Ali Wong
American comedian and actress whose fearlessly personal Netflix specials about motherhood, marriage, and ambition made her a comedy superstar.
Ali Wong (born 1982) is an American comedian, actress, and writer who became a cultural phenomenon by doing something radical: performing stand-up while visibly pregnant—twice—and building entire specials around the experience of being a woman, a mother, and a person with appetites.
"Baby Cobra" (2016), filmed when Wong was seven months pregnant, became a Netflix sensation. Her material was unapologetically specific—about pregnancy, bodily functions, marriage, and the gap between feminist ideals and the desire to be a "kept woman." She delivered it all with a fearlessness that made audiences gasp and laugh simultaneously.
"Hard Knock Wife" (2018), filmed while pregnant again, doubled down on the formula. Wong talked about motherhood with a candor that was both shocking and deeply relatable. She said the things other parents thought but wouldn't dare say out loud.
Her dramatic turn in "Beef" (2023) alongside Steven Yeun won her critical acclaim and proved she could channel her comedic intensity into dramatic work. "Always Be My Maybe" (2019), which she co-wrote, showcased her as a romantic lead. Her latest special "Single Lady" (2024) tackles her divorce with the same fearless honesty that made her famous.
