Kathy Najimy

Listen to Kathy Najimy's Dr Sam in Hoppers (2026): the voice is warm and the delivery quick. We liked her immediately because she makes that warmth part of the comic pace, rather than a reason to slow things down. Around the stubborn Mabel, she is a welcome presence in a supporting cast given a fair share of the sharp lines. This is the kind of economical comic acting we rate her for, even when the part itself is small.

Her early comedy was made with a partner: she co-created and performed The Kathy and Mo Show with Mo Gaffney from 1981. The film breakthrough was Sister Act (1992), where Sister Mary Patrick's irrepressible enthusiasm suited her ensemble timing. Whoopi Goldberg became a recurring co-star, and Mary Sanderson in Hocus Pocus (1993) supplied another lasting part. The subsequent film career largely kept her in comic support.

Voice work gave her a more sustained part as Peggy Hill in King of the Hill (1997 onwards), including its revival, with creator and voice director Mike Judge among her collaborators. That is a substantial stretch of character work beside the smaller film appearances. She also voices Mary in Andrew Stanton's WALL·E (2008). We would send even an animation sceptic to that patient, moving robot romance, though its later action is less distinctive. It makes the environmental warnings feel personal without losing its humour.

The limitation is in the parts: major film leads have remained rare since those early breakthroughs. Bubbly enthusiasm is an effective way into a comedy, but it can leave an actor supplying the same kind of pleasure in too many different films. Hoppers uses her quick warmth well, even though its crowded plotting and hesitant last act keep our recommendation qualified. We would like the next part to ask a little more of her than being welcome company.