Born in New York City and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Elaine earned her BFA in acting at Marymount Manhattan College. While there, she co-founded the internet comedy group Dutch West, where she created videos for Turner, Comedy Central, and CollegeHumor. After college, Elaine trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and later performed on their in-house sketch teams Gramps and Goodman. Elaine's web series Very Mary-Kate, which she writes and stars in as Mary-Kate Olsen, was an instant hit, netting millions of views, thousands of fans, two Webby honors, and coverage in the Huffington Post, Glamour, and Wall Street Journal (see press below). In 2013, Elaine was listed as one of Vulture's "50 Comedians You Should and Will Know" and one of Complex's "25 Funny People Who Should Get Their Own TV Show." She has appeared on Mad Men, Modern Family, The League, as well as other TV shows and films.