How Maya Rudolph’s Impression of Kamala Harris Has Changed

As Ms. Harris rose to center stage, the actor playing her on “S.N.L.” modified her approach, turning the vice president into a no-nonsense boss, surrounded by dopey men.

Listen to this article · 7:20 min Learn more

Share full article

Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live” in New York last month.

When the actor Maya Rudolph first appeared as Kamala Harris on “Saturday Night Live,” in September 2019, she established a few motifs: Cocktail at the ready, Ms. Harris was America’s fun aunt (“I call that a ‘funt,’” she said) and a “smooth-talking lady lawyer” with sex appeal and subpoena power.

In the years since, as Ms. Harris’s role in American politics has evolved — from rising Democratic star to thwarted political candidate, from presidential sidekick to sudden presidential nominee — Ms. Rudolph’s portrayal of her, over more than a dozen appearances on the show, has deepened. Now, even with the same dance moves and high-pitched laugh, Ms. Rudolph’s Harris has become more serious, a no-nonsense, Glock-toting boss, surrounded by a gaggle of dopey men.

“Well, well, well. Look who fell out of that coconut tree,” Ms. Rudolph (as Ms. Harris) said, opening the show’s season premiere last month. “The funt has been rebooted. 2 Funt, 2 Furious.” (OK, maybe just a touch more serious.)

“S.N.L.” political characters aren’t precise impersonations, and they are rarely subtle. The most famous ones tend to be high-volume parodies, caricatures that amplify a politician’s peculiarities: Will Ferrell as George W. Bush. Dana Carvey as his father. Larry David as Bernie Sanders. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.

Eight years ago, when Hillary Clinton was running for president, Kate McKinnon played her as somehow both stilted and animated, wily, at times slightly deranged, struggling to express her ambition and credentials in terms palatable to the American public. It was an impression, but also an embodiment of female outrage, and a foil to Donald J. Trump.

Ms. Harris presents a different challenge for an actor. She is less familiar to viewers than Mrs. Clinton. She is not personally emphasizing the historic nature of her candidacy. Her approach to Mr. Trump is different, heavy on mockery and ridicule. She herself is a more playful person, but she is also more unknowable — campy and careful, in one package.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.