The Best Kat Dennings Roles in Movies and TV Ranked

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For this list, we’re ranking Kat Dennings’ most unforgettable roles across movies and TV. The spotlight here is on her – the sharp delivery, the side-eye, the surprising depth hiding under all that sarcasm – not necessarily the project’s Rotten Tomatoes score. Some of these shows and films may not have been critical darlings, but Dennings always found a way to make her characters magnetic. | © Warner Bros. Television

Cropped Marla The 40 Year Old Virgin 2005

10. Marla - The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Before Kat Dennings was headlining sitcoms and joining the Marvel universe, she popped up as Marla in The 40-Year-Old Virgin – and yes, she stole every scene she was in. Playing Catherine Keener’s teenage daughter, Dennings injected a mix of sharp sarcasm and teen angst into the comedy, making her subplot almost as memorable as Steve Carell’s awkward quest for romance. Her knack for delivering biting one-liners while still feeling authentic hinted at the comedic career to come. The movie might revolve around a middle-aged man’s misadventures, but Dennings carved out her own space, proving that even a supporting role could leave a lasting impression. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Riley Parker Shifting Gears 2025

9. Riley Parker - Shifting Gears (2025–)

Sometimes a casting choice just makes sense, and Kat Dennings taking the wheel in Shifting Gears is exactly that. As Riley Parker, she jumps into the driver’s seat of a workplace comedy about an auto repair shop, blending her trademark wit with a new setting full of grease, chaos, and unexpected heart. While the series is still fresh, Dennings has already made Riley feel like the perfect mix of relatable and hilariously unfiltered. There’s a comfort in knowing she can anchor an ensemble cast while still tossing out the kind of deadpan zingers only she can deliver. If the early buzz is any indication, this role is revving up to become one of her most beloved. | © Fox Entertainment

8. Susan Gardner - Charlie Bartlett (2007)

There’s something magnetic about Dennings in Charlie Bartlett, where she plays Susan Gardner, the sharp-witted daughter of the high school principal. While Anton Yelchin’s Charlie takes center stage with his underground therapy sessions, Susan grounds the film with warmth and wit. Dennings gives Susan just the right amount of edge, balancing her sweetness with a confidence that makes her instantly engaging. It’s not a “quirky side girl” role – it’s a layered character that resonates long after the credits roll. Watching Dennings and Yelchin share the screen feels like catching lightning in a bottle: funny, tender, and just a little rebellious. | © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

7. Angel - Defendor (2009)

A gritty indie superhero movie might not sound like the obvious place for Kat Dennings, but her turn as Angel in Defendor proves she can thrive in darker material. As a troubled young woman who crosses paths with Woody Harrelson’s eccentric vigilante, Dennings gives the story its emotional backbone. She balances cynicism with vulnerability, making Angel more than just a sidekick in someone else’s redemption arc. There’s a raw honesty in her performance that cuts through the absurdity of the premise, reminding you that Dennings has always had dramatic chops hiding under all that comedic timing. It’s a role that shows her range in a way many audiences didn’t expect. | © Alliance Films

6. Darcy Lewis - Thor movies (2011-2022)

Darcy Lewis wasn’t meant to be the star of Marvel’s cosmic saga, yet somehow Kat Dennings turned her into an MVP. Armed with coffee cups and biting one-liners, she managed to make astrophysics funny, which is no small feat in a movie full of gods and hammer-throwing action. Fans immediately latched onto Darcy, and her return in WandaVision only cemented her cult-favorite status. What’s fun is how Dennings keeps Darcy relatable in a world of capes and infinity stones – she’s basically the audience stand-in, except with sharper comebacks. Watching her side-eye her way through superhero chaos is a reminder that sometimes the human characters really are the most fun. | © Marvel Studios

Cropped Renee Yohe To Write Love on Her Arms

5. Renee Yohe - To Write Love on Her Arms (2015)

It’s not every day an actor takes on the role of a real person whose story inspired a global movement, but that’s exactly what Kat Dennings did as Renee Yohe. The film traces Renee’s struggles with addiction, depression, and self-harm, giving Dennings a chance to shed her comedic armor and dive headfirst into raw vulnerability. Her performance is unflinching – painful at times, but always empathetic. You can tell she understood the weight of portraying someone whose life had already impacted so many people. It’s a role that reminded audiences she could do more than crack jokes; she could carry a story heavy with honesty and still make it deeply human. | © Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

4. Jules Wiley - Dollface (2019-2021)

Breaking up is rough, but getting dumped by a long-term boyfriend and then having a cat-headed hallucination guide you back to female friendship? That’s Dollface in a nutshell. As Jules Wiley, Dennings brought her signature mix of awkward charm and razor wit to a surreal comedy that doubled as a love letter to women’s friendships. Watching her fumble her way through rekindling bonds while navigating bizarre dreamlike sequences was both hilarious and oddly relatable. The show thrived on Dennings’ ability to ground even the strangest scenes with sincerity. Jules may have been a little lost, but thanks to Dennings, audiences were more than happy to get lost with her. | © Hulu

3. Darcy Lewis - WandaVision (2021)

Marvel’s big swing into sitcom territory brought back some familiar faces, and none got a warmer welcome than Darcy Lewis. Sliding seamlessly into the weird world of WandaVision, Dennings proved that her character wasn’t just comic relief – she was essential to the mystery. Between snarky asides and genuine scientific know-how, Darcy became the kind of scene-stealer who could balance tension with humor in a heartbeat. What’s striking is how natural it felt to see her bounce off new characters like Jimmy Woo and Monica Rambeau, as if she’d always belonged in this corner of the MCU. It was proof that sometimes the side characters from a decade ago are the ones fans end up craving the most. | © Marvel Studios

2. Max Black - 2 Broke Girls (2011-2016)

Sarcasm as a survival strategy has rarely looked this good. Dennings’ Max Black is the biting, big-hearted waitress who kept 2 Broke Girls running for six seasons. Whether she was trading jabs with Beth Behrs’ Caroline or hustling her way through yet another dead-end job, Max was a masterclass in turning cynicism into comedy gold. Dennings gave the character bite, but she also gave her depth – behind the sharp comebacks was someone fighting tooth and nail to dream bigger than her circumstances. The show may have had its ups and downs, but Max was consistently magnetic, and that’s all Dennings. | © Warner Bros. Television

Cropped Norah Silverberg Nick and Norahs Infinite Playlist 2008

1. Norah Silverberg - Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008)

A sleepless night in New York, a killer soundtrack, and a romance that feels both messy and magical – that’s the charm of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. As Norah Silverberg, Dennings captured the complicated mix of guardedness and curiosity that makes a love story like this feel real. She wasn’t playing a manic pixie dream girl; she was a sharp, grounded young woman trying to figure things out, and that authenticity made her chemistry with Michael Cera all the more believable. The movie may be drenched in indie vibes, but it’s Dennings’ natural ease that makes it sing. You end the film rooting not just for the romance, but for Norah herself. | © Columbia Pictures