Megan Mullally

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1958, Megan Mullally is an American actress, comedian and writer. She’s best known for playing Karen Walker in Will & Grace, a role she’s portrayed for over two decades.

Mullally’s Broadway career began in 1994, playing Marty in Grease, alongside fellow comedian Rosie O’Donnell as Rizzo. Her musical CV grew the following year, starring as Rosemary in the Tony Award-nominated revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying alongside Matthew Broderick. Following this, she starred in regional productions across the United States.

Even though she’s a prolific television and stage actress, she’s only originated one musical role. Her time came in 2007, playing Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein with fellow Reno Sweeney alumni Sutton Foster. More recently, she’s reunited with Matthew Broderick in the 2014 play It’s Only A Play, starring Stockard Channing and Rupert Grint. In a review for New York Theatre Guide, Mullally was praised as bringing "the right level of ditz, and as usual displays excellent comic timing and delivery."

Away from the stage, Mullally is a multi-nominated comedy actress, finding fame as Karen Walker in Will & Grace. During the first eight-year tenure as the shrill, immoral assistant, she was nominated for Emmy Awards every year, also making history as the first woman to win a Screen Actors Guild Award over three consecutive award ceremonies. Mullally rejoined the cast for the show’s reboot in 2017, alongside Eric McCormack, Debra Messing and Sean Hayes.

As well as Will & Grace, Mullally has appeared in American comedies such as 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation and has even hosted Saturday Night Live. In 2021, Megan Mullally was due to make her West End debut as Reno Sweeney in a revival of Anything Goes. She withrew due to injury and was replaced by Sutton Foster.