The Untold Truth Of Kathryn Hahn

What comes to your mind when you hear Kathryn Hahn's name? Do you think of her as the politically savvy campaign manager Jennifer Barkley from Parks and Recreation? Or do you immediately flash to scenes of her quirky Bad Moms character indulging in wild behavior that some parents could only dread (or dream of)? There's also a chance you've fallen in love with her all over again thanks to her role as Agnes in Marvel's WandaVision. The fact that Hahn always seems to be a fan-favorite who delivers memorable performances might be, in part, because of the fact that she adores what she does. And apparently she's always been that way.

Hahn confirmed that while talking to NPR's Fresh Air, saying that when it comes to performing, she's always "loved the ensemble," "loved the feeling right before — as awful as it was," and "loved the feeling after." She explained that being on stage is like being "in communion with the audience," and noted, "Even at [a] very young age, I loved the feeling of something, like, heightened and holy — that's what it felt like."

While that kind of connection makes it totally understandable why anyone would be a massive fan of what Hahn does as a famous Hollywood figure, there's so much more to the actor than just the work that she does on screen. For instance, check out these untold truths about the popular star that prove that she's just as intriguing off-screen as she is on-screen.

Kathryn Hahn may not have been a child star, but she was a child actor. According to Cleveland Magazine, along with "scoring her first on-screen gig ... on WKYC's Hickory Hideout" — a children's show that featured a young Hahn looking adorable with '80s-appropriate poofy bangs (see the image above) — she spent part of her time as "a Cleveland Play House Curtain Puller, acting in youth productions with Case Western Reserve University graduate students." While that may make it sound like she was responsible for literally pulling the rope for the stage curtains, that's not quite the case. The theater's history page explains that Curtain Puller was actually the name of what had earlier been called The Play House Children's Theatre. "Believed to be the first of its kind in America," it's a "program [that] provides free theatre education to Cleveland youngsters." 

Aa Cleveland Magazine wrote, Hahn's "[d]ays at the theater were punctuated by treks across the street to Burger King for a chicken sandwich or 'healthy snacks' like a Snickers bar shared in the backstage dark," which seem like extremely simple pleasures, but helped to create fond memories for the star and put her on her path to her chosen career. "That was a pretty magical thing and really cemented something clearly for me as a performer," she told the magazine. "That's my idea of a holy space. Where I fell in love with theater is Cleveland Play House, in the backstage area.'"

Like other studious stars such as Connie Britton, John Legend, and Angela Bassett, Kathryn Hahn went to an Ivy League school. While she first earned a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Northwestern University, per IMDb, "one [of] her favorite experiences was getting her [Master of Fine Arts] from Yale," CBSN Los Angeles explained. 

Indeed, Hahn told CBSN Los Angeles that she "didn't go" to Yale "right after undergrad," but instead spent "a couple of years flailing around New York City" and "working at a hair salon as a receptionist." While talking about the salon, she recalled that it was a "fancy" place and "was a really awesome gig." At the same time, she "was trying to act" and admitted that "it was really hard."

When Hahn found out she's been accepted to Yale, she said, "I was not young, but I was so excited to just act." Regarding her time at the Yale School of Drama, she told The Hollywood Reporter, "It was the best, because I just got to act for three years." Granted, it was also a costly experience. But according to Vanity Fair, Hahn was able to get those student loans squared away relatively quickly "thanks to a recurring role as a grief counselor on the medical drama Crossing Jordan." Thank goodness Hahn became a well-paid star otherwise she still might be paying off those loans.

Like many other talented performers that we often see on the silver screen— we're looking at (or, in this case, hearing) you Will Smith, Mila Kunis, and Kristen Bell — Kathryn Hahn has voiced a fair share of animated characters. Pop on the 2014 American Dad! episode called "Honey, I'm Homeland," and, according to IMDb, you'll hear Hahn as Luli. While that was a one-time gig, she was the voice of Tracy on Chozen for 10 episodes and is Central Park's Paige Hunter.

Hahn told ScreenRant that when she took the latter role, "It was kind of a leap of faith, but not really, because I knew, with that kind of team involved, it was going to be something special." That team includes Bob's Burgers creator Loren Bouchard, who she had worked with on his original hit show. Yes, that's right, Hahn is the voice of Louise's boring schoolmate, Jessica, who turns up for the young Belcher's surprise slumber party and has a secret that she tries to keep from everyone. The same character turns up on "Three Girls and a Little Wharfy."

Of course, animated projects aren't just limited to shows. There are also plenty of animated films and Hahn has scored roles in some of them as well. Watch (or re-watch) 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and listen for Hahn as Doc Ock. She's also the voice of Ericka in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation which came out that same year.

While Kathryn Hahn has been in the acting scene since she was a kid, she's scored some of her biggest jobs as she's gotten older and after becoming a mother. She opened up to NPR's Fresh Air about her early gigs, saying, "When I started to see the roles that were available to me, what I was being seen for, I definitely thought ... 'This is just such a small part of me that's being seen. I wish somebody could see more of what I can offer.'" That opportunity did eventually pop up, which has thrilled Hahn. "I'm just so buoyed and galvanized that the juiciest part of [my career] has been post-kids. ... I never anticipated that. So that's terribly exciting."

The star also talked to Vanity Fair about landing her biggest and most challenging roles when she was older. "I've finally been able to arrive at the parts that I don't know if I would have been able to handle in my 20s," she said. "It's a big surprise to me that I feel more creatively fulfilled since having two children than I have in any other point in my life. I just had always been told that it would be the other way: 'Once you have kids, it's downhill' or 'After 40, it's downhill.'" Hahn explained that kind of opinion is "nonsense noise you hear from the outside." Instead, she's "found the opposite to be completely, completely true."

Kathryn Hahn not only uses her fame to bring in the big roles for herself — she also uses her influence to support worthy causes. For instance, as Cleveland Magazine 

noted, she went to her hometown in 2018 and "knocked on doors" on behalf of Planned Parenthood Votes Ohio. The star explained why she wanted to be involved with the effort, saying, "I knew that there were candidates that were really threatening women's reproductive rights in pretty major ways, especially in Ohio. I found canvassing to be something valuable and active to do, rather than twiddle my thumbs and hope over here in California."

On top of that, Look to the Stars notes that Hahn has been involved with Shane's Inspiration, which is "the global leader in creating inclusive playgrounds and educational programs for children with disabilities." She also showed her support for the ACLU by wearing a blue ribbon while attending the Emmy Awards ceremony in 2017. Hahn and other celebrities like The Handmaid's Tale star Elisabeth Moss and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi sported the ribbons in order "to urge Congress to pass a 'clean' Dream Act and to show that they stand with Dreamers," according to Elle. A ribbon on the red carpet certainly makes a statement and one that proves that Hahn is a caring person.