Amy Poehler is an actress.
Amy Meredith Poehler ( [ ˈpoʊlər ] born September 16 , 1971 ) is an American actress , comedian , director , producer , and writer . She is best known by starring as Leslie Knope in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation , for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Musical or Comedy Series in 2014 and a Critics ' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012 . Poehler was a cast member on the NBC television series Saturday Night Live from 2001 to 2008 and became co-anchor of SNL 's Weekend Update in 2004 alongside friend and colleague Tina Fey .