Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | Celebrity | September 28, 2026
Like most SNL viewers, I’m a huge fan of Ashley Padilla. But until last week’s episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, I didn’t know much about her personal journey. Turns out, she was an indifferent high school student, was once arrested, was raised by a single mom who worked at Adobe, and quit community college after a single week.
Early on, Padilla nearly gave up on comedy when her career flatlined, largely because she refused to build a social media presence. But she had a high-profile champion in her corner: the legendary actress she was working for as an assistant, social media manager, and inspiration for a book on fashion.
That boss? Diane Keaton.
Padilla describes Keaton as a “fairy godmother” who frequently turned up to support her at Groundlings shows — wearing a giant hat and a tutu, because of course she did. Keaton wasn’t just a massive supporter; she helped shape Padilla’s entire worldview.
Keaton wasn’t her only powerhouse ally, either. Padilla also credits talent manager Naomi Odenkirk with helping her land SNL. Odenkirk — who also helped foster the careers of Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri — just happens to be Bob Odenkirk’s wife.
And here’s Padilla’s tribute post to the late Diane Keaton after her passing.
