9 Things You Didn T Know About The Office S Ellie Kemper

We all know and love Ellie Kemper as the endlessly optimistic and slightly-off-kilter Erin Hannon from The Office. She brought a delightful ray of sunshine to Dunder Mifflin Scranton, didn't she? Her character was a breath of fresh air, full of giggles and a genuine desire to be friends with everyone. But did you know there's a whole lot more to the woman behind the iconic red hair and wide smiles? Let's dive into some fun facts that might just make you appreciate Ellie Kemper even more.

First off, her real name isn't Ellie! Well, sort of. Her full name is Elizabeth Claire Kemper. "Ellie" is just her super cute nickname. It totally fits her sweet and approachable vibe, right? It’s like she was born to be a friendly face.

Did you know she's actually a pretty talented writer? Before gracing our screens as Erin, Ellie was busy honing her craft in the world of comedy writing. She even wrote for the popular website McSweeney's Internet Tendency, which is known for its clever and often quirky humor. Imagine the jokes she must have come up with! It's no wonder she was so brilliant at improvising on The Office.

She has a background in improv, which really shines through in her performance as Erin!

Speaking of improv, Ellie is a graduate of the prestigious Improv Olympic Theater (now known as iO Chicago) and the Upright Citizens Brigade. These are basically the holy grails of improv comedy. This means she's spent years learning to think on her feet, create characters from scratch, and make hilarious scenes happen out of thin air. That's a serious skill set!

And get this: Ellie comes from a pretty famous family. Her maternal grandfather was the founder of the Commerce Bank, a huge financial institution. Her father was a newspaper publisher. So, while she's a queen of comedy, she also has some serious roots in business and media. It's a fascinating mix, isn't it? It shows she’s got brains and charm!

Before The Office, you might have spotted her in another beloved comedy. Ellie had a role in the movie Bridesmaids. She played the role of Becca, one of the sweet and slightly naive bridesmaids. Her scene where she talks about her "surprise" pregnancy is absolutely hilarious. She brought that same innocent charm to that role as well.

Ellie is also a proud graduate of Princeton University! Yes, that's right, an Ivy League education. She studied English and was a talented member of the university's comedy troupe. It really goes to show that you can be both incredibly intelligent and hilariously funny. She's a real-life brainy comedian!

When she’s not busy making us laugh, Ellie is a devoted wife and mother. She's married to comedian and writer Ben Hollingsworth (not the Canadian actor of the same name!), and they have two adorable sons. She seems to have such a wonderful way of balancing her public career with her private life, keeping things grounded and family-focused.

And here’s a fun little quirk: Ellie has a bit of a history with public speaking and debate. In high school, she was a nationally ranked debater. Can you imagine debating Ellie Kemper? She'd probably win you over with her charm and then deliver a killer argument! It’s pretty cool to think about her journey from formal debate to the spontaneous world of comedy.

Finally, what makes her so special as Erin Hannon? It's that pure, unadulterated joy she brings to the character. Erin wasn't just a receptionist; she was the heart of the office at times. Ellie’s performance was so authentic and full of genuine emotion. She made us feel for Erin’s struggles, cheer for her small victories, and laugh at her wonderfully unique take on the world. Her ability to be both incredibly funny and genuinely heartwarming is what made her a standout on The Office, and what makes us love Ellie Kemper so much.