Sasheer Zamata
Sasheer Zamata Moore, known professionally as Sasheer Zamata, is an American actress and comedian known for her work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2017. She also has served as a celebrity ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union.
Early life
Zamata was born in Okinawa, Japan, because of her father's military career. She is the daughter of American parents, Ivory Steward and Henry Moore, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. She was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a graduate of Pike High School. She stated her parents named her after the alien flower-like crystal called the "Sahsheer" from the episode "By Any Other Name". She attended the University of Virginia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Zamata was a founding member of the University's long-form improv comedy troupe, Amuse Bouche. While a student at UVA, she participated in the Disney College Program for one semester, where she portrayed various costumed characters.Career
Zamata has performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City since 2009. Zamata co-starred in the ABC News hidden camera series Primetime: Would You Fall For That? She was a cast member on MTV's series Hey Girl. Zamata has also appeared in sketches on Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Inside Amy Schumer. She stars in the webseries Pursuit of Sexiness. Additionally, she has appeared in sketches for CollegeHumor.Videos on Zamata's YouTube channel include impersonations of Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Tyra Banks, and Beyoncé.
Zamata also voices the character Sally in Zombie mode.
''Saturday Night Live''
In 2014, Zamata joined the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live during its 39th season. She joined the SNL cast amid a season in which black cast members Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson, TV critics, and other black comedians had criticized Saturday Night Live for not being ethnically diverse. Zamata was the first black female cast member on SNL since biracial Maya Rudolph departed midway through the show's 33rd season in 2007.Zamata debuted on SNL as a featured player in the January 18, 2014 episode hosted by Drake, in which she impersonated Rihanna. She was promoted to repertory player in the first episode of Season 41. Some of her recurring characters include Janelle, a teenage girl who hosts a YouTube channel called How 2 Dance with Janelle but is unaware of how her developing sexuality is coming off to viewers, and Keeley, a contestant on an African-American centric version of Jeopardy! called Black Jeopardy! Some of her celebrity impressions have included the aforementioned Rihanna, Michelle Obama, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce Knowles, Solange Knowles, Diana Ross, Lupita Nyong'o, and Taraji P. Henson. She left the show in 2017 after the season finale of season 42.
The ACLU and work with women's rights
Zamata was named a celebrity ambassador to the American Civil Liberties Union in 2015, and began work with the Women's Rights Project. The ACLU Women's Right's project seeks to break down gender biases and "ensure equal economic opportunities, educational equity, and an end to gender-based violence". She has spoken out on gender discrimination in the U.S. today, and has advocated for equal rights among women of color, in particular. In an interview with Allure, Zamata opened up about her experiences with discrimination and colorism. Though often stigmatized for her darker skin tone, she hopes to turn her experiences into a message of self-acceptance and body positivity for women in all shades.Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Acid Tests | Karen | |
| 2011 | Beyonce as a Mommy | Beyonce | |
| 2011 | Jest Originals | Chelsea | Episode: "TOMS 'One 4 One' Gone Wrong" |
| 2012 | Jest Originals | Blue Ivy | Episode: "Blue Ivy in the Nursery" |
| 2012 | UCB Live! | Herself | |
| 2012–2013 | Fodder | Various | 14 episodes |
| 2012–2015 | CollegeHumor Originals | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | The Morning After | Herself | Episode: "Once You Go Black..." |
| 2013 | Thingstarter | Woman on Street | Episode: "iNotRacist" |
| 2013 | PITtv | Mom | Episode: "Gay-Doh" |
| 2013 | Above Average Presents | Various | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Inside Amy Schumer | Sales Girl | Episode: "Bad Decisions" |
| 2013–2015 | UCB Comedy Originals | Various | 9 episodes |
| 2013–2015 | Pursuit of Sexiness | Sheer | Main cast |
| 2014 | Dream Jobs | Madison | |
| 2014 | Inside Amy Schumer | Tess | Episode: "Slut-Shaming" |
| 2014–2017 | Saturday Night Live | Herself/Various | Main cast; 74 episodes |
| 2015 | Lucas Bros. Moving Co. | Blackneficent | Episode: "For the Love of Moving" |
| 2016 | Night Train with Wyatt Cenac | Episode: "Cleve & Steve" | |
| 2016 | Transparent | Asra | Episode: "Elizah" |
| 2016 | People of Earth | Marcy | Episode: "Significant Other" |
| 2016 | Albert | Maisie | TV movie |
| 2017 | The Special Without Brett Davis | Episode: "Raddisson" | |
| 2017 | Sasheer Zamata: Pizza Mind | Herself | Internet streaming special |
| 2017 | BoJack Horseman | Jewelry Store Clerk | Episode: "Ruthie" |
| 2017 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Ms. Stern | Episode: "Making Love" |
| 2017–2018 | Loosely Exactly Nicole | Kim Whitfield | Recurring |
| 2019 | Corporate | Vanessa | Recurring |
| 2019 | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | Guest Correspondent | Episode: 110 |
| 2019 | Historical Roasts | Rosa Parks | Episode: "Martin Luther King, Jr." |
| 2020 | Finding Your Roots | Herself | Episode: "Homecomings" |
| 2020 | The Last O.G. | Isis | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Robbie | Ava | Main cast |
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2016 | Sally |