Michaela Watkins

Michaela Watkins
Watkins performing at the "Improv in Iraq Tour" in 2010
Born	Michaela Suzanne Watkins (1971-12-14) December 14, 1971 (age 45) Syracuse, New York, United States
Alma mater	Boston University
Occupation	Actress, comedian
Years active	1998–present
Known for	Saturday Night Live Trophy Wife Casual
Spouse(s)	Fred Kramer (m. 2013)

Michaela Suzanne Watkins (born December 14, 1971) is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for starring in the Hulu series Casual and on the short-lived ABC sitcom Trophy Wife. She has recurred on television programs such as The New Adventures of Old Christine, Enlightened and Transparent, and also spent a season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2008–09.

Watkins was born in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of former Latin teacher mother Myrna Watkins and Syracuse University mathematician father Mark Watkins. She has two sisters, Rebecca Kent and Sarah Fitts.

She was raised in the suburb of DeWitt, in a Jewish family. After her parents' divorce, Watkins' mother obtained a marketing degree and relocated the family to Boston when Watkins was 15.

She attended Moses DeWitt Elementary School and Wellesley High School in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Michaela graduated from Boston University, where she studied theater and acting. Watkins auditioned for a part in a British farce at a community theater when she was 15, and got the part. Joan Rivers was one of her inspirations to go into show business.

After theater school, Watkins lived and worked in New York City for a year but struggled to build her career. She moved with a friend to Portland, Oregon. She lived there from 1996–2000 and appeared onstage with Portland Center Stage and the defunct improv group Toad City Productions. She traveled around the country doing regional theater, then decided to move to Los Angeles.