Emily Lynne Berthold: The Untold Story of Kate McKinnon’s Sister, Her Career, Marriage and Life in 2026
Emily Lynne Berthold may be widely recognised as the younger sister of famous comedian Kate McKinnon, but there is much more to her story. She has built a creative career as an actress, writer, comedian and voice performer. While her sister became a household name through Saturday Night Live, Emily followed her own path in entertainment, working on television shows, digital comedy and audio productions.
What makes Emily Lynne Berthold interesting is her natural sense of humour and her close creative partnership with Kate. The sisters have worked together on several projects, including Notary Publix and Heads Will Roll. Emily has also made headlines for her personal life, especially her marriage to artist Matt Leary in 2025.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emily Lynne Berthold |
| Professional Name | Emily Lynne |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | Sea Cliff, Long Island, New York |
| Profession | Actress, comedian, writer and voice artist |
| Famous For | Notary Publix, Heads Will Roll and voice acting |
| Sister | Kate McKinnon |
| Mother | Laura Campbell |
| Father | Michael Thomas Berthold |
| Education | Reportedly studied film at SUNY Purchase |
| Husband | Matt Leary |
| Marriage | September 2025 |
| Television Work | Our Cartoon President, Friends from College |
| Audio Projects | Heads Will Roll, This Podcast Has Fleas |
Who Is Emily Lynne Berthold?
Emily Lynne Berthold is an American entertainer known for her work in comedy, acting, writing and voice performance. She often works professionally under the name Emily Lynne. Although many people first discover her because of Kate McKinnon, Emily has spent years developing her own experience in the entertainment industry.
Her work includes independent comedy, animated television and original audio stories. Unlike celebrities who regularly appear in major Hollywood productions, Emily has focused on projects that allow her to create unusual characters and explore different styles of humour. Her career shows that success in entertainment does not always depend on constant media attention.
Early Life and Family Background
Emily grew up in Sea Cliff, Long Island, New York, alongside her older sister, Kate McKinnon. Her mother, Laura Campbell, worked as a parent educator and family support professional, while her father, Michael Thomas Berthold, was an architect.
Growing up in a creative household helped the sisters develop an interest in comedy and storytelling. Their shared sense of humour eventually became an important part of their professional relationship. Reports also connect Emily with film studies at SUNY Purchase, although detailed information about her education is limited.
Despite becoming known through entertainment, Emily has kept many parts of her childhood and family life away from public attention.
Emily Lynne Berthold’s Career in Entertainment
Emily’s entertainment career includes several different roles. She has worked in front of the camera, performed character voices and contributed to comedy writing. This variety has allowed her to explore different kinds of storytelling without depending on a single television programme.
Her acting credits include the Netflix comedy Friends from College and The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show. She has also contributed voice performances to animated projects such as Our Cartoon President and Nature Cat.
Besides acting, Emily has worked on creative advertising projects and digital productions. Her ability to move between writing and performance is one reason her career stands apart from a typical celebrity biography.
Notary Publix: A Creative Partnership With Kate McKinnon
One of Emily’s most recognisable projects is Notary Publix, a digital comedy series that she co-created and performed in with Kate McKinnon. The series also featured fellow comedian Aidy Bryant.
Its comedy comes from a wonderfully unusual idea: taking the everyday work of notaries and turning it into something dramatic and ridiculous. Instead of relying on a complicated storyline, the series uses exaggerated personalities and unexpected situations to make ordinary paperwork entertaining.
The project gave Emily an opportunity to demonstrate her writing and acting abilities. More importantly, it showed how naturally she and Kate could work together. Their shared timing and understanding of each other’s humour helped give the series its distinctive style.
Heads Will Roll and Her Success in Audio Comedy
Another major achievement in Emily’s career is Heads Will Roll, an Audible fantasy comedy series created with Kate McKinnon. The original production arrived in 2019 and featured a star-studded cast, including Meryl Streep, Peter Dinklage and Tim Gunn.
In the story, Kate voices Queen Mortuana, a demanding and unpredictable ruler, while Emily plays JoJo, her loyal raven companion. The comedy mixes fantasy adventures with modern problems, strange characters and unexpected conversations.
Emily’s performance highlights the importance of voice acting. Without relying on facial expressions or physical movement, she brings personality to JoJo through her voice, timing and delivery. The series became an important part of her creative career and introduced her talents to a wider audience.
