Bryant was born in Phoenix, AZ,[4] as the daughter of Georganne (née Vinall) and Tom Bryant.[5] Her mother owns a boutique, Frances, in Phoenix.[6] Bryant is of English, Irish, and German descent.[7] She has one brother.[8] She graduated from Xavier College Preparatory in 2005.[6] Her parents took her to improv workshops at the now-defunct Arizona Jewish Theatre Company.[9]
She graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a BA in 2009.[10][11] At Columbia College, she participated in the college's comedy studies program, developed by the Theatre Department and The Second City.[11]
Career
After Bryant graduated from Columbia College, she toured with the musical improv group Baby Wants Candy and was approached by The Second City.[9] She has performed with iO Chicago, The Second City[12] and the Annoyance Theatre. She was a writer and ensemble member for both "Sky's the Limit, Weather Permitting" and "We're All In This Room Together" on the Second City Stage.[10]
Bryant made her debut as a featured player on Saturday Night Live on September 15, 2012.[10][13][14] She was promoted to a repertory player during her second season on the show.
In 2014, Bryant, Eli Bruggemann, Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, and Kate McKinnon were nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the "Home for the Holiday (Twin Bed)." The music video sketch aired on December 21, 2013.[17] She won the award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2015 EWwy awards which honor performances that were snubbed by the Emmys.[18]
In 2019, Bryant starred in the Hulu series Shrill. After Bryant became involved with Shrill, as a co-writer, co-executive producer and as the main character, there was a question of whether she would return for the 2019–20 season of Saturday Night Live, although Lorne Michaels encouraged her to work on both shows.[21][22][23] Bryant stated that she would work 12-hour days on Shrill and then at SNL afterwards, accounting for 22-hour days.[23]Shrill would run for three seasons ending in May 2021, and Bryant was told that its third season would be the last one after it was shot.[24][23] Bryant planned to exit SNL after its 45th season, however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused her to reconsider leaving after 'one last normal year' that concluded with the 2021-2022 47th season.[23][2]
One of the actors in a dramatic High School Theater production, who awkwardly attempt to make broad points about society's issues
Li'l Baby Aidy, a characterization of herself in the show's all-female music videos (so called because she was the youngest [the "baby"] of the current female cast)[28]
Melanie, a flirtatious young teen with a romantic spark for mature gentlemen – said gentlemen being her friends' fathers[29]
An unnamed girl who appears in porno movie scenarios and is oblivious to their sexual nature – in Hot for Teacher 8, she tried to ask her teacher, Miss Dayworth (Amy Schumer), for help on the unspecified assignment; in The Doctor Is In... My Butt 4, she thinks Dr. Rockhard (Adam Driver) is a real doctor; and in Skank Babysitter 17, she thinks her babysitter Miss Jasmine (Heidi Gardner) invited a pizza delivery man (Chance the Rapper) over for dinner.[30][31]
Throughout her adolescence, Bryant dealt with self-esteem issues related to her weight.[21] Acting and performing improv allowed her to become more confident as a person and as an actress.[21]
On April 28, 2018, Bryant married comedian Conner O'Malley, who was a writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers.[35] They met in 2008 as performers at the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, and became engaged in 2016.[36]