Lauren Adams

Lauren Adams is an actress, writer, and director, known for her roles in critically acclaimed television series and films, bringing her comedic talent to various projects. After gaining significant recognition for her role as Gretchen Chalker in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ Lauren Adams established herself as a formidable talent in the comedy landscape. Adams portrayed Gretchen across 20 episodes from 2015 to 2019, securing the pivotal role after a direct call-back audition with Tina Fey. Her foundational training began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Elon University in 2004, leading to initial engagements in regional and summer stock theater in California.

That same year, she had a guest role in the Emmy-winning series ‘Modern Family.’ From 2019 through 2025, Adams became a recurring contributor to the multiple Emmy and Peabody Award-winning news satire program ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,’ showcasing her ability to blend comedic performance with topical commentary. Her creative endeavors also extend to directing, with credits including the short film ‘All is Well’ (2019) and episodes of the digital series ‘UCB Comedy Originals.’ Maintaining her active presence in the entertainment industry, Adams consistently balances her dynamic acting career with her writing and directing pursuits. She remains deeply connected to the improvisational comedy roots she established at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, further solidifying her reputation as a highly adaptable and multifaceted talent capable of delivering nuanced performances across sustained character developments and diverse sketch comedy roles.