Amy Poehler Reveals the A-Lister She Waited on While Working as a Server Before Fame: ‘She Doesn’t Remember It’
Amy Poehler in 2026Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty
Amy Poehler looked back on her days waiting tables in Chicago after college, including the time she served Oprah Winfrey
The comedian explained how the job helped strengthen her improvisation skills and taught her to think on her feet
She also joked about bringing up the encounter the next time she has dinner with Winfrey
Amy Poehler has made a name for herself as one of comedy’s most recognizable faces, but before she became a household name, she worked in restaurants while honing her improv skills.
Best known for her roles on Saturday Night Live and as Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, the actress and comedian recently looked back on one memorable encounter from her days waiting tables in Chicago. During a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Poehler revealed she waited on Hollywood stars before becoming one herself.
“I waited on Oprah Winfrey. I bet she doesn’t remember it. But I do,” Poehler, 55, told the outlet.
While the moment left a lasting impression on Poehler, it may not have done the same for the media mogul.
Oprah Winfrey.Credit: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Reflecting on her life after attending Boston College, Poehler opened up about working as a server and how the job required many of the same quick-thinking abilities she was developing through improv.
While carrying plates was part of the routine, she also picked up a few skills along the way, including one she still seems particularly proud of. “I don’t mean to brag, but I can carry four plates on one arm,” she laughed.
When asked whether waiting tables was an extension of her improv training, Poehler explained how the two experiences went hand in hand. Serving customers meant thinking on her feet, staying confident and sometimes finding an answer even when she wasn’t entirely sure what she was talking about.
“Yeah, when you’re a waitress, you learn a lot about improvising,” she emphasized. “You can pretend you know what you’re talking about when they ask you, you know, what’s in a sauce?”
Amy Poehler on ‘SNL’ in 2002.Credit: Norman Ng/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
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Although Poehler’s days of waiting tables are long behind her, the encounter with Winfrey is clearly one she hasn’t forgotten. The comedian may not have been on her radar back then, but during the interview she joked that she might finally get the chance to remind her the next time they share a meal.
“I should bring it up to her,” Poehler told The Wall Street Journal. “When I get home and we have dinner, I’ll let her know.”
Source: Entertainment
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