What Is Emily Lynne Berthold Doing in 2026?
The year 2026 brought another important milestone for Emily. She reunited with Kate McKinnon for Heads Will Roll: Heir Apparent, the second season of their Audible comedy series, released on June 25, 2026.
The new story follows Queen Mortuana as she faces pressure to produce an heir before turning 40. Meanwhile, JoJo experiences her own unexpected problems, creating more opportunities for the sisters’ unusual comedy.
The production also featured well-known performers such as Megan Mullally, Richard Kind, Laurie Metcalf and Jimmy Fallon.
This return showed that Emily remains active in comedy and continues to develop projects beyond traditional television. Her involvement as both a creator and performer also demonstrates how important she is to the series.
Emily Lynne Berthold’s Husband and Married Life
Emily’s personal life attracted attention when she married Matt Leary, an artist and creative professional, in September 2025. One particularly memorable detail was that her sister, Kate McKinnon, officiated the wedding ceremony.
During a June 2026 appearance on the Today show, Kate spoke about conducting the ceremony and revealed that she was ordained through the Universal Life Church. The conversation offered viewers a warm glimpse into the sisters’ family relationship.
Although Emily occasionally shares personal moments publicly, she does not make every detail of her marriage available to the media. Much of her everyday married life remains private.
Her Special Relationship With Kate McKinnon
The relationship between Emily Lynne Berthold and Kate McKinnon goes beyond being sisters. They are also creative partners who share an interest in comedy, unusual characters and imaginative stories.
Kate became internationally famous through Saturday Night Live, where her celebrity impressions and memorable performances earned widespread recognition. Emily pursued a quieter career, but their different levels of fame have not prevented them from working together.
The sisters have appeared together at public events, including the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, and have promoted their comedy projects through interviews. Their ongoing collaborations suggest a strong professional connection built on years of shared experience.
Social Media and Public Appearances
Emily has maintained a social media presence, including an Instagram account known as @phlegmilylynne. Her online activity has included entertainment-related posts, creative work and occasional personal updates.
Unlike celebrities whose daily routines become constant news, Emily’s public image is more closely connected to her projects and collaborations. Fans generally hear about her through comedy releases, interviews or appearances with her sister.
This relatively private approach has allowed her work to remain the main focus. It also means that some details frequently found in online celebrity biographies, such as her exact age and financial information, are not reliably confirmed.
What Makes Emily Lynne Berthold Different?
One interesting thing about Emily is her ability to work across several creative formats. She is not limited to acting in television shows. She can help develop a comedy idea, write dialogue, perform a character and bring a fictional world to life through audio.
Her partnership with Kate McKinnon has certainly increased her visibility, but it would be unfair to describe her only through that relationship. Projects such as Notary Publix and Heads Will Roll show her direct contribution as a creator.
Her story offers an interesting look at the many careers that exist within entertainment, including those outside the biggest Hollywood spotlight.
Conclusion
Emily Lynne Berthold has established herself as a talented comedian, actress, writer and voice performer. From her early creative work to successful collaborations with Kate McKinnon, she has developed a career shaped by humour and imagination.
Her marriage to Matt Leary in 2025 and the return of Heads Will Roll in 2026 have brought fresh attention to her life and work. Although she remains less famous than her sister, Emily continues to show that a meaningful entertainment career can be built through original ideas, creative teamwork and dedication.
Her journey is not simply about being related to a Hollywood star. It is about finding her own place in the creative world.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Emily Lynne Berthold?
Emily Lynne Berthold is an American actress, comedian, writer and voice performer. She is also the younger sister of former Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon.
2. Is Emily Lynne Berthold married?
Yes. Emily married Matt Leary in September 2025. Her sister, Kate McKinnon, officiated their wedding ceremony.
3. What is Emily Lynne Berthold famous for?
She is best known for Notary Publix, Heads Will Roll, Our Cartoon President and her creative collaborations with Kate McKinnon.
4. How old is Emily Lynne Berthold?
Emily’s exact date of birth and age have not been reliably confirmed in widely available public records. She is known to be Kate McKinnon’s younger sister.
5. What is Emily Lynne Berthold doing now?
As of 2026, one of her latest major projects is Heads Will Roll: Heir Apparent, the second season of the Audible comedy she created with Kate McKinnon.



