
Sarah Burns
Biography
Sarah Burns is an American film and television actress and comedian, best known for playing Krista on HBO's Enlightened.
Born on Long Island, New York, Burns has performed improvisational comedy regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City
Burns is known for her appearances in comedic films and television series. Her film roles include Anne in Slow Learners (2015) opposite Adam Pally, Hailey in I Love You, Man (2009), Harper in Going the Distance (2010) and Janine Groff in Life as We Know It (2010).
She has also appeared in television productions including Damage Control (one episode; 2005), Flight of the Conchords (one episode; 2007), Party Down (one episode; 2010) and Ben and Kate (one episode; 2012). She had a costarring role in the short film Cried Suicide (2010), which was screened at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. Her short film "The First Step" (2012) premiered at the 2013 Seattle International Film Festival.
She appears as part of a recurring cast of sketch players for the Comedy Central television series Drunk History, which premiered in July 2013. In 2015, Burns was a series regular in second season of the FX comedy series Married. Burns was cast as Assistant District Attorney Emily Sinclair in Season Two of the show How to Get Away With Murder.
In 2009, Entertainment Weekly named her one of the "25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood". In June 2013, Entertainment Weekly named Burns one of "15 Actresses We're Rooting For" as part of its "Emmy Watch".
In 2016, Burns appeared as Margie Turley in the Lorne Michaels-produced Brother Nature. In 2017, Burns appeared as Gabrielle in the HBO original miniseries Big Little Lies and in the Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later.
In 2020, Burns appeared as Kaylie in the Netflix film Desperados as well as a major role in the Netflix series Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun.
Known For

TV
New Girl
Deb
2011

TV
How to Get Away with Murder
Emily Sinclair
2014

TV
The Mindy Project
Amy
2012

TV
Barry
Detective Mae Dunn
2018

TV
Drunk History
Various
2013

TV
Speechless
Marci
2016

TV
The Eric Andre Show
Self
2012

TV
Party Down
Donna Mullens
2009

TV
Big Little Lies
Gabrielle
2017

TV
American Vandal
Angela Montgomery
2017

TV
Flight of the Conchords
Summer
2007

TV
Married
Abby
2014

TV
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
Claire
2017

TV
The New Normal
Megan
2012

TV
Enlightened
Krista Jacobs
2011

Film
Unfrosted
Mrs. Schwinn
2024

TV
Garfunkel and Oates
Cheryl
2014

Film
Grandma
Jill
2015

Film
Grandma
Protestor
2015

TV
Aunty Donna's Big Ol House of Fun
Pirate
2020
Filmography
2025FilmThe Last Fryas Sandy Salinger2024FilmAdvanced Chemistryas Sarah2024FilmUnfrostedas Mrs. Schwinn2023FilmMoving Onas Allie2021TVBill Burr Presents Immoral Compassas Kimberly2021FilmWerewolves Withinas Gwen2021FilmSisters2020TVAunty Donna's Big Ol House of Funas Pirate2020FilmEat Wheaties!as Kate Drew2020FilmDesperadosas Kaylie2019FilmBrutal Realty, Inc.as Jean Dean2018TVBarryas Detective Mae Dunn2017TVAmerican Vandalas Angela Montgomery2017TVWet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Lateras Claire2017FilmUnforgettableas Sarah2017TVBig Little Liesas Gabrielle2016TVSpeechlessas Marci2016FilmBrother Natureas Margie Turley2016FilmWhere You Areas Jen2015FilmSlow Learnersas Anne Martin2015FilmGrandmaas Jill2014TVHow to Get Away with Murderas Emily Sinclair2014TVGarfunkel and Oatesas Cheryl2014TVMarriedas Abby2013FilmA.C.O.D.as Margo2013FilmEnough Saidas Female Hiker #12013TVDrunk Historyas Various2013FilmGregory Go Boomas Rose2012TVThe Mindy Projectas Amy2012TVThe New Normalas Megan2012FilmLadies Remember Whitney Houstonas Lady2012TVThe Eric Andre Showas Self2011FilmFree Hugsas Sydney2011TVEnlightenedas Krista Jacobs2011TVNew Girlas Deb2010FilmLife As We Know Itas Janine Groff2010FilmGoing the Distanceas Harper2010FilmMonogamyas Ella2009FilmI Love You, Manas Hailey2009TVParty Downas Donna Mullens2008FilmValentine's Break Up2007TVFlight of the Conchordsas Summer2006FilmCheatingas Sarah