Mindy Kaling's Hulu Comedy NSFW Launches a Breakout Star

If you've been noticing Ella Hunt's name popping up everywhere lately, there's a very good reason for that. The 28-year-old British actress and singer-songwriter has managed to drop a new TV show and a debut album within the same week — which is either incredibly brave or a scheduling miracle, depending on how you look at it.

Welcome to the Mindy-Verse

Hunt leads Not Suitable For Work (or NSFW, as fans are already calling it), a Hulu comedy created by Mindy Kaling that follows a group of twenty-somethings navigating life and work in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood. Think young professionals, a Friends-ish ensemble energy, and a New York City backdrop that practically earns its own screen credit. The show premiered on June 2, and Hunt plays AJ Pascarelli, a first-year analyst at an investment bank — a character she describes as memorable and intense from the very first audition sides she received.

For Hunt, stepping into the Kaling universe was a genuine thrill. "Being part of the Mindy-verse was exciting to me," she told The Hollywood Reporter. And honestly? The feeling seems mutual — the role is a noticeable departure from the quieter, more stoic characters Hunt has leaned on throughout her career, most notably Sue Gilbert in Apple TV+'s Dickinson.

Gilda Radner Changed Everything

The shift toward comedy didn't happen overnight. Hunt credits her role as the legendary Gilda Radner in Jason Reitman's Saturday Night as the real turning point. Playing an SNL icon forced her out of her comfort zone in the best possible way. "Gilda taught me a lot technically," she explained. "I learned just how much energy it takes to be funny — that being on is a whole body aliveness."

That newfound confidence carried directly into her NSFW audition tape. She described going in with what she called her "Gilda hat on," throwing energy at the camera and letting it rip. Clearly, it worked. It's the kind of creative momentum that mirrors what Quinta Brunson has built at Disney — performers who find a comedic groove and then commit to it fully.

A Very Chaotic, Very Exciting Week

Here's where things get genuinely impressive: just three days after NSFW premiered, Hunt released Blindspot, her debut studio album. The timing wasn't entirely intentional — the vinyl release had locked in a June 5 date months earlier, and the show's premiere originally was set for May before shifting to June. Suddenly, she found herself doing double promo duty with zero breathing room.

"I'm used to having a moment to breathe when I put something out," Hunt admitted during a Zoom call that week, pausing at one point because her cat was attempting to steal her avocado toast (an extremely relatable crisis). She described the week as having "a whole wave of newness" unlike anything she'd experienced before.

Rather than spiral, Hunt chose to embrace it. She's been reflecting on how audiences receive music versus television — and how authenticity seems to cut through in both spaces. "Nothing could be more impactful than just being honest about where I'm at today," she said.

Sleep-Deprived and Ready

Perhaps the most charming detail from Hunt's whirlwind month involves how she first met Kaling. She'd been on overnight film shoots until 7 a.m., grabbed just two hours of sleep, and then jumped on a Zoom with Kaling, pilot director Greg Mottola, and others she deeply admired. Her verdict? The sleep deprivation actually helped. "I felt like I had an ease about the situation," she said — which might be the most actress thing ever said.

With NSFW already generating buzz and Blindspot out in the world, Ella Hunt is clearly having her moment. And if this week is any indication, she's only just getting started.

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