Kathryn Hahn fits seamlessly into the world of every film or television show she appears in, and whether she is the lead or a supporting role, you can’t help but be instantly drawn to her. She is instantly magnetic. More than that, she always makes you feel something, whether that be joy, heartache, or anything in between.
Written by Talia Ryckman-Klein
If you were to ask someone what their favourite Kathryn Hahn performance is, I am absolutely certain that everyone would have a unique, varied answer. Whether it be a hard-hitting indie film like Private Life, a blockbuster comedy like Bad Moms, a beloved sitcom like Parks and Rec., or a dive into the Marvel universe like Agatha All Along or Wandavision. Every answer would be different because of Kathryn Hahn’s incredible versatility and ability to disappear into every role she plays. She fits seamlessly into the world of any and every film or television show she appears in, so much so that whether she is the lead or a supporting role, you can’t help but be drawn to her. More than that, she always makes you feel something, whether that something is joy, heartache, or anything in between.
I have had the pleasure of watching Kathryn Hahn’s work for years and have always been fascinated by her, her ability to make even the most difficult roles look effortless, and her versatility in the way that you cannot even begin to cement her into a singular category because she has proven time and time again that she can do it all. I first remember seeing her onscreen as Jen Barkley in Parks and Rec. and was immediately drawn to her, to her sharp comedic timing, magnetic presence, and the way that she fit so perfectly into the world of the show that it felt natural. Her role on Parks opened my eyes to her immeasurable talent, and from then on, I began to seek out her work and have thus been deeply impacted by it, as well as the way in which she embraces and celebrates the roles that she plays.
When listening to her speak about some of her earlier work, she talked about how she was often cast as the sidekick or the best friend earlier in her career. One of her most iconic ‘best friend’ roles would be Michelle in the beloved romcom, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. I believe that one of the things that showcases how talented she is, is that with that role, one with limited screentime, she creates a memorable and iconic character. You feel for Michelle, you relate to her, you laugh when she shows up as Andie's ‘therapist’, and you want to see more of her. So yes, while Michelle could be just the best friend, Hahn makes her so much more than that, as she always does. She presents a fully fleshed-out character, one that you want to know more about and that you desperately wish had more screen time. She is never just anyone. She lights up any screen she’s on and fully embodies every character she plays.
It’s been incredible to watch her star rise over the years and watch as she commands the screen in more leading roles, and as she finally gets her long overdue flowers. So, to celebrate her birthday, I’ve put together a list of performances that I think are more than worth your time to celebrate the inimitable Kathryn Hahn.
Private Life
Released in 2018 and written and directed by Tamara Jenkins, Private Life follows the story of a married couple, Rachel Biegler (Hahn) and Richard Grimes (Paul Giamatti), living in New York City as they try desperately to have a child. The film depicts the struggles of Rachel and Richard as they experience multiple failed attempts at artificial insemination, attempt IVF, interview with a social worker for adoption, and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy together while doing so. Before Private Life, I had never seen a film that explored the aforementioned topics in such an open and honest way. The film doesn’t sugarcoat anything and instead shows the harsh realities of how these things affect you financially and emotionally, both individually and as a couple. The terrific and sharp script by Jenkins is only elevated by fantastic performances from the entire cast, and what I believe to be a performance from Hahn that is not to be missed.
As Rachel, we see Hahn play a woman who has become consumed by the desire to have a child. We see the pain she endures after every unsuccessful attempt, whether that be artificial insemination, IVF, or through a scam from a pregnant teenager in Arkansas. We bear witness to her pain and loss, as well as the pressure she feels as each year passes, and it is heartbreaking to see. Hahn can get to the very core of Rachel and portrays her in a way that feels so natural and grounded that all traces of Kathryn Hahn are gone. Beneath every smile, there is a pain and sadness in her eyes that the smile cannot quite hide.
It’s in these minute gestures that Hahn delivers one of her best performances. Whether it’s when we see Rachel at the dinner party of a friend, watching said friend's child perform and the underlying pain in her eyes as she watches, or the look of quiet desperation, exhaustion, and heartache as she and Richard sit in various medical waiting rooms, Hahn can communicate everything without saying a single word. It’s in the way that we see Rachel (and Richard), go through all of these things, and try to hide the disappointment, hurt, etc., so they can (try) to carry on. It’s a balancing act that appears to be teetering on the edge of collapse at times, but we come out at the end feeling a sense of hope. In her performance, it’s the perfect balance between the small, intimate but powerful gestures, and the bigger, more outwardly dramatic or comedic moments that make this performance from Hahn so galvanising. A performance that, after all these years, I keep coming back to.
Private Life was the first leading role I had seen Kathryn Hahn in when this was first released, and my first thought afterwards was, “Oh she needs to star in everything”. Hahn brings so much depth to Rachel that by the end of the film, you feel as if you know her. She brings humour, pain, resilience, and heartbreaking vulnerability to Rachel Biegler, and though this isn’t an easy watch by any means, I feel it’s a necessary one. Private Life is a film, and a performance from Hahn, that I believe deserve(d) much more recognition, and one that I hold as one of my favourite on-screen performances.
Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix (Canada)
Bad Moms
Bad Moms, written and directed by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas, and starring Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis, is a 2016 comedy focusing on the lives of three moms who are underappreciated and overworked in their personal and professional lives, as they begin a friendship and ditch their responsibilities for newfound freedom and fun. In Bad Moms, Hahn plays Carla Dunkler, a single mom who works as an aesthetician and thrives when given the opportunity to break free from the confines of societal norms and have fun with her newfound friends, Amy (Kunis) and Kiki (Bell).
Bad Moms is a sharp contrast to Private Life in terms of genre, tone, character, and well.. everything, which is exactly why I wanted to include it in this list. As Carla, we get to see Hahn showcase her comedic talents. Carla is confident, loud, blunt, and a loyal friend, and it is a joy and delight to watch Hahn really let loose in a fun, silly comedy. I am all for serious, dramatic films. Films that I want to spend hours afterwards discussing and breaking down the meaning and significance of everything, but I also love and crave fun, lighthearted comedies. Bad Moms is exactly that. It is in a similar vein of female-driven comedies that we began to see much more of post-Bridesmaids. Where women are at the helm, and where we get to see them be as messy, and at times raunchy, as (most) comedies starring men.
Many people know Hahn from her comedic work, but I think Bad Moms gives audiences a chance to see her comedic talents on full display. Carla is the biggest source of comedic relief in the film. She always says exactly what she is thinking and isn’t afraid to be herself, even if that doesn’t always align with others' perceptions of what she should be. She doesn’t care, and I love it. We watch Carla hilariously terrorize a grocery store with her friends while top hits from 2016 play in the background, we watch her host a party with Jello-shots made by Martha Stewart herself, all the while, making out with various women, and watch her develop a sincere and deep bond with Amy and Kiki, and it’s absolutely hilarious and wonderful to watch Hahn do it all. She makes Carla fun and lovable, and it is no surprise that in 2017, a sequel, A Bad Moms Christmas, was released. The film has become a staple for my sibling and me every holiday season, and is just as fun as the first film.
Kathryn Hahn has done many comedic roles, but if you want to see her shine in a large role, and one in which she has fantastic chemistry with the other leads, this is definitely the one to see. Bad Moms is also a fantastic example of the versatility Hahn possesses, in the way that she is able to do intense, dramatic indie films like Private Life, and big blockbuster comedies such as this. She is chameleon-like in her ability to transform, and when putting the two films next to one another, it’s hard to believe that it's the same actor. She is able to fully disappear into any role with utmost ease, and it’s so exciting to watch.
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video and rent on Apple TV (Canada)
Mrs. Fletcher
Mrs. Fletcher is a seven-episode limited series, released in 2019 and written by Tom Perrotta, with episodes directed by Nicole Holofcener, Lisel Tommy, Carrie Brownstein, and Gillian Robespierre. The series follows Eve Fletcher (Hahn) as she navigates her new reality as an empty nester and goes on a journey of self-discovery regarding sexuality, pleasure, and romance. Mrs Fletcher is a fan favourite and one of my personal favourites, as it is more of a character-centric piece and a rarity in terms of many of the themes it explores.
What makes Mrs. Fletcher such a standout is that it explores subject matter that is often shied away from in mainstream media. While Eve begins this new era of life on her own now that her son is off at college, she discovers more about herself and what she wants in a relationship, and about her sexuality. Given that Eve is also a woman in her forties, anyone who is reading this, or has watched the series, is well aware of the fact that those themes, combined with Eve’s age, are often considered taboo. Throughout the series, Eve discovers things about herself that she had no idea existed. She joins a creative writing class and finds a new friend group, experiences a new world of dating, and discovers new things about her sexuality. I believe that no one could have brought the role of Eve Fletcher to life in the way that Kathryn Hahn has.
Kathryn Hahn’s performance as Eve Fletcher is one of my favourites because she portrays all of the aforementioned themes with such openness, fearlessness, sensitivity, and vulnerability. We don’t often get to see the lives of women over forty exploring their sexuality on screen. Sure, there are more great parts for women over forty now than in years past, but rarely do we get to see women explore their sexuality so openly and freely in the way that Eve does. Messiness and all. It’s palpable, even through the screen, that Hahn embraces all of that. The confidence that comes with age; confidence in your body, in your sense of self, but also the uncertainty that comes with discovering something new about yourself at any age, and learning to navigate and embrace that. As Eve, Hahn also shows us both the joy and loneliness of sudden solitude and how it can be at once liberating and isolating, and it is both exhilarating and empowering to watch.
I implore everyone to find Mrs. Fletcher and watch it (preferably all in one go), because it is a rare bird. With each passing year, I only become more empowered to get older, for all of the new things I’m bound to discover about myself, and all of the new people I have yet to meet, but it’s seeing characters like Eve Fletcher onscreen who make me even more excited for that. As women, we are so often taught to hate ourselves, our bodies, and particularly hate both of those things as we get older, so it is incredibly special to have a character like Eve Fletcher. Particularly because of Hahn’s portrayal of her in the way that embraces everything; the messiness, the good and the bad, and everything in between. Kathyn Hahn brings Eve Fletcher to life, and in doing so has crafted an endlessly interesting and deeply complex character that has left an indelible mark on me.
