NEED TO KNOW
Amy Poehler reflects on her waitressing days in Chicago after college, including the time she served Oprah Winfrey
The comedian explained how this work helped her strengthen her improvisation skills and taught her to think on her feet.
She also joked about bringing up the encounter the next time she had dinner with Winfrey.
Amy Poehler made a name for herself as one of the most recognizable faces in comedy, but before becoming a household name, she worked in restaurants while honing her improv skills.
Best known for her roles in Saturday evening live and like Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreationthe actress and comedian recently looked back on a memorable encounter during her days waiting in Chicago. In a recent interview with The Wall Street JournalPoehler revealed that she waited for Hollywood stars before becoming one herself.
“I waited for Oprah Winfrey. I bet she doesn’t remember. But I do,” Poehler, 55, told the outlet.
If that 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 talked about her job as a waiter and how that job required many of the same quick-thinking skills she developed through improvisation.
While carrying plates was part of her routine, she also learned a few skills along the way, one of which she always seems particularly proud of. “I don’t want to brag, but I can carry four plates on one arm,” she laughed.
When asked if waiting tables was an extension of his improv training, Poehler explained how the two experiences went hand in hand. Serving customers meant thinking actively, remaining confident, and sometimes coming up with an answer even when she wasn’t entirely sure what she was talking about.
“Yes, when you are a waitress, you learn a lot about improvisation,” 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
Never miss a story: subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Although Poehler’s days as a waitress are long gone, the encounter with Winfrey is clearly one she hasn’t forgotten. The comedian may not have been on his radar at the time, but during the interview, she joked that she might finally get the chance to remind him the next time they share a meal.
“I should talk to him,” Poehler said The Wall Street Journal. “When I get home and we have dinner, I’ll let him know.”
Read the original article on People
Gn entert
