Julia Sweeney is best known for her four hit seasons on Saturday Night Live and her most popular character while on that show: "Pat," as well as her critically acclaimed one-person shows "God Said Ha!" "In The Family Way," and "Letting Go of God". "God Said Ha!" played on Broadway at the Lyceum theater in 1996 and was released as a Miramax film, produced by Quentin Tarantino, in 1998. "Letting Go of God" has been filmed and is scheduled for release in 2008.

Julia started her acting career in Los Angeles at the Groundlings Theater, a well-known improvisational and sketch comedy company. It was there that she met fellow SNL cast members Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz, and where Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels tapped her for the late-night show. Sweeney spun one of her most popular characters into the feature film "It's Pat" and after leaving Saturday Night Live, and she moved back to Los Angeles. The film was a flop at the box office, but still has a cult following.

Within a matter of months, after moving back to L.A., Julia’s brother Michael was diagnosed with cancer, and so was she. Her experiences led her to write and star in "God Said Ha!" Produced by Quentin Tarantino and released theatrically by Miramax, the film version of the play earned the Golden Space Needle Award for best directing, while Sweeney’s recording earned her a Grammy nomination for best comedy album.

Sweeney’s second monologue, "In The Family Way," chronicles the adoption of her daughter from China. This show played in New York City at the Ars Nova theater as well as in Los Angeles at the Groundlings Theater. In the summer of 2006, Julia was asked by the Hollywood Bowl to perform "In The Family Way" with a new original score written especially for her show by Anthony Marinelli, and this was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Sweeney’s third monologue, "Letting Go of God," ran for 10 months to sold-out crowds at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles, and then also played in New York City at the Ars Nova theater. This show has earned her the best reviews she has ever gotten for her stage work. This monologue has also been made into a film that will be released sometime during 2008.

In the meantime, Julia has worked as a producing consultant on Desperate Housewives, and she was a consultant for three seasons on Sex and the City. She has also worked as an actress in film, in Pulp Fiction, Clockstoppers, Stuart Little, Beethoven (3 and 4), Stuart Saves His Family, and Coneheads, among others. In television, she has been a series regular on George & Leo, and Maybe It’s Me, as well as making guest starring appearances on 3rd Rock from the Sun, Frasier, Mad About You, and Sex and the City, among others. Julia is originally from Spokane, Washington, and she attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she majored in economics and European history. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Mulan.

Listen to Home Sweet Earth and tell us what you think!

Additional links:

Julia’s 17-minute talk at TED Conference in February 2006

Julia talks about "Letting Go of God" on Fresh Air

Julia on This American Life episode "Godless America"