Kristin Chenoweth: 20 Best Movies and TV Shows, Ranked
Kristin Chenoweth’s prize closet is brimming with accolades. Best known for originating the role of Glinda “The Good Witch” in the 2003 musical Wicked, the Broken Arrow, Okla., native won a Tony Award for playing Sally in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, on Broadway in 1999. But that’s not where the trophies stop.
She scored an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Pushing Daisies in 2009, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2010. Her career pops with excellent roles, and it’s clear she has a great time fully immersing herself in the life of each character.
Kristin married Backroad Anthem musician Josh Bryant, who is 14 years her junior, in 2023.
She can next be seen on the stage in the new musical, Queen of Versailles, in Boston this July, and joins Lindsay Lohan for the 2024 Netflix romantic comedy Our Little Secret, which tells the tale of two resentful exes who must spend Christmas together after they find out their current partners are siblings.
From Pushing Daisies to GCB, and Descendants to Schmigadoon!, these are her essential 20 performances:
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20. National Champions (2021) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
Chenoweth plays the wife of Coach Lazor (J.K. Simmons) in the college sports drama film about what happens after the star quarterback (Stephan James) sets off a strike 72 hours before the big game to fight for fair conditions for the student-athletes who jeopardize their health for their schools.
19. Holidate (2020)
Chenoweth portrays cougar Aunt Susan in the Netflix romantic comedy starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey as two friends who fall in love after agreeing to be each other’s plus-ones for holiday gatherings. Frances Fisher, Nicola Peltz Beckham and Dan Lauria also appear.
18. A Christmas Love Story (2019) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
In this musical Hallmark movie, Chenoweth is Katherine, a youth choir director who needs to find new talent before the choir’s first major holiday concert. She learns teen volunteer Danny (Kevin Quinn) has a great voice, but his dad (Scott Wolf) wants him to focus on his college applications. Then, he catches feelings for her.
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17. Trial and Error (2018)
Chenoweth joins the cast for the second season of the crime documentary spoof. She plays a murder suspect and socialite accused of killing her husband with a clock. USA TODAY gave it 3 ? stars and reported, “With Chenoweth as the lead, the farce includes nearly as much gender-related satire as it does the true-crime kind, from its title to jokes about ‘lady drivers,’ female politicians and pregnancy.”
16. The Peanuts Movie (2015) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
Chenoweth voices Fifi, the beautiful French poodle who is the object of Snoopy’s affection, in the animated adventure comedy about Charlie Brown pursuing the love of his life.
Chenoweth is no stranger to voice work, lending her vocal chops to animated flicks Fillmore! (2003), Space Chimps (2008), Rio 2 (2014), Strange Magic (2015), My Little Pony: The Movie (2017), The Star (2017), in addition to videos Disney’s Tinker Bell (2008), Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009), Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010).
15. Sesame Street (2003-2008)
She voices Ms. Noodle, who is Mr. Noodle’s sister, for six episodes of the iconic children’s show. She lends her voice to the character in the videos Elmo’s World: The Wild West (2001), Elmo Visits The Firehouse (2002), Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays! (2002), Elmo’s World: What Makes You Happy ? (2007), Elmo’s World: Favorite Things (2012), plus the TV series Elmo’s World (2006). She also appeared on A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2006).
14. Four Christmases (2008) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
In this romantic comedy, Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play a couple struggling to visit their divorced parents on Christmas. Chenoweth plays her sister, and Mary Steenburgen plays their mother.
13. The West Wing (2004-2006)
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Chenoweth appears in 34 episodes of the political drama during seasons six and seven as Annabeth Schott, who is Deputy Press Secretary for Media Relations at the White House, and a campaign staffer. Her character had a curious relationship with the much-older Leo McGarry (John Spencer), but the actor who played him died during the final season of the show, so we’ll never know where their relationship was intended to go.
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12. Running With Scissors (2006) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
In this Ryan Murphy-directed dramatic comedy set in the 1970s, a disturbed mom Deidre Burroughs (Annette Bening) sends her teen son Augusten (Joseph Cross) to live with his psychiatrist (Brian Finch) and his unusual family, which includes Hope (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Natalie (Evan Rachel Wood). Chenoweth plays Fern Stewart, who has a relationship with Deidre but will not leave her husband.
