Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone is a respected stand-up comedian and author known for her observational humor and improvisational skills, frequently appearing on radio, television, and in film. After becoming the first woman to win a CableACE Award for Best Standup Comedy Special in 1990 for her critically acclaimed HBO special, ‘Cats, Cops and Stuff,’ Paula Poundstone established herself as a leading voice in comedy. This recognition followed her 1989 win of the American Comedy Award for ‘Best Female Stand-Up Comic.’ Poundstone initiated her stand-up comedy career in Boston in 1979 at open-mic nights, honing her unique improvisational style and spontaneous crowd interactions. In the early 1980s, she toured across the United States, performing at notable venues such as Holy City Zoo and The Other Café in San Francisco.

Her voice work reached a global audience as ‘Foretter Paula’ in the Academy Award-winning film Inside Out in 2015, a role she reprised for its sequel. A frequent and beloved personality in broadcasting, she is a regular panelist on NPR’s popular news quiz show, ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!,’ where her quick wit and humor are a consistent highlight for listeners. Poundstone also hosts her own popular podcast, ‘Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone,’ further engaging audiences with her distinctive comedic voice.

Most recently, Poundstone reprised her role as ‘Foretter Paula’ in the highly anticipated animated feature Inside Out 2, released in 2024, continuing her association with critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects. Throughout her career, she has released several comedy albums, consistently delivering her signature observational humor to fans worldwide.