If you only know Nasim Pedrad from her five-year stint on Saturday Night Live, you’re basically missing the most interesting parts of her career. Honestly. Most people remember the Kim Kardashian impression or the awkward teenager Bedelia who was way too into her mom. But since leaving Studio 8H in 2014, Pedrad has quietly become one of the most versatile—and frankly, bravest—comedians working.
She doesn't just take roles. She invents them.
The SNL Years and the Art of the Impression
Pedrad joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2009. It was a weirdly transitional time for the show. She was there alongside heavy hitters like Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, yet she managed to carve out a niche for herself by being incredibly specific.
Her impressions weren't just caricatures; they were weirdly grounded. When she did Arianna Huffington, she captured that specific, airy intellectualism. When she did Kim Kardashian, she found the "vocal fry" before everyone else was talking about it.
- Key Characters: Bedelia, Heshy, and those underrated Real Housewives parodies.
- The Big Exit: She left in 2014 to join John Mulaney’s sitcom, Mulaney.
Most actors would have stayed at SNL forever. It’s a safe, steady paycheck. Pedrad left because she wanted to build something of her own. Mulaney didn't last—it was cancelled after one season—but it pushed her into the world of scripted sitcoms, which is where she eventually found her footing.
Why Nasim Pedrad Movies and Shows Always Feel Different
After the Mulaney experiment, Pedrad started popping up everywhere. You’ve probably seen her in New Girl as Aly Nelson, the no-nonsense LAPD officer who eventually marries Winston Bishop. That role was a turning point. It proved she could be the "straight man" in a chaotic comedy ensemble and still be the funniest person on screen.
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But then things got really interesting.
The Bold Move of "Chad"
If we're talking about nasim pedrad movies and shows, we have to talk about Chad. This show is wild. Pedrad created, wrote, and starred in it. The catch? She plays a 14-year-old Persian boy.
It sounds like a gimmick. It isn't.
Pedrad spent years trying to get this show made. She wanted to explore the agonizing awkwardness of being a Middle Eastern immigrant kid trying to fit into American high school culture. By playing the boy herself, she removed the limitations of working with an actual child actor. She could make the character more cringe-inducing, more desperate, and more human because she was looking at the experience through an adult lens.
"Because I’m not an actual teenager, every aspect of the performance is quite deliberate," she once told Salon.
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It’s uncomfortable to watch. It’s supposed to be. That is exactly what makes her work stand out in a sea of "safe" sitcoms.
Stealing the Spotlight in Disney’s Aladdin
In 2019, Pedrad jumped into the deep end of big-budget cinema with Guy Ritchie’s live-action Aladdin. She played Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s handmaiden.
Here is the truth: Dalia wasn't in the original 1992 cartoon. She was a new addition. And yet, many critics felt she was the best part of the movie. Her chemistry with Will Smith’s Genie provided a necessary B-plot that gave the movie more heart than your average Disney remake.
A Quick Look at the Pedrad Filmography (The Essentials)
If you're looking to catch up on her best work, don't just browse Netflix aimlessly. Here is the roadmap of the essential nasim pedrad movies and shows you actually need to see.
1. New Girl (TV Series)
She joined in Season 4 and stayed until the end. As Aly, she provided the perfect foil to Winston's "bird shirt" energy. It’s arguably her most lovable role.
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2. Desperados (Netflix Film)
A 2020 rom-com where she plays the lead, Wesley. It’s a classic "oops I sent a drunk email" plot, but Pedrad’s physical comedy carries the whole thing. It also features her New Girl co-star Lamorne Morris.
3. Scream Queens (TV Series)
She played Gigi Caldwell in the first season of this Ryan Murphy camp-fest. It’s over-the-top, fashionable, and allowed her to lean into her darker comedic roots.
4. Voice Acting Roles
You’ve heard her voice even if you didn't realize it.
- Despicable Me 2 (Jillian)
- The Lorax (Once-ler’s Mom)
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Zia Zanna)
- Wish (Sania)
Breaking Down Her Impact in 2026
As of early 2026, Nasim Pedrad has successfully transitioned from a sketch comedian to a powerhouse creator. She’s part of a wave of Middle Eastern performers who refused to be pigeonholed into "terrorist" or "taxi driver" tropes.
She recently appeared in a guest spot on High Potential and lent her voice to Angry Birds Mystery Island. But her real legacy is the path she’s cleared for character-driven, "ugly" comedy. She isn't afraid to look ridiculous or unappealing if it serves the story.
Most people get her career wrong by thinking she’s just an "impressionist." She’s actually a character scientist. Whether she’s playing a 14-year-old boy or a Disney handmaiden, she finds the specific insecurity that makes the character tick.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't seen Chad, go find it on The Roku Channel or wherever it's streaming in your region. It is the purest distillation of her talent. Also, if you’re a fan of her voice work, check out her episodes in The Boys Presents: Diabolical—it’s much grittier than her Disney stuff and shows a side of her range that usually gets buried in family-friendly animation. Keep an eye on her upcoming production credits, too; she's increasingly moving behind the camera to develop new talent.