5 Alex Borstein movies and TV shows that showcase her range as an actress

Three-time Emmy winner Alex Borstein is now hitting the road with her solo show Thirsty. She will be touring eight US cities in December 2025, and she’s calling it a “one-ho show!” According to the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star, she will donate all of the tour's revenue to non-profits.

Let's take a moment to honor Alex Borstein's growth in one of Hollywood's most eclectic careers before you get your tickets to see her live on stage at locations from Portland to San Francisco. She has surely proven her range by voicing everyone's favorite cartoon mom and playing a cocky manager.

These five Alex Borstein TV shows and movies reveal why she is one of the most memorable performers of today.

List of top Alex Borstein movies and TV shows

1. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)

Shall we begin with the part that made her a star of the awards season? Borstein stole the show as Midge Maisel's tough, cigarette-smoking manager, Susie Myerson. Susie won over fans with her hesitant heart, frustration, and raspy voice. For the way she performed, Borstein won three Emmys!

Although her quips are witty, the character is fragile underneath. It's like watching Borstein's own hustle as Susie struggles her way through the smoky, sexist underbelly of the entertainment industry.

2. Family Guy (1999–present)

If Alex Borstein’s voice sounds familiar, that’s because it’s one of the most recognizable ones on TV. As the matriarch Lois Griffin, she’s sarcastic, loving, and unhinged. Her deadpan delivery has defined Family Guy since the beginning, and she’s voiced over 400 episodes.

But she isn’t just voicing the jokes; she’s often writing them, as Alex Borstein has been a staff writer and producer as well.

3. MADtv (1997–2002)

Before Maisel and Family Guy, there was MADtv that unleashed Alex Borstein's brilliance. Her iconic Ms. Swan became a cultural phenomenon. The character could get attention with tiny gestures and nonsensical dialogue.

It was on MADtv that Borstein met Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, who later cast her as Lois. It’s fair to say this sketch show was her comedy bootcamp.

4. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)

Before she was an awards darling, Alex Borstein was seen on Disney’s The Lizzie McGuire Movie. In it, she played Ms. Ungermeyer, a chaperone who was trying her best to wrangle a group of teens through Italy.

This role is self-aware enough, even in a teen movie. She delivers lines that feel improvised to entertain adults but absurd enough to make kids howl.

5. Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)

Now here’s a hidden gem in Borstein’s résumé that diehard Gilmore Girls fans (like myself) still talk about! She auditioned for the role of Sookie St. James (the role that went to Melissa McCarthy), but scheduling conflicts with MADtv meant she couldn’t take it. Anyway, Borstein appeared in roles like that of Drella the harpist at the Independence Inn, and Miss Celine --- Emily Gilmore’s stylist.

Even in bit parts, Borstein is magnetic.

If Thirsty comes to your city, grab a ticket! You’ll laugh, think, and probably leave feeling a little braver about being your own brand of weird.

Edited by Sohini Sengupta

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