With Saturday Night Live behind her, Ego Nwodim is beginning to picture her next chapter.
Nwodim was appearing on a panel at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York Wednesday when she reflected on what life might look like now that she has exited SNL.
“There’s so much I want to do and SNL is always meant to be a stepping stone,” Nwodim said. “There’s so many ideas I need to have time to create, and I’m looking forward to doing that. So directing, more writing in a different capacity. Very excited. It’s an exciting thing.”
Indeed, Nwodim has been growing her filmography in recent years. She starred in the Peacock comedy series Mr. Throwback last year, and more recently guest-starred in an episode of Poker Face and appeared in Dreamworks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie. Nwodim will next appear in the Netflix comedy Little Brother alongside John Cena, Michelle Monaghan, Eric André, and Christopher Meloni.
Nwodim announced her departure from SNL last week, having made the decision to leave days after the cast was thought to have been finalized with her on board.
“The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,” she wrote on social media at the time. “But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories and that laughter with me always.”
Nwodim echoed that sentiment during the panel appearance, opening up about lessons she learned at SNL, including not overthinking what’s funny. “The things that seem to work best are the things that I say with my friends at lunch or over the phone. Miss Eggy came out of a voice that I did with my friend Ashley,” she reflected. “I’ve realized that this is the version of me that people want to see.”
