Just like their male counterparts, female comedians have been pushing the boundaries by delving into issues often considered out of bounds. These queens of comedy have shown bravery in different quarters of comedy with some tasting the waters of stand-up comedy before getting their own television show which gives them a better opportunity to cover more grounds across the globe. Making a list of just 10 funniest female comedians, out of the countless fine comediennes who are raising the bars high is a hard nut to crack but we can try.
Below are some of the funniest female comedians who seem to have missed the sign that says certain boundaries are left for the men to break.
Funniest Female Comedians Pushing The Boundaries
1. Kristen Wiig
Born on August 22, 1973, Kristen Wiig was so funny that she was called a comedian from when she was still a child. Her career took off after college with comedy troupes, followed by live television comedy shows from where she worked her way up the ladder and never looked down. She started with The Groundlings in 2003 and was later cast in Saturday Night Live in 2005.
Asides comedy, Kristen is equally an actress, writer, and producer. She has played highly-acclaimed roles in movies such as Bridesmaids, The Martian, Ghostbusters, and has lent her voice to a character in Despicable Me 2, among others.
For her funny jokes and outstanding portrayal of her roles in films and shows, Kristen Wiig has been repeatedly recognized at the awards. She has eight Emmy Award nominations, an Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production, a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy, in addition to nods in different categories at the Academy Award, BAFTA, and SAG Awards. Since her debut in 2003, Kristen Wiig has amassed a fortune worth $20 million.
2. Sarah Silverman
Talk about breaking boundaries, comedic side was already full-blown at the age of 12 and at 17, she did her first stand-up gig. Subsequently, with such excellent skills, the beautiful American comedian, actress, producer, and writer made the world her stage. She is known across the globe for her exceptional comedic offerings on social taboos while tackling topics that raise eyebrows which include racism, sexism, politics, as well as religion.
She has two Primetime Emmy Awards to show for the work she has done so far on television. Sarah has worked on Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central, and has appeared on ‘s show, Mr. Show. She also made appearances in movies such as Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and many more which were received well by audiences.
Her writing and performance skill in comedy has earned her a net worth estimated at a tidy $12 million.
3. Kathy Griffin
She has been banned, fired, dragged, and backlashed over her usual controversial style of humor but amid all these, career seems to grow stronger by the day as she remains one of the funniest female comedians around. The American comedian and actress has been around the showbiz industry since 1980 and it’s been ascertained by many that she is the best at throwing shades at celebrities and high-profile personalities.
She started with the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings in the 1980s and later took up stand-up comedy in the 1990s. She is also known for her appearances in television shows like NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, and a lot more. Some of these earned her many prestigious awards.
Born on November 4, 1960, in Oak Park, Illinois, the contentious comedian has accumulated a tidy amount of fortune while you all were laughing at her jokes and antics. Her net worth is estimated at a whopping $20 million.
4. Ellen DeGeneres
Before she became one of the bigshots in TV shows, paid her dues as a stand-up comic and she still maintains her charm and comic side as the host of one of the most popular syndicated talk shows on television –
The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Born on January 26, 1958, Ellen went into stand-up comedy in the 1980s and gradually spread her tentacles to acting in the 1990s. Her voice role in Finding Nemo (2003) and it’s sequel Finding Dory (2016) as Dory earned her the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Though she has countless awards to her name, the foregoing goes down in history as the first to be won by an actress for a voice performance.
The American comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer boasts of 30 Emmys, 20 People’s Choice Awards, as well as many other awards and recognition for her notable works. She is also a holder of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. For all her efforts, Ellen DeGeneres sits on a $75 million net worth and is rated high among the funniest female comedians in the world today.
5. Margaret Cho
The Korean-American comedian has been intentionally left out of several live shows for fear of what might come out of her mouth. Margaret Cho is not one to censor her jokes, she ventures into various controversial topics without caring who gets hurt. Cho favors topics on social and political problems, sexuality, and race.
She joined her father in writing jokes when she was 14 after which she got the chance to open for . This paved the way for her career to grow and she took the opportunity with both hands. Her unique delivery and crazy wits tout her as one of the funniest female comedians pushing the boundaries with their comedic talents. Cho has accrued a net worth of $3 million over the course of her career as a comedian.
6. Wanda Sykes
Whether you see her on stage, screen, or read her works, will always find a way to warm her way into any heart. The American comedian, actress, and writer became an international sensation for writing for The Chris Rock Show which got her a 1999 Primetime Emmy Award. She made the list of Entertainment Weekly’s top 25 funniest people in America in 2004. She has equally accumulated a net worth of $6 million while cracking up people’s ribs with her jokes.
7. Tina Fey
Her highly-acclaimed comedy series, 30 Rock shows how talented and funny is and for this, she has bagged many prestigious awards. She started out with Chicago-based improvisational comedy group The Second City before taking her talent to Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a writer.
Awards which don her cache include 9 Primetime Emmy Awards, 3 Golden Globe Awards, 5 Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as 7 Writers Guild of America Awards. She was recognized by the Associated Press as the AP Entertainer of the Year in 2008, she got the accolade with regard to her (the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate) satirical impression on SNL. Fey is also the youngest person to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, she clinched the title in 2010.
8. Whoopi Goldberg
Born Caryn Elaine Johnson but known with her stage name , the American actress, comedian, author, and television host has built a strong fan base for her striking style of comedy and acting prowess. Before she became a Hollywood sensation, the comic legend began with stand-up comedy at San Diego Repertory Company where she performed under the pseudonym – Whoopi Cushion.
While her breakthrough role came in The Color Purple (1985), Whoopi gained major international recognition for her performance in the early 1990’s comedy Sister Act, and its sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, both of which made her the highest earner among actresses at the time.
For her top-notch portfolio in Hollywood, Whoopi has been nominated thirteen times for the Emmy Awards. She is also among the few in the industry who can boast of a win in all the prestigious awards including Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Academy Awards. She also holds a record as the second black actress to bag an Academy Award.
9. Samantha Bee
Born Samantha Jamie Bee, the Canadian-American comedian is also a renowned writer, producer, actress, television anchor, as well as political commentator. Fame found her during her days as a correspondent on The Daily Show with and she stayed on the show till 2015, ousting as its longest-serving regular correspondent. After more than a decade on the show, she left to launch her own – Full Frontal with , which has nothing but rave reviews.
Bee was named on Time 100 list as one of the most influential people in the world in 2017, a feat which also places her among the funniest female comedians who are breaking new grounds every day. She has a net worth pegged at $7 million.
10. Chelsea Handler
is not only funny in front of the camera but will give you a run for your money just by reading her books and articles. The American comedian, actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist borders her style of comedy on making critical and sarcastic comments about celebrities, her sex life and pop culture, her fondness for vodka, and a lot more.
Chelsea Lately, Chelsea Does, and Chelsea, are some of her TV shows. She has a whopping $40 million net worth. Being one of the richest here, a list of funniest female comedians wouldn’t be complete without Handler.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.