2024 NAACP Image Awards: A Look at Michelle Buteau's Best Comedic Performances
Michelle Buteau found her boisterous voice through comedy over twenty years ago, and she’s been using it to make audiences roar with laughter ever since. The New Jersey native got her start in entertainment as a stand-up comedian before she slowly transitioned to television and film projects, most of which are filled with nothing but her hilarious moments and memorable performances. Because of them, her blunt and unapologetic humor has made her a true standout in Hollywood.
At this year’s NAACP Image Awards, Buteau won Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) for her Netflix hit series “Survival of the Thickest,” but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her charming comedic skills. Check out five hilarious performances where the actress-comedian proves she’s a comedy whiz.
“Always Be My Maybe"
Buteau transitioned from small TV appearances to notable movies when she teamed up with Hollywood veterans Ali Wong and Randall Park for their 2019 romantic comedy, “Always Be My Maybe.” The Netflix film — which follows two estranged childhood friends who reunite 15 years later — starred Buteau as Veronica, an expectant mother and the right-hand woman to Wong's lead character, Sasha.
“First Wives Club”
Buteau’s career picked up steam after starring in Tracy Oliver’s modern reimagining of “First Wives Club,” a half-hour dramedy that follows the bond and tumultuous love lives of a trio of best friends in New York City. The actress starred as Bree, who fittingly provides her friend group’s comic relief while balancing her hectic role as a mom, wife, and surgeon. The series also starred Jill Scott, Ryan Michelle Bathé, and Michelle Mitchenor.
“Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia”
In 2020, scene-stealing queen Buteau displayed her comedy skills in her hour-long Netflix special, “Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia.” In it, she let loose and kept it real about her journey in stand-up, married life, parenthood, her multicultural upbringing, and much more.
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“Marry Me”
Buteau was a true standout in Jennifer Lopez’s 2022 blockbuster film “Marry Me,” a rom-com about a singing superstar who marries a stranger after learning of her fiancé’s infidelity seconds before they exchanged vows. The actress-comedian delivered a breakthrough performance as Melissa, the sassy longtime assistant of Lopez’s fictional pop star character, Kat.
“Survival of the Thickest”
Buteau skyrocketed to new heights of fame after she turned her 2020 essay collection, “Survival of the Thickest,” into an infectious Netflix comedy of the same name. The series—which Buteau created, executive produced, and starred in—centers around her lead character, Mavis Beaumont, a newly single, thick and proud fashion stylist navigating her new reality after an unexpected breakup. The show, led by Buteau’s masterful comedy, was such a hit with viewers that it already has a second season on the way.