Her real name is Elizabeth Stamatina, but most of us know her as Tina Fey. The force-to-be-reckoned-with — an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright — arguably got her start when she broke into comedy as a featured player in the Chicago-based improv group The Second City, home to countless other comedic greats. Fey then joined Saturday Night Live as a writer, later becoming head writer and a performer, appearing as co-anchor in the Weekend Update segment and, later, developing a satirical portrayal of 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in subsequent guest appearances.

Fey has been a defining comedic voice for two decades now, having worked on some of the most influential film and television series, from the beloved film Mean Girls to three iconic series: SNL, 30 Rock, and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She is also one of the stars of the hit Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. She is the winner of nine Primetime Emmys, seven Writers Guild Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globes, and three Producers Guild Awards. Her career as she starred in and produced Mean Girls, the musical remake of her 2004 smash hit. Here are Tina Fey's best performances, ranked.

Update January 21, 2024: In honor of both Mean Girls and the re-release of Soul, audiences have plenty of chances to see Tina Fey on the big screen and this article has been updated by Soniya Hinduja with more great performances from across Fey's impressive career.

10 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015)

Starring Ellie Kemper in the lead role, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a brilliant sitcom that revolves around the 29-year-old titular character who has lived in a bunker with a doomsday cult for fifteen years. After being rescued, she faces the real world – New York City – with a bright, wide-eyed attitude. Venturing off Times Square, she meets new people and makes friends, determined to conquer any struggle through her persistent optimism, laughter, and adventure. That's the premise of the acclaimed single-cam sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which we adored during its Netflix run during the 2010s.

Related: Jon Hamm's Best Performances, Ranked

Fey’s Comedic Roots Elevate Kemper’s Breakout Role

Co-creating and producing this beloved sitcom with Robert Carlock, Tina Fey penned a role that launched Ellie Kemper into the mainstream. After her charming appearance on The Office (US), Kemper showed immense promise. But beyond her endlessly enthusiastic heroine, it was Fey’s presence that balanced the overall satire. In season one, Fey made an awards-caliber appearance as Kimmy's lawyer — clearly a take on famous prosecutor Marcia Clark. Fey then returned for an arc in season two as Kimmy's therapist, who has some emotional baggage of her own. Her smart and subversive brand of comedy shines through, and she steals the show in each episode where she graces the screen. Stream on Netflix

9 Date Night (2010)

A one-of-a-kind romantic comedy filled with adventures, Date Night centers around Phil and Claire Foster, a married couple who realize that they’re stuck in a boring routine. Unwilling to waste another date night and desperate to spice things up, Phil steals a reservation from a couple, the Tripplehorns, takes Claire there, and the two end up at a trendy Manhattan restaurant. However, the night goes shockingly wrong when their stolen identities turn out to be that of criminals. What ensues is a wild night of car chases, fleeing from the cops, and uncovering the truth.

Fey's Flirty and Frazzled Housewife

In Date Night, Tina Fey delivered one of her most charming performances as Claire. Her neat sense of humor and expert comedic timing became the highlight of the movie. She also showcased superb chemistry with Steve Carell and anchored many slapstick scenes as the two bumbled their way through the mayhem of mistaken identities. Co-written and directed by Shawn Levy, the movie is adored by fans for its effortless blend of action and comedy, and a huge portion of that acclaim extends towards Fey, whose ability to switch between being funny, flirty, and flawed is truly incredible. Stream on Max

8 Ponyo (2008)

Ponyo is an animated fantasy film directed by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Its beautiful premise tells the story of the titular goldfish princess who dreams of becoming a human after a human boy named Sosuke rescues her. Ponyo is the daughter of a wizard, and with the help of her father’s magic, she transforms into a human. However, this wrecks nature’s balance and leads to the formation of a huge storm. Now, Ponyo and Sosuke must bring everything back to normal.

