Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an accomplished American actress and comedian, well-known for her role as a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2012. Originally hailing from Springfield, Illinois, she grew up in Oak Park, an inner-ring suburb of Chicago. She is the daughter of Penelope and William "Bill" Strong; her father has served as an Associated Press bureau chief and is now a managing partner at a Chicago-based public relations firm. Strong's parents are divorced.
From a young age, Strong was captivated by SNL, often reenacting sketches with her friends and obsessively watching old commercials on VHS. She recalls, "I had a tape of the best commercials, and I wore it out, every day," and credits Phil Hartman as a significant inspiration in her career.
Cecily completed her high school education at Oak Park and River Forest High School before transferring to the Chicago Academy for the Arts for her senior year, graduating in 2002. She later pursued her passion for acting at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), earning a BFA in theatre in 2006. Following her graduation, Strong returned to Chicago to hone her skills at the Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago, laying the groundwork for her successful career in comedy and performance.
