'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' star Alex Borstein landed her first standup comedy gig at 16
The brilliant comedian, Alex Borstein needs no introduction. The woman has a knack for somehow being the highlight of every show, even if she isn't the main character.
The talented Borstein also has a very distinctive voice. This is the reason why 'Family Guy' creator, Seth MacFarlane, talked her into voicing the famous Lois Griffin for the adult animated show. 'Family Guy' became an instant hit, making Borstein a much sought-after star. She also landed an Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-over Performance. When and where did her career start? Read on to know more.
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Borstein has always been interested in performing on stage and performed her first standup comedy gig at just 16! During her time studying at the San Francisco State University, she majored in rhetoric. While here, Borstein also joined a sketch comedy troupe, where she'd actively practice and perform her acts
Borstein got a headstart on her career soon after graduating from university. She first started performing at the ACME Comedy Theatre, and even landed several small roles in the TV show called, ‘The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'. With her first-ever major acting role in ‘MADtv' in 1997, which had a successful run of 15 seasons, her eccentric characters and witty humor on the show won her many fans. In addition, Borstein was also a writer on the show. Seems like she probably worked on her own dialogues as well, it's only befitting!
One of the most important roles of her career was the voice she lent for Lois Griffin in Fox's ‘Family Guy', an animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane. The show became an instant hit rather effortlessly and has even finished airing a total of 20 seasons. Borstein also won an Emmy for her contribution to the series. She is also the co-producer and screenwriter for 'Family Guy'. What's more, Borstein landed the role of Sookie St. James on ‘Gilmore Girls’ but denied the offer due to her prior commitment to ‘MADtv'. Her one-of-a-kind voice skills landed her several voice roles in shows like, ‘American Dad’ and ‘The Cleveland Show’.
2017 was a big break for Borstein. She nabbed the role of the aggressive manager of a stand-up comedian, Midge Maisel, called Susie Myerson, on the hit series, 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'. This role won her an Emmy the following year, in 2018.
Borstein has also worked on several movies, although predominantly known for her work on TV shows. She first started with a small role in ‘Dawg’ (2002), and later in ‘Bad Santa’ (2003), in which she nailed the role of a Milwaukee mom. The movie was an instant hit at the box office and why wouldn't it be?
Some of Borstein's movies include, ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’, ‘The Lookout’, and ‘ParaNorman’.
Get ready to watch Borstein work her magic in Season 4 of 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' which premieres on February 18, 2022, on Amazon Prime.