TV

Sasheer talent: Meet the newest member of ‘SNL’

At last, “Saturday Night Live” has caved to mass public pressure and added a black woman to its cast — the first in six years, since Maya Rudolph left the show.

So who is Sasheer Zamata (last name pronounced zah-MAY-ta)? She’s a University of Virginia graduate who’s been performing comedy in New York since 2009, at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater and elsewhere.

Zamata’s casting follows a major kerfuffle over the lack of diversity in the lily-white 2013-14 “SNL” lineup of newcomers, which culminated with veteran member Kenan Thompson’s ill-considered remark that the show simply never found black women in auditions who were “ready” to be not-ready-for-prime-time players.

A quick glance through Zamata’s online videos, of which there are plenty, demolishes that notion. The 27-year-old comic has a crackling wit and facility with impressions (she does a decent Beyonce, and will almost surely be asked to hone her Michelle Obama for “SNL”). She appeared in a sketch on “Inside Amy Schumer” in which Schumer can’t tell the difference between black male employees at a Brooklyn Industries store, and in a College Humor video in which women demand to see more full frontal nudity on HBO’s dramas (“Did we ever see Detective Jimmy’s johnson?” she tartly queries of “The Wire.”)

She’s clearly comfortable with racy material; Zamata also stars in her own web series, “The Pursuit of Sexiness” with Nicole Byer, as two best friends navigating the dating world.

As was pointed out in a recent “SNL” episode starring Kerry Washington, there are innumerable black female celebrities who are woefully underrepresented on the show; in just the opening sketch, Washington pointedly, exhaustedly played Michelle Obama, Oprah and Beyonce. (Cast members Thompson and Jay Pharoah, meanwhile, have voiced their opposition to doing drag.)

Zamata seems to have plenty of goodwill on her side as she arrives at 30 Rock; her first show will be the Jan. 18 broadcast hosted by Drake.

Cast member Bobby Moynihan has gone on record with his support for Zamata, telling TV Guide that “I’ve seen her perform at UCB and I’ve never seen a more beautiful, confident person onstage than Sasheer. I think we’re very, very lucky to get her.”

Ed Herbstman, a comic actor and co-founder of NYC’s Magnet Theater, says he’s been keeping an eye on Zamata’s career ever since seeing her perform at a Friars Club improv competition three years ago.

“Even then I didn’t understand why she wasn’t huge,” he says. “Everyone I know has always said it’s only a matter of time for her, and when there was talk about ‘SNL’ hiring a black woman everyone in New York comedy circles would look at each other and think ‘Sasheer’. Because she’s funny, but also great to be around and a lovely person. I expect being on ‘SNL’ will make her a star, and I’m happy for her.”

Molly Thomas, who performs alongside Zamata at UCB’s Harold Night, concurs: “We’re all so excited for her!” she tells The Post. After watching a sampling of her standup and sketch comedy, we couldn’t agree more. Watch your backs, “SNL” newbies: the talent bar just got raised.

Top 10 things you didn’t know about Sasheer Zamata:

1. She’s known for her Beyonce impression.

2. She was one of 12 women invited to audition for “SNL” last month.

3. She was the host of a weekly show, “School Night,” at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade theater

4. She wrote and performed a short film about being flashed. Lena Dunham gave it a Twitter shout-out.

5. Cosmpolitan magazine named her one of the funniest women to watch for in 2014.

6. She grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana.

7. She wrote a web series for the Cooking Channel. It’s called “Fodder.”

8. Her drama degree is from the University of Virginia — also the alma mater of Tina Fey.

9. You’ve glimpsed her looking lovingly at her iPhone in an Apple ad called “Our Signature.”

10. She’s a member of two NYC improv teams, BUCKY (which performs at UCB) and Doppelganger.