How Did Tina Fey Get Her Scar? The Comedian Suffered a Disturbing Attack as a Kid

Tina Fey has become a staple when someone brings up women in comedy. But, her path toward acclamation was not without trauma.

On May 18, 2022, the actress and one of the leading female comedians in the early 21st century Tina Fey turned 52 years old.

We may know Miss Fey as "Liz Lemon" from the snappy comedy series and the comedian's show "30 Rock." Many know her as the "pusher" teacher and maybe even the adaptation writer for the cult classic teenage movie "Mean Girls."

Tina Fey at the 72nd Annual Writers Guild Awards on February 01, 2020 in New York. | Source: Getty Images

But she is much more than that. Blazing the trail, Fey attacked the trope that women can't be funny so much that she became the first female head writer for the famed comedy show "Saturday Night Live." She has also won nine Emmy Awards.

Not without her controversies, Fey didn't turn into the feminist icon she is overnight, with comedy, performing, and writing weaving a theme throughout her entire life.

Bathed in laughter as a child, the actress said that her parents were huge comedy fans. They introduced her to many comedy shows as she grew up.

Her dad had a special affinity for "The Honeymooners" so he allowed her to stay up for hours watching the show during the summer.

Beyond that, and among many other achievements leading up to where she is now, Fey played in musicals during her high school years.

Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond at the Planned Parenthood 100th Anniversary Gala on May, 2 2017 in New York. | Source: Shutterstock

As one can imagine, these artistic passions were probably not the most popular route for the gifted writer. Perhaps this is why Fey incorporated some of her own high school experiences into her adaptation of Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 self-help book "Mean Girls."

But bullies were only a thin slice of the challenges she faced when she was younger, after being attacked as a young girl, leaving her scarred inside and out.

HOW DID TINA FEY GET HER SCAR? THE STORY BEHIND IT IS TERRIFYING

The story behind the marking is horrific; at only 5 years old, the comedian was attacked in the front yard of her house.

At the time, Fey thought that a cat had scratched her, but this scar on her left cheek remains there because a stranger made an arbitrary decision to hurt a little girl.

Tina Fey on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on December 16, 2020. | Source: Getty Images

"When you have that kind of thing happen to you, that makes you scared of certain things, that makes you frightened of different things, your comedy comes out in a different kind of way."

He stated that it could also help one develop a sense of empathy for people, and Fey has certainly become attuned to others.

More specifically, as she said herself, other individuals' reactions to her scar can provide her with a lot more information about them as a person. As she said:

"I've always been able to tell a lot about people by whether they ask me about my scar. Most people never ask, but if it comes up naturally somehow and I offer up the story, they are quite interested. Some people are just dumb: 'Did a cat scratch you?' God bless."

Speaking about how others treated her when she was younger, the writer-comedian said she received a lot of positive attention, making her feel special. Only later in life did Fey realize that they were attempting to compensate for her scar.

OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT TINA FEY

Of course, this terrible incident does not define Fey, and even beyond her accolades, this woman holds many fascinating traits and quirks.

Tina Fey onstage at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards broadcast on February 28, 2021 in New York. | Source: Getty Images

As many know, Fey is a close companion to Amy Poehler. She expressed her affection for her fellow comedian via a framed picture of Poehler that Fey's character from the sitcom "30 Rock," Liz Lemon, kept in her office.

Bringing her inner nerd out, the actress dressed up as Princess Leia from "Star Wars" on "30 Rock" simply because she's a fan.

This combination of achievements, overcoming trauma, and her quirky yet edgy personality make Fey what Gretchen Wieners from "Mean Girls" would refer to as, like, so fetch.

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