Ashley Padilla's second season on Saturday Night Live was so impressive that many fans spent the year calling her the show's MVP. During the breakout campaign that saw her become one of the most reliable performers in the cast, Padilla opened up about the comedy icons who helped shape her approach.
Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest names on that list is SNL legend Will Ferrell. Speaking with Vulture, Padilla explained exactly what it is about Ferrell's comedy that resonates with her. "Will is like everything I'm pretending to be at all times," she said. "He has a way of getting so mad about something so little. That's my style of comedy. That's typically what I write."
Ferrell built his career on taking minor inconveniences and turning them into life-or-death crises. His characters often operated at a level of intensity completely disconnected from reality. For anyone who watched Padilla's second season at Studio 8H, that influence is easy to spot.
One of her most viral sketches of the season succeeded largely because of her ability to treat an absurd premise with total sincerity. It managed to pull that off while being centered around a fart. Like Ferrell, she commits completely to the bit. There is never a sense that she's in on the joke. Her characters genuinely believe their reactions are justified, which only makes the sketch funnier.
The connection between the two comedians became even more notable during the season finale, when Padilla got the opportunity to perform alongside Ferrell himself as he returned to host the show.
Ferrell isn't the only comedy giant who helped shape Padilla's career. She also credits Steve Carell as a major influence, dating back to her high school years. After her mother bought her copies of The Office on DVD, Padilla became obsessed with Carell's performance as Michael Scott.
"I can't even describe how much of an influence Steve Carell was on me," she told Vulture. "It meant so much to me to see people onscreen acting so dumb."
Like Carell, Padilla excels at playing characters who are blissfully unaware of how ridiculous they are. Some performers play foolish characters with a wink toward the audience. Padilla often brings that same energy to her sketch work on Saturday Night Live.
She also points to Kristen Wiig as a comedic inspiration. Wiig became one of the defining SNL performers of her generation. Whether she was carrying a sketch, playing a supporting role, or delivering a single memorable line, she consistently found ways to leave an impression.
Of course, it's far too early to place Padilla in the same category as Ferrell or Wiig. Both are firmly established among the greatest cast members in SNL history. But Padilla's breakout season suggests she could be on a similar trajectory.
She quickly became one of the show's most dependable performers. Fans embraced her almost immediately. Writers seemed eager to use her, and fellow cast members frequently benefited from her ability to elevate scenes.
And if her comedy heroes are Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and Kristen Wiig, she's certainly studying the right playbook.
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