How Tina Fey's Daughter Got a Part on 'Girls5eva'

Entertainment

| LAST UPDATE 06/16/2021

By Molly Houghton
Tina Fey Girls5eva interview
Gilbert Carrasquillo / Contributor via Getty Images

Tina Fey recently appeared on the TODAY show as their first in-studio guest in over a year! The Hollywood icon talked all things Girls5eva, including how her nine-year-old daughter got a role in the hit comedy. Here's what you need to know.

Tina Fey Comedy Girls5eva
Instagram via @busyphilipps

After discussing many of the LOL-worthy scenes (and songs) on the Peacock series, the TODAY Show hosts asked Tina about another rising star on the show: the Emmy-winner's daughter, Penelope Richmond. "I live with her. I gave birth to her, and I will be cooking her vegetarian chicken nuggets laters," Fey laughingly shared. "Our daughter Penelope ended up being in the show. There was a part for a 9-year-old, and I was like, 'If we don't let her audition for this, she's going to kill us.'"

Tina Fey Today Show
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But Tina, who is an executive producer on the show, clarified that there was no nepotism involved in her little girl getting the part. "No, I can't let the boss's kid get the first job they ever audition for," the 51-year-old clarified. "But she did really well. We hired another kid, and then because of the pandemic, the kid was out of state and couldn't come in, and I was like, 'Penelope, you're up.'"

Tina Fey Daughter Girls5eva
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And it's safe to say, Penelope kicked butt. "She did a great job, and she was super professional and, you know, for like kind of a grim year of like distance learning and all that stuff, it was a little treat for her," the comedic queen continued. "I know the whole crew. The crew has been with us since 30 Rock, so I felt like no matter what, it would be okay, but I was very, very proud of her because, you know, it's one of those moments where you're like, 'Oh, you brought all your manners today.'"

And as for whether Tina sensed during filming that the show, which just got renewed for a second season, would be a smash hit with "Emmy buzz" around it? "I knew that Meredith [Scardino] was a joke machine, and then once we were able to get this cast, Sarah Bareilles, and Renee Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, you just, you feel like you know when something is very juicy."

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Yup, obviously she knew it; it's not Tina Fey's first rodeo, after all. You could say she's Primetime TV royalty. Don't miss out on Girls5eva - make sure to catch up with the hilarious series on Peacock before the season two premiere! Don't worry; you've got time.