
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

Advanced Chemistry
2024

Unfrosted
Mrs. Schwinn
2024

Moving On
Allie
2023

Bill Burr Presents Immoral Compass
Kimberly · (1 episode)
2021

Werewolves Within
Gwen
2021

Sisters
2021

Aunty Donna's Big Ol House of Fun
Pirate · (1 episode)
2020

Eat Wheaties!
Kate Drew
2020

Desperados
Kaylie
2020

Brutal Realty, Inc.
Jean Dean
2019

Barry
Detective Mae Dunn · (13 episodes)
2018

American Vandal
Angela Montgomery · (6 episodes)
2017

Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
Claire · (8 episodes)
2017

Unforgettable
Sarah
2017

Big Little Lies
Gabrielle · (2 episodes)
2017

Speechless
Marci · (1 episode)
2016

Brother Nature
Margie Turley
2016

Where You Are
Jen
2016

Slow Learners
Anne Martin
2015

Grandma
Jill
2015

Grandma
Protestor
2015

How to Get Away with Murder
Emily Sinclair · (10 episodes)
2014

Garfunkel and Oates
Cheryl · (2 episodes)
2014

Married
Abby · (8 episodes)
2014

A.C.O.D.
Margo
2013

Enough Said
Female Hiker #1
2013

Drunk History
Various · (8 episodes)
2013

Gregory Go Boom
Rose
2013

The Mindy Project
Amy · (1 episode)
2012

The New Normal
Megan · (1 episode)
2012

The Eric Andre Show
Self · (1 episode)
2012

Free Hugs
Sydney
2011

Enlightened
Krista Jacobs · (18 episodes)
2011

New Girl
Deb · (1 episode)
2011

Life As We Know It
Janine Groff
2010

Going the Distance
Harper
2010

Monogamy
Ella
2010

I Love You, Man
Hailey
2009

Party Down
Donna Mullens · (1 episode)
2009

Valentine's Break Up
2008
Cheating
Sarah
2006

The Last Fry
Sandy Salinger

Flight of the Conchords
Summer · (1 episode)
2007