As someone who once walked on stilts in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade and operated a Sebastian the Crab puppet, the comedian and actress Sasheer Zamata is no stranger to the world of Disney.
In August, she was in Anaheim, Calif., for D23 Expo, a weekend event for Disney fans where she promoted the new Marvel series “Agatha All Along,” a “WandaVision” spinoff in which she co-stars with Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza and Patti LuPone.
Zamata, a “Saturday Night Live” cast member for four seasons, has worked on a Marvel project before, voicing one of the characters in the animated series “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.” In “Agatha,” she plays a sorceress.
At D23, she said, “We sang our witch’s chant, we were in these hooded cloaks, there was fog, and it felt very epic. We were singing to a stadium of 12,000 people, full Taylor Swift-style.”
Zamata went on to talk about the kid’s movie she rewatches every few years, the friend she talks to every day and the album she listens to before going onstage. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
1
Black Girl Sunscreen
I run through it so fast. I slather it all over because it’s so moisturizing. Even if I’m not going to be outside all day, I still use it because it feels good. When I was younger, I fell into the idea that Black people can’t get sunburned. Now, I can’t even imagine walking outside without sunscreen.
2
‘A Goofy Movie’
I grew up with a single mom. Max and Goofy, that’s a single-parent household. Seeing that, I felt very connected to it. There weren’t a ton of stories with a family dynamic that looked like mine. And the music slaps! I’ve watched it every couple of years.
3
Beyoncé
“II Most Wanted” has been in my head this whole week. Even though “Cowboy Carter” isn’t new, I’m still rocking out to it. I don’t like feeling like a fanatic, but I do have her whole catalog in my phone. She always hypes me up. If I’m going to an audition, I’ll play her on the ride there. Or if I’m about to perform, I listen to her in the green room. It’s a guaranteed pump-up.
4
Yoga
I’m trying to stretch more in general, and I’m not great about doing that in my house by myself. So, going to a yoga class is helpful and relaxing. It’s nice to have a reason to be still, breathe, flow and take a moment for myself.
5
Farm Rio Jumpsuits
I’m really into patterns, bright colors and nature vibes, and they have all of that. I can’t resist. I haven’t found a jumpsuit that doesn’t work for me. I don’t know if it’s because I have a short torso and long legs? It’s an easy way to look like you’re trying, while still being very comfortable.
6
Eyebrow Brush and Pencil
I don’t really wear that much makeup. But before I walk out the door, I’ll do my eyebrows because it feels like something’s done. Like, ‘She tried a little bit.’
7
Sustainable Shopping
When I was younger, my mom kept so much of her clothing from the past, and I would go in her closet and pull out a jacket from the ’70s or skirt from the ’80s and try to style it with my own clothing. I developed an appreciation for older items at a young age. Then when I got to college, I was constantly shopping at Goodwill and Salvation Army, especially because I was broke. I enjoy the hunt of digging through racks and finding little gems.
8
Hot Dogs
I know they’re not the healthiest thing, but they’re the tastiest thing. I really can’t get enough. I just like the dog, ketchup, mustard — I don’t really need a lot of other stuff going on. People are like, “Oh, I had this pasta in Italy or this dish in China” and in my mind, I’m like, I can’t think of anything better than the hot dog I got on Main Street, U.S.A.
9
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm
It’s minty and tingly and I like that feeling. Maybe I’ve desensitized my lips to moisture, but I don’t care; I keep using it. I have it in every single room in my house because if I need it, I don’t want to go look for it. It’s in my car, my purse, my pocket — everywhere.
10
My B.F.F. and Podcast Co-Host Nicole Byer
We literally talk to each other everyday. I feel lucky to have someone who understands my life in so many ways. We started comedy at the same time in New York, and we were two of very few Black women at the time. It’s nice to have someone to ride this wave alongside me. She’s the adventurous, spontaneous idea woman, like, “Let’s start roller skating. Let’s take a pole-dancing class. Let’s go to a tropical island.” And I’m along for the ride. I’m also like, “How do we make this safe?” I’m the practical friend.
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