Ashley Padilla Feels Guilty About Having Fun
The Saturday Night Live cast member says she sometimes feels bad about enjoying the job, and Kristen Wiig encouraged her to embrace it.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Comedy
Ashley Padilla, who joined Saturday Night Live in Season 50 in 2024, said she sometimes feels guilty about having fun on the show. Kristen Wiig encouraged her to embrace the enjoyment rather than worry about it.
Why it matters
Padilla's comments give a candid look at the pressure performers feel in one of American television's most demanding comedy workplaces. Her account suggests that the stress narrative around comedy may overshadow the fun of the work itself.
Padilla had the most screen time of any cast member in her second season on Saturday Night Live, which is now in Season 52. The source does not provide ratings or viewership figures for her episodes.
The players
Ashley Padilla
Ashley Padilla is a California-born actress and Saturday Night Live cast member who joined the show in Season 50 and nearly quit comedy before her breakthrough.
Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig is an actress and comedian best known for starring in Bridesmaids and for her years on Saturday Night Live, where she experienced a breakdown during her run.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is the long-running NBC sketch comedy series, now in Season 52, that is streamed on Peacock.
The details
Padilla, a California-born actress who nearly quit comedy, described the feeling to Time, saying she believes people want to hear that comedy and the show are very stressful. She also recalled that her audition for Lorne Michaels involved a stripped-down do-over without characters, and Wiig encouraged her to have fun on the show.
Timeline
2024: Padilla joins Saturday Night Live in Season 50.
Season 52, 2026: The show's current season, in which Padilla is appearing.
Halloween 2026: Inde Navarrette hosts a Halloween episode.
November 2026: Druski and John Mulaney are scheduled to host.
Legacy Context
Padilla's remarks echo the experience of Kristen Wiig, who had a breakdown during her own run on Saturday Night Live and later encouraged Padilla to embrace the fun of the job. The contrast shows how the show's pressures have been passed from one generation of cast members to the next.
Viewers can watch Saturday Night Live on NBC and stream it on Peacock. Upcoming episodes hosted by Druski and John Mulaney are scheduled for November, offering a chance to see the current cast in action.
The takeaway
Acknowledging the pressure of a demanding job while still allowing yourself to enjoy it can make high-stress work more sustainable. Padilla's experience shows that fun and seriousness can coexist in the same workplace.
Further reading
Explore more Comedy coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CINEMABLEND.
