You know autumn has arrived when Saturday Night Live returns to your TV screens. And this weekend, when the long-running NBC sketch show airs the premiere of its 45th season, there’s plenty of comedy gold in store. Woody Harrelson and musical guest Billie Eilish are kicking off the first episode, followed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Taylor Swift on 5 October, David Harbour and Camila Cabello on 12 October, Kristen Stewart on 2 November, and bone fide SNL legend Eddie Murphy making a return as host on 21 December.

This time around though, there’ll be two brand new cast members in the mix: Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman, who join Ego Nwodim as featured players on the upcoming season. This week, SNL announced that Heidi Gardner and Chris Redd, who have been with the show for two seasons, have also been promoted to the main cast. 

Already a household name on Instagram, Fineman is a rising star in the world of comedy and looks set to take SNL by storm with her incredible celebrity impressions. Here’s everything you need to know about the rising comedian ahead of the season premiere.

Who is Chloe Fineman?

Fineman is an American actress, writer and comedian. Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Fineman observes the Jewish faith and has jokingly described herself as “1/2 wasp” in the past, a reference to her father, who is Jewish. 

Fineman studied at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, before moving to Los Angeles. There, she studied improv at Groundlings Theatre, and started to perform regularly with their troupe’s Sunday Company.

Fineman was recognised as a New Face at the 2018 Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, and was nominated for Best Comedian at the 2019 Shorty Awards. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chloe Fineman has also appeared on Jane the Virgin and Search Party. 

What is Chloe Fineman famous for?

The rising comedian is best known for her masterful celebrity impersonations, and has built a huge following on her Instagram page @chloeiscrazy with her hilarious segments imitating everyone from Timothée Chalamet and Gigi Hadid to Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.

With a strong nerve and a formidable wig collection, Fineman has taken on a range of unorthodox characters and made them her own. Her most famous impression to date, though, is probably the disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, which she pulls off with razor-sharp precision. She’s also pretty fond of impersonating Melania Trump, and has a tradition of releasing a new video every time the First Lady unveils her White House decorations.

Does Chloe Fineman have any celebrity fans?

Plenty, since you ask. Fineman may be rising to prominence but a spectrum of Hollywood A-listers have already identified her huge potential. When she made the announcement that she was joining the SNL cast on Instagram, it wasn’t long before Emily Ratajkowski, Gus Kentworthy, Jameela Jamil, Spencer Pratt, Tommy Dorfman, and Zoë Kravitz all turned up in the comments to show their love.

“About damn time,” Ratajkowski wrote, while director Jill Soloway added, “I am SO SO SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! Superstar!!!”

Busy Philipps, who Fineman has previosuly impersonated in a hair-twirling skit, also showed her love. “Truly the best news,” she commented. “I’ve been waiting for this announcement for years!!!!! YES CHLOE! GO KILL IT!!!”

What are Chloe Fineman’s best celebrity impressions?

Where to start? Fineman’s Instagram is a veritable treasure trove of weird and wonderful celebrity impressions. There’s the raspy, wide-eyed brilliance of Russian Doll star Natasha Lyonne, the lispy Californian tones of Drew Barrymore on a street art tour of Bushwick, and the gawky, guffawing awkwardness of Timothée Chalamet. Take a look at some of her best moments below.

Drew Barrymore

Elizabeth Holmes

Maisie Williams

Gigi Hadid

Marianne Williamson

Natasha Lyonne

Timothée Chalamet

Meryl Streep

When does Saturday Night Live air?

The season premiere of the upcoming 45th season of Saturday Night Live airs on 28 September.

Image: YouTube