Saturday Night LiveAlum Sasheer Zamata Jokes She's a 'Late-in-Life Lesbian' as She Comes Out as Gay

Mar. 15, 2025

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Sasheer Zamatais living her truth.TheSaturday Night Livealum jokingly referred to herself as “one of those late-in-life lesbians” as she came out as gay in a new interview withThem.Zamata, 38, reflected on how she “kept getting cast as queer women” in many of her past roles, includingWoke,Home Economics,Tuca & BertieandTheLast O.G.But that was “before I, myself, was figuring out my identity,” she explained.“I was like, ‘Whoa, what are these casting directors seeing that I’m not seeing?'“Zamata, who departedSNLafter three years in 2017, said she’s “very comfortable and confident in my life.” However, she still wanted to share her identity publicly — in part to avoid “being silenced.““It felt like if I didn’t say anything, I’d be ignoring a part of me, and that doesn’t feel very good,” she told the outlet. “I’ve definitely had thoughts of, not necessarily keeping it a secret, but [that] there’s no need to say anything about it.“Sasheer Zamata and Colin Jost during Weekend Update on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2016.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyZamata is slated to star alongsideKathryn Hahnin Disney+‘sAgatha All Along, which premieres Sept. 18. She toldThemthat it was “nice to be able to portray a character who has been an outcast for a lot of her life.“She also described theWandaVisionspinoff series as “a show that’s exploring so many cool female and queer themes.““I think what this show is going to do is also open up the door to a whole new fan base of people who maybe didn’t see themselves before in the Marvel Universe,” she added. “I hope people watch it and can see a little bit of themselves in it.“Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Teen (Joe Locke), Mrs. Hart/Sharon Davis (Debra Jo Rupp), and Ali Ahn (Alice Wu-Gulliver) in Marvel Television’s AGATHA ALL ALONG, exclusively on Disney+.Marvel TelevisionAgatha All Alongwill pick up where WandaVision left off, with Agatha (Hahn) “down and out of power after the suspicious goth teen helps break her free from a distorted spell.” She then assembles a “desperate coven” alongside a “mysterious teen” as they embark on the “legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing.“Along with Zamata and Hahn,Joe Locke,Aubrey PlazaandPatti LuPonealso star.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The first two episodes ofAgatha All Alongpremiere on Disney+ on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Sasheer Zamatais living her truth.

TheSaturday Night Livealum jokingly referred to herself as “one of those late-in-life lesbians” as she came out as gay in a new interview withThem.

Zamata, 38, reflected on how she “kept getting cast as queer women” in many of her past roles, includingWoke,Home Economics,Tuca & BertieandTheLast O.G.But that was “before I, myself, was figuring out my identity,” she explained.

“I was like, ‘Whoa, what are these casting directors seeing that I’m not seeing?'”

Zamata, who departedSNLafter three years in 2017, said she’s “very comfortable and confident in my life.” However, she still wanted to share her identity publicly — in part to avoid “being silenced.”

“It felt like if I didn’t say anything, I’d be ignoring a part of me, and that doesn’t feel very good,” she told the outlet. “I’ve definitely had thoughts of, not necessarily keeping it a secret, but [that] there’s no need to say anything about it.”

Sasheer Zamata and Colin Jost during Weekend Update on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2016.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Zamata is slated to star alongsideKathryn Hahnin Disney+‘sAgatha All Along, which premieres Sept. 18. She toldThemthat it was “nice to be able to portray a character who has been an outcast for a lot of her life.”

She also described theWandaVisionspinoff series as “a show that’s exploring so many cool female and queer themes.”

“I think what this show is going to do is also open up the door to a whole new fan base of people who maybe didn’t see themselves before in the Marvel Universe,” she added. “I hope people watch it and can see a little bit of themselves in it.”

Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Teen (Joe Locke), Mrs. Hart/Sharon Davis (Debra Jo Rupp), and Ali Ahn (Alice Wu-Gulliver) in Marvel Television’s AGATHA ALL ALONG, exclusively on Disney+.Marvel Television

Marvel Television

Agatha All Alongwill pick up where WandaVision left off, with Agatha (Hahn) “down and out of power after the suspicious goth teen helps break her free from a distorted spell.” She then assembles a “desperate coven” alongside a “mysterious teen” as they embark on the “legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing.”

Along with Zamata and Hahn,Joe Locke,Aubrey PlazaandPatti LuPonealso star.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The first two episodes ofAgatha All Alongpremiere on Disney+ on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

source: people.com