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Noël Kristi Wells (born December 23, 1986)[1][2] is an American actress, comedian, singer, writer, director and photographer. She is known for her television roles as Rachel Silva in the Netflix comedy-drama Master of None (2015–2017), as the voice of Kelsey Pokoly in the Cartoon Network animated television series Craig of the Creek (2018–present), as the voice of Ensign D'Vana Tendi in the Paramount+ animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–present), and her brief tenure as a featured player on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live during its 39th season between 2013 and 2014. She also wrote, directed, and starred in the film Mr. Roosevelt (2017). She has also ventured into music; her debut album It's So Nice! was released in 2019.
Noël Wells | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wells at Earwolf Studios in 2015 | |
| Born | Noël Kristi Wells December 23, 1986 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Memorial High School |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
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Wells was born in San Antonio, Texas.[3] Her father is a Tunisian immigrant, and her mother is of Mexican descent.[4][5][6] She says her parents named her Noël because she was born two days before Christmas.[7]
Wells attended Memorial High School in Victoria, Texas, where she was active in speech and debate and graduated as salutatorian.[8] She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010[9] with degrees in Plan II Honors and Radio-Television-Film.[10] While attending college, she was a cast member of Esther's Follies,[11] Austin's long-running musical satire show, where she performed in sketches and as a magician's assistant.[12] Before becoming an actress she worked as an editor and did motion graphics.
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In 2010, Wells moved to Los Angeles and performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre with the sketch team "New Money".[13][14] She appeared in numerous Cracked.com and CollegeHumor videos,[15] and was known for her own sketch and parody videos, which have over 18 million views on YouTube.[16]
In 2013, Wells joined the cast of Saturday Night Live during its 39th season as a featured player along with fellow Upright Citizens Brigade performers John Milhiser, Kyle Mooney, and Beck Bennett, as well as writer Mike O'Brien and stand-up comedian Brooks Wheelan.[17][18][19] On July 15, 2014, it was announced that Wells would not be returning for a second season.[20][21]
Saturday Night Live impressions
Wells has made guest appearances on television programs such as The Aquabats! Super Show! and Comedy Bang! Bang!, as well as doing recurring voice work on Hulu's The Awesomes, Disney XD's Wander Over Yonder, and Cartoon Network's Craig of the Creek. In 2015, she co-starred on the critically acclaimed Netflix comedy Master of None, created by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang. Wells played Rachel, the love-interest of Ansari's character. Hitfix's Alan Sepinwall said the "Dev/Rachel story is so smartly developed, with such strong chemistry between Ansari and Wells." Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair said her portrayal of Rachel was a "star-making...performance. It's subtle, but not minimalist or deadpan."[22][23][24] All 10 episodes premiered on November 6, 2015, and it won the 2016 Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy.[25][26]
In March 2017, Wells wrote, directed, and starred in the feature film Mr. Roosevelt, which premiered at the SXSW film festival in Narrative Spotlight. It won multiple awards including the Audience Award and Louis Black Lone Star Jury Award at SXSW, and Best US Narrative Feature at the Traverse City Film Festival.[27][28]
Wells released her debut album It's So Nice on August 30, 2019.[29][30] Written and recorded over a two-year period, it was her first foray as a musician and singer-songwriter.
As of September 2019[update], Wells had a television show in development for the streaming service Apple TV+.[31]
In 2020, Wells was cast as a voice actor in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks as Ensign Tendi, a new Orion crewmember (one of four main characters) aboard the USS Cerritos, working in the ship's medical bay.
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Wells has lived in Los Angeles and New York City.[32][33]
Her photography has been featured in exhibitions and the literary magazine Oxford American.[34]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Forev | Sophie | |
| 2016 | Dreamland | Joanna | |
| 2017 | The Incredible Jessica James | Tasha | |
| 2017 | Infinity Baby | Theresa | |
| 2017 | Mr. Roosevelt | Emily Martin | Also producer, writer and director |
| 2018 | Happy Anniversary | Mollie | |
| 2018 | Social Animals | Zoe | |
| 2023 | Craig Before the Creek | Kelsey Pokoly, Mortimer, Bug Battler, Serena's Friend | Voice role |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Aquabats! Super Show! | Rachel Moonbug | Episode: "The Anti-Bats!" |
| 2013–14 | Saturday Night Live | Featured player | Season 39 |
| 2014 | The Awesomes | Cait Walker / Knight Light | Voice role; 3 episodes |
| 2014–16 | Gentleman Lobsters | Shell | Voice role; 7 episodes |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Aiden Tomasseto | Episode: "Kid Cudi Wears a Denim Shirt and Red Sneakers" |
| 2015 | Semi-Charmed Life | Alex | Television film |
| 2015–16 | Wander Over Yonder | Lord Dominator | Voice; 13 episodes |
| 2015, 2017 | Master of None | Rachel Silva | Main Role |
| 2016 | The UCB Show | Trish/Willow | Episode: "Feel the Bern" |
| 2016 | Loosely Exactly Nicole | Blix | Episode: "Big Break" |
| 2016 | American Dad! | Shannon/DreamSmith Entertainment Announcer | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Elena of Avalor | Marimonda | Voice role; Episode: "Realm of the Jacquins" |
| 2018–present | Craig of the Creek | Kelsey Pokoly (2nd voice) | Voice role; Main role |
| 2018 | Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy | Karen the Mermaid | Minor role; 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts | Jibralta | Voice role; Episode: "Benson and the Beast" |
| 2020–24 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Ensign D'Vana Tendi | Voice role; Main role |
| 2020 | Wild Help | Jelly | Voice role; Pilot |
| 2021 | DuckTales | June | Voice role; Episode: "The Last Adventure" |
| 2023 | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Ensign D'Vana Tendi | Voice role; Episode: "Those Old Scientists" |
| 2024 | Jessica's Big Little World | Kelsey Pokoly | Voice role; 2 episodes |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Star Trek: Very Short Treks | Ensign D'Vana Tendi | Voice role; 2 episodes |
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Albums
- It's So Nice! (2019)
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