Kathryn Hahn and Ana Gasteyer: Why You Probably Think They’re the Same Person

You’re watching a movie. A curly-haired woman with impeccable comedic timing and a slightly chaotic energy walks onto the screen. You lean over to whoever is on the couch with you and say, "Oh, I love her! She was so funny on SNL."

Except, she wasn't.

Or maybe she was, but you're actually looking at the star of Agatha All Along. The confusion between Kathryn Hahn and Ana Gasteyer isn't just a casual mistake made by people who don't watch enough TV; it is a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Even the industry's biggest names get it wrong. Saxophonist Kenny G once walked up to Gasteyer and complimented her on her work in Bad Moms.

She didn't have the heart to tell him she wasn't Kathryn Hahn. She just thanked him and moved on.

The Northwestern Connection You Didn't Know About

It isn't just the hair or the vibe. These two actually share a surprisingly similar DNA when it comes to their careers. Both women are alumni of Northwestern University. Gasteyer graduated in 1989, and Hahn followed a few years later in 1995.

They didn't just attend the same school; they both emerged from the same high-intensity theater world that produces a specific kind of "fearless" performer. If you've ever noticed that both women seem willing to do literally anything for a laugh—whether it's Hahn's unhinged intensity in Step Brothers or Gasteyer's legendary Martha Stewart impressions—that's the Northwestern training at work.

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They know a million of the same people. They've lived parallel lives in the same industry for decades. Honestly, it’s kinda weird they haven't been cast as sisters yet.

Why the SNL Myth Persists

The most common point of confusion is Saturday Night Live. Ana Gasteyer was a pillar of the show from 1996 to 2002. She gave us the Culp Family, Bobbie Mohan-Culp, and the "Schweddy Balls" Delicious Dish sketches.

Kathryn Hahn, despite her massive comedic chops, has never been an SNL cast member.

Yet, search data shows people constantly looking for "Kathryn Hahn SNL sketches." People just assume she was there. It makes sense in a weird way. Her energy fits the 90s/early 2000s era of the show so perfectly that our brains just rewrite history to put her in a studio 8H jacket.

Hahn recently admitted on the Armchair Expert podcast that she gets asked about her "time on the show" constantly. She takes it as a huge compliment. Gasteyer, on the flip side, gets "Bad Moms" fans coming up to her daily.

"She will send me pictures of Starbucks cups that say 'Bad Moms' on them," Hahn told Dax Shepard. "She just leans into it."

Two Different Brands of Chaos

While they look alike, their career trajectories have actually been quite different. Hahn spent years as the "best friend" in romantic comedies before transitioning into prestige dramas and eventually becoming a Marvel icon. She’s got this raw, almost dangerous edge to her comedy.

Gasteyer is the queen of the character study. She’s a Broadway powerhouse (Wicked) and a sitcom veteran (Suburgatory, American Auto). She has a more polished, theatrical foundation to her humor, even when she's playing someone totally absurd.

Basically, Hahn is the one you want at a dive bar when things might get out of hand. Gasteyer is the one you want at a dinner party where she can slowly dismantle the host with a perfectly timed dry comment.

The Project That Finally Needs to Happen

The internet has been screaming for a collaboration for years. Gasteyer herself has said that her "dream would be to play sisters or something" with Hahn.

Imagine a psychological thriller or a high-stakes comedy where they play twins who haven't spoken in twenty years. The marketing writes itself. You could switch them halfway through the movie and half the audience probably wouldn't even notice until the credits rolled.

How to Tell Them Apart (A Quick Cheat Sheet)

If you're still struggling, here is the mental checklist to use next time one of them pops up on your feed:

• Did she play a witch in the MCU? That's Kathryn Hahn.
• Was she the mom in Mean Girls? That's Ana Gasteyer.
• Is she singing "Barracuda" in a suburban living room? That’s Gasteyer in Suburgatory.
• Is she singing "The Ballad of the Witches' Road"? That’s Hahn in Agatha.
• Is the character slightly more likely to bite someone? Probably Hahn.
• Is the character slightly more likely to break into a Broadway showtune? Probably Gasteyer.

Moving Beyond the Comparison

At the end of the day, the Kathryn Hahn and Ana Gasteyer mix-up is a testament to how much we love this specific archetype of performer: the smart, funny, middle-aged woman who refuses to be "neat" or "quiet" on screen.

Instead of just confusing them, the real move is to dive into their respective backlogs. If you only know Hahn from Marvel, go watch Mrs. Fletcher or Private Life. If you only know Gasteyer from SNL, check out her holiday movie parodies or her jazz albums.

Seriously, go watch Gasteyer's Martha Stewart sketches on YouTube and then immediately flip over to Hahn’s "Wink" scene in WandaVision. You’ll see exactly why the world is so confused—and why we’re lucky to have both of them.

Next Steps for the Super-Fan:
Check out the podcast Armchair Expert (specifically the September 30, 2024 episode) to hear Kathryn Hahn talk about the "Starbucks cup" incidents in her own voice. Then, head over to Ana Gasteyer's Instagram; she occasionally posts the "Bad Moms" fan encounters that prove the confusion is still alive and well in 2026.