Fey's Fishy Friend Matches Studio Ghibli's Magic

Many forget that Fey lent her brilliant voice to a character in the English version of this Studio Ghibli classic. Alongside other voice actors like Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, she contributed to the masterwork that is Miyazaki’s aesthetic. As the voice of Lisa, Ponyo’s caring mother, Fey brought warmth and wit to the role. Her soft, nurturing vocals complement the overall visuals and expressions of the movie. Unlike anything she’d ever done before, this credit displayed Fey’s vocal range and her ability to match any beat – from joy to worry – and made Ponyo an enjoyable adventure. Stream on Max

7 A Haunting in Venice (2023)

A Haunting in Venice is the third film in Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot series and is loosely based on Agatha Christie's novel Halloween Party. Fey plays Ariadne Oliver, an author and friend of Poirot who invites him to a Halloween séance, but when things go off the rails and a murder happens, Poirot is tested by what he knows to be true but the looming presence that a supernatural force might be at play.

A New Type of Role for Fey

Most audiences associate Tina Fey with comedy, so seeing her step into a supernatural mystery horror film was both shocking and refreshing. Fey fits perfectly in and grounds the films, offering levity when needed, but also has serious moments that sell the horror of the story. Fey also has great chemistry with star Kenneth Branagh, as the two effectively give the impression of lifelong friends. Her character, Ariadne Oliver, is often seen as a self-insert for Agatha Christie, and Fey feels like the perfect person for that part. Stream on Hulu

6 Only Murders in the Building (2021-)

Continuing with the Fey trend of appearing in non-30 Rock series as supporting, scene-stealing characters, there's also Only Murders in the Building, whose critically acclaimed third season concluded in 2023. The series tells the story of three strangers who live in the same building, the Arconia, and have one thing in common: they are obsessed with a true-crime podcast. They are suddenly brought together to solve a murder that happens inside their building, fueled by their love of murder mysteries and desire to make their own podcast.

A Binge-Worthy Star-Studded Whodunit

In the hit Hulu comedy mystery series, there's a catch (among many): The presence of an already successful true-crime podcaster, Cinda Canning (Fey), an arrogant narcissist who might do just about anything to nab a good story. Fey inhabits the cocky yet ridiculous persona of the self-serving podcast with her flawless talent and expressions. Alongside Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez, Fey is pitch-perfect in the role and proves equally adept in every arc. She’s brilliant starting with season one, so it was a hoot seeing her more heavily-involved return in the second season and had a major reinvinention fo season three. Here is hoping she is back for season four. Stream on Hulu

5 Saturday Night Live (as Sarah Palin, 2008)

The most enduring late-night institution, Saturday Night Live barely needs an introduction. The live sketch comedy phenomenon has launched countless stars and comedians into the industry for over four decades now. As for Tina Fey, she first portrayed Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live in September 2008, going on to win a Primetime Emmy Award for her impersonation the following year. She would ultimately play the role several times through 2016. It was an SNL staple, and we hope the cherished parody makes a small-screen return.

Fey Revitalized The Iconic Franchise During Her Tenure

Playing supporting roles and writer gigs, Fey truly enhanced the hilarity and impact that SNL has on the audiences. While her writing contributed immortal talents, it was her flawless portrayal of the character that cemented her as an immensely successful writer and actor. In fact, the real Palin recently made a speech at a Trump rally, and Fey fans quickly turned to social media urging her to come out of SNL retirement to reprise her role as the former Alaska governor. One Twitter user even joked that the rally speech was actually a cold open from SNL: “The worst @nbcsnl cold opening ever! Tina Fey going off script & rambling is kinda amusing but Alec Baldwin looks awful & can’t remember his lines.” Stream on Peacock Premium

Related: How Kate McKinnon Has Proved She's Ready For Big Leading Roles After SNL

4 Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Fresh off the high from their revival, Kermit the Frog is approached by a man called Dominic Badguy, who claims to be a big fan and suggests that the Muppets go on a European tour. What Kermit does not know is that a criminal mastermind named Constantine is behind the entire scheme. After sending him to jail in his stead, Constantine masquerades as Kermit and proceeds to embark on an enormous jewel-heisting spree across Europe with an unwitting Muppet Gang.

