Lauren Adams

Lauren Adams, born on August 7, 1982, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Potomac, Maryland, is an accomplished actress, writer, and director. She pursued her education at Elon University in North Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2004. Following her graduation, Adams engaged in regional and summer stock theater in California before relocating to New York City in 2006. In New York, she commenced her studies at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) in August 2007, under the tutelage of notable improvisers such as Bobby Moynihan and Zach Woods. Her dedication to improvisational comedy led her to perform in various UCB productions, including ‘Oscarbait’ and as a member of Maude Team Slow Burn and Harold Teams Johnny Romance and Sherlock & Cookies.

Adams gained significant recognition for her role as Gretchen Chalker in Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” a character she portrayed across 20 episodes from 2015 to 2019. This role, which debuted following a call-back audition with Tina Fey, marked a turning point in her career, establishing her in the comedy landscape. Prior to this, Adams had accumulated diverse experience, including voice-overs and appearances in commercials for brands like AT&T, IKEA, and Corona, enabling her to focus fully on her acting career. She further showcased her comedic range in a one-woman play, “Pig: A Restaurant,” which she co-created and performed in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. In 2013, she appeared on “Late Show with David Letterman” as Daphne, a fashion expert. Her career also includes roles in “Greener Grass” (2019), “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (2019–2025), and “Modern Family” (2019), demonstrating her versatility across different platforms and genres. Adams continues to be active in the entertainment industry, balancing acting with her writing and directing endeavors, and maintains her connection with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Her work has consistently highlighted her ability to deliver nuanced performances, whether in sustained character developments like Gretchen Chalker or in various sketch comedy roles. The success of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” including its Emmy nominations, further cemented her position as a talented performer. Adams has also contributed as a writer to “The B.S. of A. with Brian Sack” and as a director for shorts like “All is Well” and TV series such as “UCB Comedy Originals.” Her career trajectory underscores a commitment to both performance and creation within the comedy and acting spheres, making her a valued asset in collaborative projects.