Julia Louis-Dreyfus Recalls Early SNL Experience

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has reflected on her challenging early days on 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) during an appearance on the 'Wiser Than Me' podcast. At just 21 years old, she became the youngest female cast member in 1982 after the producers saw her performance with the Practical Theater Company in Chicago. Recalling her first rehearsal, she described it as 'excruciating', performing in front of 20 unfriendly cast members who were resentful of her presence following the firing of their friends. Louis-Dreyfus noted that sketches that had previously succeeded in Chicago flopped in the SNL environment, which left a lasting impact on her experience. Despite the rough start, she went on to create memorable characters during her three-year tenure on the show alongside icons like Eddie Murphy and Billy Crystal. Louis-Dreyfus admits this early humiliation shaped her future in comedy, as she learned valuable lessons from that difficult experience.