11. You Again (2010)
In this romantic comedy, a woman finds out her brother is marrying her high school bully. Chenoweth plays dance instructor Georgia, who teaches the wedding party how to bust their moves.
“They came to me with the idea of this part, which was not really written, and told me I could be fun, Southern, a little outrageous, and I thought it was right up my alley,” she told TheaterMania. “Believe me, I have run across people like Georgia in the South. They really incorporated me into the script — I think they even said whatever you want to do is fine and that can be dangerous — and I got some good ad-libs. And my entrance is this huge dance number. I love it.”
In addition to Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis, she got to work with the legendary Betty White.
“I loved working with Betty; first of all, she is about my size!” she told TheaterMania. “I have truly never worked with a more professional actress, and it’s always refreshing to work with a non-diva who deserves to be a diva. It’s a great lesson to all of us about how we should conduct ourselves as we keep acting. There’s no need for diva tantrums.”
10. Kristin (2001) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
Chenoweth portrayed a sweet Southern secretary working in the big city in her self-titled sitcom. It was canceled after six of thirteen episodes aired on NBC.
9. The Pink Panther (2006)
Solving the murder of a famous soccer coach and learning who stole the Pink Panther diamond are the goals of this crime comedy led by Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. Chenoweth played Cherie, an American employee of the French football team.
8. Bewitched (2005) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
In this romantic comedy movie reimagining of the 1960s sitcom, Chenoweth plays the neighbor of actress Isabel (Nicole Kidman), who is a real-life witch. Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine also star.
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7. Schmigadoon! (2021-2023)
Co-executive produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, the musical comedy about a couple on a backpacking trip who discover an enchanted city aired for two seasons on Apple TV+. Chenoweth plays Mildred Layton, the preacher’s wife, whose great-great-great-grandfather founded the enclave.
Keegan-Michael Key, Cecily Strong, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski, Martin Short, Alan Cumming and Tituss Burgess also appear.
Highlight: The Washington Post called out Cumming and Chenoweth’s “mischievous, syncopated” “Good Enough to Eat” number as a spoof of Sondheim’s “A Little Priest.”
6. RV (2006) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
In this family adventure comedy, Robin Williams’ character, Bob, takes the family on a road trip to the Colorado Rockies, and meets Chenoweth’s character Mary Jo, the wife of Jeff Daniels’ character, Travis, along the way.
5. Hairspray Live! TV Movie (2016)
Chenoweth plays Velma Von Tussle with “wicked glee,” The Washington Post reported. She is the widowed station manager of WYZT, home of “The Corny Collins Show,” whose goal is to boost the profile of daughter Amber Von Tussle, played by Dove Cameron, in the live-action TV version of the 1988 musical.
4. GCB (2012) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
Chenoweth played the plastic-surgery-enhanced former ugly duckling bullied in high school by former mean girl Amanda (Leslie Bibb), who is now a single mom returning home to Texas, in the Darren Star-produced soap. The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “The show mixes Christianity, sex, riches, envy, revenge and sass into a sprawling, larger-than-life drama. For people looking for the next Housewives, GCB could be the perfect replacement.” It ran for ten episodes before it was canceled.
3. Glee (2009-2014)
Chenoweth was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010 and 2011 for her portrayal of alcoholic high school dropout and former glee club member April Rhodes, who was recruited to join New Directions by former classmate Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) after Rachel (Lea Michele) moved on. She performs covers of Carrie Underwood’s Last Name and Liza Minelli’s Maybe This Time during her guest-starring stint in five episodes of the musical comedy.
2. Descendants (2015) Kristin Chenoweth movies and TV shows
Chenoweth plays Maleficent in the Kenny Ortega (High School Musical)-directed Disney Channel adventure fantasy film. Her character “steals every scene she’s in,” Variety reported. The story takes place 20 years after Belle and The Beast marry, and become king and queen. They create a new kingdom called the United States of Auradon, and isolate the villains on Isle of The Lost.
1. Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)
Chenoweth scored an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the dramatic comedy Pushing Daisies in 2009. She played Olive Snook, a ditzy, singing waitress at a pastry shop who crushes on pie-making boss Ned (Lee Pace), who can bring dead people back to life. Entertainment Weekly raved about the “depth” of her character, and her “incredible singing.”
