Natasha Rothwell (born October 18, 1980) is an American actress and writer. She worked on the HBO television series Insecure as a writer, series regular, and supervising producer. She went on to star in HBO's The White Lotus, which earned her a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. In September 2024, her original scripted show How to Die Alone debuted on Hulu. It is a production of the Onyx Collective, a division of ABC Productions. She is the show's creator and also the lead actress.

Natasha Rothwell
Rothwell in 2012
Born (1980-10-18) October 18, 1980 (age 44)
EducationUniversity of Maryland, College Park
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2013–present
Notable work

Career

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Rothwell taught for KIPP NYC and went on to work at Saturday Night Live (SNL). She first garnered attention as a writer on SNL in the 2014–2015 season.[1][2][3] She gained further fame through working on the HBO television series Insecure.[4][5][6] On Insecure, she worked as a writer, series regular, and supervising producer.[7][8] In 2018, she was reportedly developing, writing, and executive producing another show for HBO, in which she would also star.[9][10]

On April 15, 2019, Rothwell joined a host of other writers in firing their agents as part of the Writers Guild of America’s stand against the Association of Talent Agents and the practice of packaging.[11] More recently, her company Big Hattie Productions struck an overall deal with ABC Signature.[12]

In 2022, Rothwell was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her work in Season 1 of HBO's The White Lotus.[13] On December 16, 2024, it was announced Rothwell would return to Season 3 of The White Lotus.[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 A Year and Change Angie
2018 Love, Simon Ms. Albright
2019 Wyrm V.P. Lister
2020 Like a Boss Jill
Sonic the Hedgehog Rachel
Wonder Woman 1984 Carol
2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Rachel
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm Japongaloid (Japongaloid Natasha) Voice
2023 Wish Sakina
Wonka Piper Benz[15]
2024 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Rachel

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Wild 'n Out Herself Cast Member: Season 6
Royal Pains Tamara 1 episode
2014–2015 Saturday Night Live Writer, 21 episodes
2016 Search Party Real Woman 1 episode
Netflix Presents: The Characters Various characters Also writer, 1 episode
2016–2021 Insecure Kelli Also writer, 18 episodes
2017 BoJack Horseman Clemelia Bloodsworth Voice, 1 episode
Future-Worm! Various Voice, 2 episodes
2018 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Delia Alvarado Episode: "Show Me Going"
2018–2021 DuckTales Zan Owlson Voice, 5 episodes
2019 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Brunzetta Voice, 2 episodes
A Black Lady Sketch Show Pearlina Teatree 1 episode
2020 Love, Victor Ms. Albright 1 episode
Baby Shark's Big Show! Mommy Shark English dub, main role
2021, 2025 The White Lotus Belinda Main role: season 1 and season 3
American Dad! Carol Voice, episode: "Cry Baby"
2021–2022 Tuca & Bertie Terry Toucan 3 episodes
2022 The Ghost and Molly McGee Candace Green Voice, 2 episodes
Bubble Guppies Mommy Shark Voice, episode: "The Jaw-some Sharkventure!"
2024 Sausage Party: Foodtopia Rutabaga Ginsberg, Various characters Voice; 5 episodes
How to Die Alone Mel Main role

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2016 Writers Guild of America Best Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series[a] Saturday Night Live Nominated [16]
2019 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series Insecure Nominated [17]
Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series[b] Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [18]
2020 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Comedy Series[c] Won [19]
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series Nominated
Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series[c] Nominated [20]
2021 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [21]
Celebration Black of Cinema and Television Special Honoree Award Herself Won [22]
2022 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Insecure Nominated [23]
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special The White Lotus Nominated
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series Insecure Nominated [24]
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series The White Lotus Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated [25]

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with the writers of Saturday Night Live.
  2. ^ Shared with Issa Rae.
  3. ^ a b Shared with the producers of Insecure.

References

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  1. ^ "'SNL' Wasn't A Good Fit For Natasha Rothwell. Now On 'Insecure,' She's Anything But". Npr.org.
  2. ^ Lambert, Molly (September 26, 2018). "Natasha Rothwell Wants to Be a Romantic Lead". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Hope, Clover (August 8, 2018). "Natasha Rothwell: A New Queen of Comedy". Jezebel. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Natasha Rothwell, The Breakout Star Of 'Insecure'". NPR.org.
  5. ^ "Natasha Rothwell Knows How to Show Up". Gq.com. December 18, 2018.
  6. ^ Fadulu, Lola (October 30, 2018). "Insecure's Natasha Rothwell on Finding Her Path to Hollywood". The Atlantic.
  7. ^ "Natasha Rothwell". Ucbcomedy.com.
  8. ^ Mulkerrins, Jane (December 18, 2018). "Insecure's Natasha Rothwell on being 2018's funniest character". Theguardian.com.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (December 4, 2018). "Natasha Rothwell Inks Overall Deal With HBO". Deadline Hollywood.
  10. ^ McDonald, Soraya Nadia (March 7, 2018). "'Insecure's' Natasha Rothwell knows a thing or two about (teaching) drama". Andscape.
  11. ^ "Damon Lindelof, Hart Hanson Among Top Showrunners Posting Termination Letters In Wake Of Failed WGA-ATA Negotiations". Deadline. April 13, 2019.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 29, 2021). "Natasha Rothwell Inks Big Overall Deal With ABC Signature". Deadline. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. ^ 2022 Nominees - Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie Emmys.com. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "'White Lotus' Season 3 Trailer: Natasha Rothwell Returns With Hot, Troubled Vacationers in Thailand". Yahoo News. December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Lewis, Reo; Russell, Tom (October 18, 2023). "Wonka: Release Date, Cast & Everything We Know". ScreenRant.
  16. ^ McNary, Dave (February 13, 2016). "WGA Honors 'Big Short,' 'Spotlight,' 'Mad Men' at 68th Awards". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "The 3rd Annual Black Reel Awards for Television (BRATs)". August 2, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Richards, Kimberley (March 31, 2019). "50th NAACP Image Awards: Here Are The Winners". HuffPost. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  19. ^ Anderson, Erik (August 6, 2020). "'Watchmen,' 'Insecure' top Black Reel Awards for Television winners". Awards Watch. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "Outstanding Comedy Series - 2020". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Davis, Clayton (February 2, 2021). "Viola Davis, Tyler Perry and Regina King Up for Entertainer of the Year at 2021 NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Hammond, Pete (November 10, 2022). "Will Smith, Ava DuVernay & Antoine Fuqua Among New Honorees For CCA's Celebration Of Black Cinema & Television". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  23. ^ Zhan, Jennifer (February 26, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards Winners Include Jazmine Sullivan, Will Smith, Red Table Talk". Vulture. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 14, 2022). "Black Reel TV Awards: Quinta Brunson & 'Abbott Elementary' Lead Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "74th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners - OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE - 2022". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
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