Tina Fey Ensures The Muppet Franchise Goes On

Portraying the high-ranking Russian prison guard Nayda, Tina Fey has a great time playing a cartoonish character with an over-the-top accent. When Kermit is in prison, she thwarts his attempt to escape because of her true feelings for him. Fey has always been a great comedic performer, and pairing her with the Muppets was a perfect match. Plus, it is genuinely impressive how great she is able to sing, even with a Russian accent. Stream on Disney+

3 Mean Girls (2004)/(2023)

Co-writing this generation-defining teen comedy, Tina Fey crafted a delightful and diverse ensemble of characters that still feel fresh in our memory. Mean Girls follows the story of a new girl who encounters the popular girls at The Plastics on her first day of school and soon devises a plan to infiltrate their clique. But when she realizes that popularity and social status aren’t all it’s cracked up to be, she is desperate for it all to be over. The movie was first released in 2004 and became an instant classic and 20 years later, it was remade into a musical film. In both versions, Fey plays the math teacher who is accused of pushing drugs.

Even As A Role Model, Fey Empowers Comedy

Fey's writing brings out every teenage archetype and realism that we consider Mean Girls a quotable classic. Every character feels relatable in some sense and iconic. Her performance is also incredibly funny, grounding the film, and it was a great delight to see her return for the 2024 remake. It speaks to Fey's talents as both a writer and actor that Mean Girls has endured for so long and has spoken to many generations. Stream Mean Girls (2004) on Paramount+. Mean Girls (2024) is currently playing in theaters.

2 Soul (2020)

One of Pixar’s most inspirational film of all time, Soul follows Joe Gardner, a middle school band teacher who loves his job but is more passionate about jazz music. When he suddenly falls into a coma, he finds himself trapped between Earth and the afterlife. One misstep and he’s ripped out of the streets of New York City to the Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls are given quirks and interest before they go to Earth. Determined to turn his life around, Joe teams us with another soul, 22 (Tina Fey), and finally learns what’s so great about living.

Fey's Free-Spirited Soul Inspires All

With Jamie Foxx as her co-star, Tina Fey is excellent as 22. She voices the character with a playful and soulful energy. As a stubborn soul wanting to stay as far away from Earth as possible, 22 showcases a novel enthusiasm when Joe insists he helps find her that passion. Fey conveys every rich vocal, every ebb and flow, and every psychedelic imagining with unparalleled skill. She exemplifies 22 with her creativity, generosity, and timing. Soul won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, and Tina Fey's character was so popular she even got her own Disney+ short film 22 vs. Earth. Stream on Disney+.

1 30 Rock (2006 - 2013)

This sitcom from the 2000s was rightfully showered with awards during its run on NBC. 30 Rock — which takes its name from a nickname for NBC headquarters — is based on Fey’s real-life experiences in her stint as a writer for Saturday Night Live. The popular workplace comedy follows Liz Lemon, the demanding head writer, the writing staff, and the impossible behind-the-scenes troubles of an imagined sketch-comedy series and the screwball executives that make it possible. The show features incredible characters and a star-studded cast, including Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer.

The Best Writing on Small Screen Comedy

As creator, head writer, and star, Tina Fey infused every aspect of 30 Rock with her wit and established herself as the reigning queen of whip-smart situational comedy. She even mined every comedic nuance from her SNL roots and orchestrated her own band of humor with the rest of the cast members. "They are different," Fey once told NPR on working with Baldwin and Morgan. "It's funny because it's rare that we're all three together. The way that things are scheduled, I'll go on and it's either a day of all me and Alec ... or all me and Tracy. It's fun when we're all together ... but we kind of know each other by now, and we know the rhythm of who likes to shoot their coverage first and who likes to wait and go second." 30 Rock remains a beloved comedy series, airing alongside other popular NBC series like The Office and My Name is Earl, which redefined the network for a new generation, and much of that was thanks to Tina Fey. Stream on Hulu