Heidi Gardner said goodbye to Saturday Night Live in August 2025. However, it seems she hasn’t closed the door on returning. The 43-year-old comedian and actress, known for her memorable SNL characters, recently revealed that she would happily make an appearance as an alum, and her reason is pretty sweet.
Heidi Gardner reveals she’d welcome a return to Saturday Night Live as an alum
Gardner admitted she would love to return to SNL for one of the surprise appearances the show often gives its former cast members.
She told OK! Magazine, “Oh, yeah. There are so many of those pop-ins. When I was a kid watching SNL, and you’d see an alum return, there’s just so much joy in that,” while discussing her partnership with TEMPTATIONS™.
Even after leaving the show, Gardner said she hasn’t exactly slowed down. She recently wrapped a movie filmed in Kansas City and found the schedule surprisingly familiar after years at SNL.
“I just shot a movie in Kansas City this summer and this last month. I just wrapped on Friday. Those days were every day, and they were 12- to 14-hour days. I was like, ‘Oh, I like this.’ I’m used to it.” She added, “I think people were surprised that I didn’t seem that tired, and I was like, ‘I’ve been through this before. I can do this.’”
Gardner said she is open to taking on more projects, especially when they involve “good comedy” and a “good character.” Her recent movie experience was particularly special because it was filmed in her hometown.
She also got to share a scene with William H. Macy, an experience she described as a major career highlight. In her words, “Being in a scene with him and staring into his eyes — from Boogie Nights, Fargo, Magnolia — that was a pretty big bucket list for me.”
For now, Heidi Gardner is keeping busy with new projects, but her willingness to return to SNL means fans may not have seen the last of her on the show.