Where to watch: Available to stream on Crave (Canada)
Agatha All Along
Last, but certainly not least, my personal favourite, and the role that has received perhaps the most attention and acclaim: Agatha Harkness in Agatha All Along. The nine-episode series, released in 2024, was directed by Jac Schaeffer, Rachel Goldberg, and Gandja Monteiro and follows Agatha Harkness (Hahn), who was first introduced into the Marvel universe in the hit series, WandaVision. The series also stars Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Joe Locke, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, and Debra Jo Rupp. The story follows Agatha Harkness, a centuries-old witch as she attempts to regain her powers with the help of a boy whom she aptly calls Teen (Locke), and a newfound coven of witches as they set off on a journey down the witches' road.
I would like to start by saying that it is not absolutely necessary to have watched Wandavision (2021) before starting Agatha All Along (though I would recommend it). If what you’re looking for is a showcase of Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, Agatha All Along is definitely the way to go. However, Wandavision is where we are first introduced to Agatha, and it includes certain plot points and reveals that are touched on in Agatha All Along, ones that will certainly pack more of a punch if you have seen Wandavision. Also, if you skip Wandavision, you’re missing out on a really great musical number performed by Hahn.
When I first started watching the show, I had no idea it would end up impacting me in the way that it did. The show itself is incredible and I highly recommend it to everyone, regardless of whether you’re a Marvel fan or not. The writing is incredible; equal parts funny, entertaining, engaging, and heartbreaking. The show strikes many emotional chords, but what I love and admire most about the series is Kathryn Hahn’s performance as Agatha. Not only was the show a huge hit because well, who doesn’t love witches, but because of its queer representation. While we are seeing more queer representation as the years go by (though still not even close to enough, but that's a story for a different time), it can be pretty few and far between. So to see representation in a Marvel show is something that I did not see coming. Not only does Agatha All Along have the first lesbian kiss in Marvel history, its titular character is a lesbian. As you can imagine, Agatha Harkness (and Kathryn Hahn herself), quickly became a lesbian icon, and she has every reason to be.
I can only speak for myself, but the way in which Kathryn Hahn portrays Agatha, with so much thought and care, is one of the things that makes her so impactful, important, and resonate so deeply with queer women. This is not only due to the fact that Agatha is a lesbian, but because of how she carries herself; she is unapologetically herself in every way. Agatha never makes herself smaller for anyone; she takes up space and does so in a way that is true to herself, even if that makes her an outlier. Though (one of) the things I love about the show is that, without realising it, Agatha does finally find a coven, and in a sense, a found family, and before things start to get really crazy, she finds some sense of acceptance with them.
A combination of incredible writing as well as performances by the entire cast makes this all possible. The character of Agatha truly feels like it was made for Kathryn Hahn, and we get to see all of her talents on full display, both comedic and dramatic, in details and gestures both big and small. And where we see Agatha end up from point A to point B is incredible to watch. She does it all, and though I’ve said this in every paragraph I’ve written for this piece, it feels as if Hahn was made for this universe and this role.
The other thing that makes this show so special is how Hahn herself has embraced the role of Agatha, and how she truly seems to love and respect the impact that Agatha has had on queer women. Not that it is necessarily rare, but it’s not always a given that actors embrace having a fanbase of mainly queer women, but Kathryn Hahn has done so with thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and joy. It makes me love the show even more because you can see how much thought and care were put into it by the entire cast and crew. Agatha All Along is a show I will continue to return to for years to come, and I’m so thankful that this show and the character of Agatha Harkness exist.
Where to watch: Available to stream on Disney+
It has been nothing but a pleasure to write this piece because it is so very special to get to watch Kathryn Hahn act, and though I could sit here and write about her and her work for hours, I’ve got to bring this to a close at some point. And while all of the performances I’ve chosen to write about are incredible and deeply interesting, none of them truly match up to Kathryn Hahn herself. I would urge you all to watch or listen to an interview with her, whether that be a podcast interview or an interview on YouTube, and listen to the way she approaches her work and the anecdotes about life that she shares. Her career trajectory has been amazing to watch, and it has been incredible to see her garner even more critical acclaim as the years go by (it’s about time). So, needless to say, please go and watch something with Kathryn Hahn in it today, or any day really, but especially today, and celebrate the incredible work she’s done over the years.
Happy Birthday, Kathryn Hahn, and thank you for all of the incredible performances you’ve given audiences over the years. For the roles that give us a fun, lighthearted reprieve, the roles that make us think and stay with us for ages afterwards, and the roles that make us feel seen and represented in places we often don’t. It has been endlessly inspiring to bear witness to it all.
Honourable Mentions: I Love Dick (2016), Tiny Beautiful Things (2023), Wandavision (2021), Transparent (2014-2019), Glass Onion (2022), How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (2003), Parks and Rec (2009-2015), The Studio (2025), We’re the Millers (2013), She’s Funny That Way (2014).
Photos: Evelyn Freja, Jojo Whilden, IMDb, Sarah Shatz, Marvel Studios, Elisabeth Caren
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