Sasheer Zamata: The First Woman
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"Everything I talked about comes from a very personalized place. It's like a kernel of truth. It's either something I went through or something that confuses, anger, or excites me. I go from there, building out a story, a world, a joke that people can relate to," shared Sasheer Zamata, an American actress, comedian, and writer who gained prominence when she joined the cast of SNL in 2014 as the first black woman to be a regular cast member on the show since Maya Rudolph left in 2007.
In addition to her work on SNL, Zamata has participated in various other comedy projects, including stand-up comedy, writing, and appearing in shows like Transparent, Inside Amy Schumer, and At Home with Amy Sedaris. She has a podcast with her best friend, Nicole Byer, and she's recently released her self-produced comedy special, The First Woman currently available on 800 Pound Gorilla Media and YouTube.
For Kolor Magazine's September issue digital cover feature, Sasheer Zamata opens up about her self-produced comedy special, The First Woman, her inspiration for doing the big chop, and how her love for comedy began. Link in bio for the full interview.
Note: This interview was conducted in compliance with the SAG-AFTRA strike.
How were you introduced to comedy?
I was a fan of comedy when I was a kid. I obsessively watched Mad TV, SNL, and Whose Line Is It Anyway. Then when I was in middle school, my volleyball coach would take us to see improv shows, and I was mesmerized! I was like, oh my god, they're doing magic. They're just making things up off the top of their heads. Then I auditioned to be on the improv team in my high school and made it. Then I did improv in college. I was doing it because I thought it was fun and exciting. When I got to New York, I was doing improv, and realized that the people I watched on TV sketch shows came from an improv background. And I was like, oh, okay, this is where I need to be to do the things I wanted to do.
Do you believe that comics should be able to tell a joke on cue?
I don't think so. I think comics will have a bank of jokes on their own. I personally cannot tell a joke on cue. I can tell a joke when I want to; I'm not a jukebox. I think Comedians, by nature, are observers, and we are able to analyze things quicker than I think the average person can. We form it however we want, then it [the joke] comes out, and hopefully, people like it.
You're new special, The First Woman, just dropped and is available on 800 Pound Gorilla Media and YouTube! What inspired the title?
When people watch the special, they'll get what that means. The First Woman, in particular, is very woman heavy. I talked about myself as a woman. I talk about my health as a woman. I talk about women's anatomy. There's a lot of women-heavy stuff in here; women's history is in the special. I wanted the title to encapsulate all those topics because it's thematically feminine. And I want people to know that.
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What inspired the big chop?
It's funny. I cut my hair off when I was 19 in college. I had perms and straight hair since third grade, but it was not healthy hair, so in college, I wanted to start fresh. I cut my hair off and then had afros for years. More recently, I think I was not very happy with my hair. I love having natural hair. I just had this urge to cut it off again. I had COVID two years ago. I was alone in my house, and I was like, I may as well do it now, and if it looks awful, I'm at least isolated for a little bit. I cut it off, and it's been so freeing and nice. Every day, I'm like, Why haven't I been like this the whole time? It just feels so good. Even my friends are like, 'Oh, I feel like we can see more of you.' It feels like a very cleansing shedding moment.
That brings me to my next question. Conversations on woman-heavy subjects are political, but they are. Is it challenging to be personal within your comedy?
It's actually my default. I don't know how to write a joke without being personal. Everything I talked about comes from a very personalized place. It's like a kernel of truth. It's either something I went through or something that confuses, anger, or excites me. I go from there, building out a story, a world, a joke that people can relate to. Or they can't but can at least get to know more about me. My brand of comedy is always personal because that's where I like to live. Hopefully, people can put their own stories in there and find a way to relate.
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Speaking of friends, you have a podcast with your best friend Nicole Byer, Best Friends with Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata. How is it working on a podcast with your best friend?
Amazing! The best! We talk all the time anyway --so it's the perfect medium for us-- we just happen to be talking with microphones. I like talking about friendship with my friend because, by doing this podcast, we learn about ourselves and our relationship. People can send in written questions and ask about their friendships. It's also interesting because I feel like there aren't a lot of spaces to talk about adult friendships. There are spaces talking about your romantic relationships and your family and kids' relationships, but focusing on adult friendships is hugely important. These friendships are relationships that will ideally last no matter what you're going through with the job, your partnership, or whatever. And it's nice to celebrate that, especially with my best friend.
I read in an interview that you are a big fan of Cardi B. What music are you listening to right now?
Janelle Monae? Listen, I love her new album. I'm seeing her very soon, which I'm very excited about. I'm listening to Beyonce all the time, who I'm also seeing in concert soon, and Olivia Rodrigo.
How do you maintain your mental health while being creative?
I try to meditate. I meditate before I got here. It's a way to center me and clear out all the activity in my brain because I can be an overthinker. Doing anything to slow my brain down is really helpful for me. Meditating, being outside, and putting my feet in the grass. Eating, sleeping, you know the basics, but making sure my physical health feels good so my mental health can operate as it should.
Art Director & Photographer: Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal | Fashion Director & Interview: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah | Makeup: Andrew Sotomayor @andrewsotomayor for Milton Agency using Fashion Fair | Location: The 9 Studio | Special Thanks: Sechel Public Relations.
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