment, but I never forgot the words.
How has the experience been compared to your expectations? So much has been written about how intense and stressful, yet exciting, it is to work on the show. Was it difficult joining the cast mid-season?
Joining the show mid-season actually wasn’t that bad. I was thrown into the mix very quickly, so I didn’t have too much time to think about what was happening, which also meant I didn’t have too much time to stress. And everyone at the show was really good about catching me up with the process when I got there.
You’ve been called one of the “most stylish New Yorkers” and “one of the funniest people in Brooklyn.” Whose style do you admire, and who do you think is funny?
Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Fran Drescher, Sarah Silverman, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, (and) Pam Grier.
Between the cast, hosts, and musical guests, do you ever get star-struck at “SNL”?
I think the only time I couldn’t function is when I met Beyoncé. I’m such a huge fan of hers, and I think I stayed relatively composed when speaking to her, but my mind truly left the planet in that moment.
Do you like touring? Where are your favorite places to visit? Would you ever want to live anywhere else? What’s the best thing about living in New York?
I do love touring! I really love traveling and performing, and if I can do that at the same time it’s such a treat. I love seeing other cities and seeing what their art/comedy scenes look like. And that’s kind of what I love about New York, too. You can walk six blocks and basically be in a different world. I love how diverse this city is, makes it more exciting.
Do you plan on making movies? Are you working on any new projects now?
Yes and yes.
What makes you happy?
Pizza!
Sasheer Zamata performs Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. at 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth. Tickets are $20 and are available at 3sarts.org.
Top of page: photo by Cate Hellman