“The Bear”’s Abby Elliott reflects on getting fired from“ SNL”: 'The worst that could happen'

Abby Elliott survived her worst fear coming true, and can still make ʼem laugh.

The Golden Globe-nominated star of The Bear is the daughter — and granddaughter — of comedy royalty, hailing from Saturday Night Live star Chris Elliott and his father, Bob & Ray comedian Bob Elliott. Being picked to join the ranks of her dad's alma mater (Bob even appeared on a 1978 episode) was a dream come true, which made being fired from the show her worst nightmare.

"Every week was a new week, and your happiness would depend on whether you got something on air or not," Elliott recently told The Independent, "and if three weeks went by without a sketch, you'd think, 'Uh-oh, am I going to be fired?'... There was always that looming threat of getting fired. That was the worst that could happen. And then, I kind of did."

AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rkekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R14ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe

Born in New York City in 1987, Elliott dropped out of college to pursue showbiz dreams in 2006, initially steering toward drama. But after meeting great success when trying her hand at the family trade in comedy, she climbed the ladder from improv troupes The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade straight to Studio 8H.

Elliott occupied a role similar to the one Chloe Fineman has filled in the current cast: impersonator extraordinaire. She became known and loved for her impressions of celebrities from Rachel Maddow to Angelina Jolie, but eventually, Elliott said she initially asked SNL boss Lorne Michaels if she could leave, but quickly changed her mind..

"I went back to him with my tail between my legs, asking to stay," she explained, "but after that season, Lorne said, 'No, I'm going to cut you loose.'"

She left SNL in 2012 alongside Kristen WiigandAndy Samberg, and they were replaced by a new roster of cast members that included Cecily Strong, Tim Robinson, and Kate McKinnon.

FX

Abby Elliott on 'The Bear'

"As much as I enjoyed being on that show, sketch comedy wasn't going to be it for me. It's not why I started, and it’s not how I wanted to end. Also, I had learnt the lessons I was going to learn...and so I left and, you know, the water was warm," she said.

Sign up forEntertainment Weekly'sfree daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Elliott has found her niche on scripted television, in sitcoms like Fran Drescher'sIndebted, and most recently on The Bear. The comedian plays Natalie"Sugar" Berzatto, the wife of Chris Witaske's Pete Katinsky and sister to both Carmen "Carmy" (Jeremy Allen White) and Michael Berzatto (Jon Bernthal).

AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rtekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1dekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe

Last year, she was nominated alongside such luminaries as Meryl Streep, Christina Ricci, and J. Smith-Cameron for a Golden Globe, eventually losing to Elizabeth Debicki for her performance as Princess Diana in The Crown.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly