---
name: "Ellie Kemper"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ellie-kemper"
fi1m_id: "ellie-kemper"
imdb_id: "nm2608689"
tmdb_id: 475512
wikidata_id: "Q72077"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 May 1980"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T15:07:43.897203+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ellie Kemper

## Identity

Ellie Kemper

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ellie-kemper
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ellie-kemper
- **IMDb ID:** nm2608689
- **TMDB ID:** 475512
- **Wikidata ID:** Q72077
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Kemper, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72077, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2608689/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/475512

Actor. Born 2 May 1980 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 May 1980, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- **Active:** 2005–2019
- **Also known as:**  Elizabeth Claire Kemper
- **Frequently works with:** [Brian Lynch](https://film.one/person/brian-lynch.md), [Chris Meledandri](https://film.one/person/chris-meledandri.md), [Chris Renaud](https://film.one/person/chris-renaud.md), [Eric Stonestreet](https://film.one/person/eric-stonestreet.md), [Janet Healy](https://film.one/person/janet-healy.md), [Jenny Slate](https://film.one/person/jenny-slate.md), [Kevin Hart](https://film.one/person/kevin-hart.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 77 (1), 2010s 74 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 72 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Animation 2, Family 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,030m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Kemper, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72077, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2608689/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/475512

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Bridesmaids*](https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md) (82)
- **Peacock:** [*The Office*](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md) (77)
- **Netflix:** [*Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md) (76)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Secret Life of Pets 2*](https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2.md) (62)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ellie Kemper

> Ellie Kemper makes exaggerated cheerfulness feel unforced, a useful and deceptively difficult comic skill. We like her best when the writing lets that enthusiasm belong to an adult, rather than asking us to applaud someone for being adorable.

Ellie Kemper's wide-eyed enthusiasm rarely looks like an effort to sell a joke. Her characters may be exaggerated, but she gives them a naturalistic delivery that makes their cheerfulness easy to accept. As Erin Hannon in *The Office* (2005), which she joined in 2009, she puts that quality to work alongside Steve Carell's painfully needy boss. We warmed to Erin because Kemper makes her eagerness feel sincere. The performance fits a workplace comedy we like for its cast, despite the borrowed beginnings and occasional overplaying.

Playing Becca in *Bridesmaids* (2011) puts her among another ensemble, under Paul Feig's direction. Feig gives the cast room to misbehave, and Kemper's sweetness sits comfortably within a comedy that can be warm and rude at once. It suits an actor whose comic appeal depends on seeming pleased to be there, even when the behaviour around her is less agreeable. The film is an easy recommendation, with Kristen Wiig supplying the painfully funny business of competitive friendship. Some scenes still run too long, and the romance slows things down; an agreeable cast cannot fix the pacing by itself.

She moves from supporting player to lead in *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015–2019), created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. Kemper's ability to make an upbeat survivor likeable becomes central to a series. The bright clothes and wide-eyed enthusiasm make the character easy to recognise. They also sharpen a recurring reservation about her roles: adult women can become childlike figures whose sweetness matters more than their ability to decide anything.

A useful next step would be a role that lets her remain cheerful while making difficult choices. There is no need to ask her to become dour to prove a point. We would like to see that eager delivery applied to someone who knows more than the people around her, with the joke coming from her patience rather than her failure to understand. Her timing already does plenty of work; the scripts could trust it without leaning so often on childlike innocence. Start with *Bridesmaids* for the ensemble, then *The Office* for a longer acquaintance, allowing for its unevenness.

## Biography

Ellie Kemper is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for playing Erin Hannon in the NBC series *The Office* (2009–2013).

Kemper was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated from Princeton University in 2002 with a degree in English. She performed improv comedy in New York with the Upright Citizens Brigade and contributed writing to *The Onion* and *McSweeney's* before entering television.

She joined *The Office* in its fifth season and became a series regular. Kemper later starred as the title character in the Netflix series *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015–2019) and appeared in films including *Bridesmaids* (2011) and *21 Jump Street* (2012).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *The Secret Life of Pets 2* (2019), Fi1m 62, as Katie (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2.md)
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Phyllis (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), Fi1m 76, as Kimmy Schmidt — [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *Bridesmaids* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Becca — [page](https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md)
- *The Office* (2005), Fi1m 77, as Erin Hannon — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)

## Complete filmography (44)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Happiness for Beginners* (2023), as Helen Carpenter
- *Home Sweet Home Alone* (2021), as Pam McKenzie
- *The Stand In* (2020), as Jenna Jones
- *We Bare Bears: The Movie* (2020), as Lucy (voice)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend* (2020), as Kimmy Schmidt
- *Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"* (2019), as Gloria Stivic
- *You're Not a Monster* (2019), series, as Elsa Brenner
- *The Secret Life of Pets 2* (2019), as Katie (voice) — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2.md)
- *Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"* (2019), as Gloria Stivic
- *Sofia the First: Forever Royal* (2018), as Crackle (voice)
- *Party Monster: Scratching the Surface* (2018), as Kimmy Schmidt
- *Smurfs: The Lost Village* (2017), as Smurfblossom (voice)
- *Julie's Greenroom* (2017), series, Actor
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), as Phyllis (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *The Secret Life of Pets* (2016), as Katie (voice)
- *Ellie Kemper: Unbreakable Comedy Gala* (2016), Actor
- *Long Live the Royals* (2015), series, as Mudria
- *We Bare Bears* (2015), series, as Produce Lucy (voice), Lucy (voice)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), series, as Kimmy Schmidt — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *All Hail King Julien* (2014), series, as Karen (voice)
- *Laggies* (2014), as Allison
- *The Nobodies* (2014), as Julie
- *Sex Tape* (2014), as Tess
- *They Came Together* (2014), as Karen
- *The Birthday Boys* (2013), series, Actor
- *Sofia the First: Ready To Be A Princess* (2013), as Crackle (archive footage) (voice)
- *Rich Girl Problems* (2013), as Lucretia
- *Identity Thief* (2013), as Flo
- *Sofia the First* (2013), series, as Crackle (voice)
- *Brenda Forever* (2013), as Brenda Miller
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), series, as Heather — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *21 Jump Street* (2012), as Ms. Griggs
- *Bridesmaids* (2011), as Becca — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md)
- *Home for Actresses* (2011), as Ellie
- *Somewhere* (2010), as Claire
- *Get Him to the Greek* (2010), as Pinnacle Executive
- *Mystery Team* (2009), as Jamie
- *Cayman Went* (2009), as Girl in Bar
- *Blowjob Girl* (2007), as Blowjob Girl
- *The Office* (2005), series, as Erin Hannon — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Robot Chicken* (2005), series, as Tracy / Woman / Bella Swan (voice)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Jenna (voice)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Mary Tannenbaum (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *What May Be*, as Rebecca

## Gallery

- ![Ellie Kemper](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-d083c033811d.jpg) Ellie Kemper — https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Ellie_Kemper_2018.jpg/1280px-Ellie_Kemper_2018.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ellie Kemper performing at UCB Theatre (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-f309a5d3eb99.jpg) Ellie Kemper performing at UCB Theatre (2008) — Alex Erde from London, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Ellie_Kemper_%282767640101%29.jpg/1280px-Ellie_Kemper_%282767640101%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ellie Kemper performing at UCB Theatre (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-ea584b493534.jpg) Ellie Kemper performing at UCB Theatre (2008) — Alex Erde from London, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Ellie_Kemper_%282767675847%29.jpg/1280px-Ellie_Kemper_%282767675847%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC June '18. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-9f89ac15c693.jpg) Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC June '18. (2018) — https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Ellie_Kemper_%2827810608597%29.jpg/1280px-Ellie_Kemper_%2827810608597%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ellie Kemper](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-fdf2a5655283.jpg) Ellie Kemper — Image via TMDB
- ![Ellie Kemper](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-1af154af9df0.jpg) Ellie Kemper — Image via TMDB
- ![Ellie Kemper](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-ce0b31e89a2e.jpg) Ellie Kemper — Image via TMDB
- ![Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC June '18. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-387f24d0dc64.jpg) Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC June '18. (2018) — https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Ellie_Kemper_%2827810608597%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Ellie_Kemper_%2827810608597%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC June '18. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/100898/gallery-eb5a975bfddf.jpg) Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. NYC June '18. (2018) — https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Ellie_Kemper_%2827810608597%29_%28cropped%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Ellie_Kemper_%2827810608597%29_%28cropped%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ellie-kemper