Molly Shannon

Born: 16th September 1964
Where: Shaker Heights, Ohio

Molly survived a car crash at age 4 that killed her mother, her 3 year old sister, and her cousin.

Trying to find the positive that comes with such a tragedy, Molly has used the event as a motivation for her life: "It's a massive loss that affects everything, but not consciously," she said.

While she found guest roles on Twin Peaks and Ellen, Molly supported herself as an assistant talent co-ordinator and occasional performer on the variety series In Living Color.

However, it was the showcase The Rob and Molly Show, which she co-wrote and co-starred alongside Rob Muir that brought her to the attention of a producer of Saturday Night Live.

It took the comic until her second season on the show to introduce her most popular character, the intense Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher who, when pressured, hooks her hands in her armpits and then smells them.

The character proved so popular that she became the centre of a comedy feature in 1999, Superstar, that marked Molly's first leading role in films.

Although Shannon had made brief appearances in some unsuccessful films, her success on Saturday Night Live led to a renewed feature career.

She was tapped to join castmates Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell in A Night at the Roxbury, playing the latter's girlfriend, and had a brief role as a gossipy co-worker of Jane Adams in Todd Solondz's Happiness.

She had a recurring role on the US series, Will & Grace, which was followed in 2000 with a featured role in the Ron Howard-directed Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

2001 was a busy year for the actress which saw her star alongside comedian Chris Rock in Osmosis Jones, playing Kate Beckinsale's best friend in the romantic comedy Serendipity, and appearing as Jack Black's mother in Shallow Hal.

That year she also left Saturday Night Live in order to pursue her feature film career.