What You Need To Know About Ellie Kemper

As fans of comedy will know, Ellie Kemper is one of the brightest comedic actresses working today. After bursting onto the scene as Erin in "The Office," Kemper went on to appear in many projects like "21 Jump Street," "The Mindy Project," and "Bridesmaids." And, of course, from 2015 to 2019, Kemper took on the titular role in Tina Fey's Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," in which she played a naïve woman who goes to live in New York City after escaping a cult.

Known for her exuberant personality, her flame-red hair, and her energetic performances, Kemper is likely just getting started. Most fans of Kemper probably already know all about her previous projects, her friends in the industry, and her ability to make just about any character or scene funny. But what is there to know about the rest of her life? Here are a few little-known facts about this comedic star.

In 2011, Ellie Kemper appeared alongside Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolf, and Rose Byrne in the popular film "Bridesmaids" as Becca, a sugary-sweet newlywed.

It's pretty clear that the hilarious film was a lot of fun to make, but there was one scene in particular that Kemper will likely always remember — the airplane scene. While the scene may have looked simple, there was something going on behind the scenes. As Kemper said during a Q&A at the 92nd Street Y center (via Page Six), it actually took days to film. What was one thing that made it so difficult? Well, Kemper said, "Someone ordered a tuna fish sandwich early on, and I don't think it ever left the set ... I don't know if someone put it in the seat holder?" Yikes, that does not sound fun.

Another thing that made the scene tricky for Kemper was the kiss between her character and Wendi McLendon-Covey's Rita. As Kemper told Female.com.au, "The kiss, that's what was nerve-wracking for me ... because you want it to play right." As far as we're concerned, the entire scene is iconic — even if it was stressful to get done.

Having had roles in "Bridesmaids," "The Office," and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," Ellie Kemper has proven herself to be a top comedic actress. So where did she learn to act? Well, as she explained to Elle, "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm actually taught her acting for one year way back in high school. Of course, she's honed her skills since then, but he certainly made an impact.

"He made such a difference in that short amount of time," she said. "He was a great teacher, and he was leading our comedy and improv classes, so he taught me the greatest lesson for a comedian, which is that when you're performing onstage — or, really, in a lot of life — and someone throws something crazy at you, you just have to say, 'Yes, and.'" Kemper went on to become a successful performer, so Hamm's influence seems to have really paid off. And funnily enough, the pair both starred in "Bridesmaids" years later!

Everyone has their preferred form of exercise. For Ellie Kemper, it's running, which is hardly surprising considering she's a bundle of energy! As she explained to Self, she thinks exercise is a vital part of her routine. "I release a lot of stress that way and it keeps me positive and energized. I try to prioritize that as much as I can," she said.

She went on to explain that running is definitely her favorite way to get moving. "I've been running ever since middle school," she shared. "In terms of clearing your head and restarting everything, I love running." Unfortunately, the actress injured her foot and had to find another type of exercise. Eventually, she turned to spin class at SoulCycle. "It's absolutely cult-y. In the very best way," she said. Sounds like this actress knows how to stay in shape!

Ellie Kemper has not one but two impressive university degrees. In 2002, she graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in English, and then she spent a year at the University of Oxford studying English Literature (via WME). Not only is Kemper hilarious, but she's also clearly whip smart.

As she told The Daily Princetonian, she was interested in comedy even then. Her thesis, she explained, was "about irony in the face of tragedy." She shared, "As tragic as it was, it kind of grew out of 9/11, which happened in the beginning of my senior year and watching all these comedians' responses to it and how you deal with something like that." She was also part of Quipfire!, an improv group at the university. In fact, she said, "Quipfire! is the reason I pursued improv after college."

According to the Princeton Alumni Weekly, Kemper went to Oxford with a plan to become a teacher. However, she ultimately moved to New York to pursue comedy — and the rest is history.

Ever wondered what Ellie Kemper's living situation is like? Well, in 2016, the Observer revealed that Kemper and her family had settled down in a gorgeous New York City home. Apparently, the house cost $2.8 million and had features like wood floors, a fireplace, and French doors. Another feature? Tina Fey, her friend and the co-creator of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," lives just around the corner.

Luckily, the two seem to get along extremely well. As Kemper explained in a red carpet interview, she first met Fey at a casual meeting about "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." Apparently, Kemper was so nervous that she got to the meeting hours early and then complimented Fey's hair when she met her! Even though Fey and Kemper worked together for years and have even become neighbors, it seems that Kemper is still just as giddy around Fey as ever. As The Guardian reported, the editor of her 2018 book, "My Squirrel Days," once even said "she might want to ease up on the Fey-worship." How sweet!

Ellie Kemper got her start with improv performances in New York City. She eventually landed in Amy Poehler's group, the Upright Citizens Brigade, as noted by The Guardian. As Kemper told The A.V. Club, she particularly enjoyed long-form improv. "I feel like even when you're doing it, I guess you've either performed enough together or know each other well enough or know improv well enough to just trust that something is going to come of it," she said. "But it really is, to me, still mysterious when something is cohesive like that as you're making it up."

She went on to explain that her background in improv eventually became useful for her scripted acting work, especially in "The Office." "There was certainly more room to improvise and to risk a little bit," she said. However, when it came to "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," Kemper had to put her improv skills to the side. "On a show like 'Kimmy Schmidt,' the jokes are so finely crafted that the language is key, so you can't really veer too far from what is written in the script," she said.

When "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" came to an end in 2019, Ellie Kemper felt a mixture of sadness and relief. As she said in an interview at the time, "It's sad — but exciting — but sad." Of course, after spending three years playing Kimmy, Kemper had to adjust to life after the show. "It is weird," she told The A.V. Club in October 2018. "The whole thing ended ... It felt very sudden."

She went on to reveal that the writers were talking about potentially making a movie, but regardless of what would happen, she said she still felt happy with the way things ended for the characters. "[The writers] gave them a very loving send-off," she said. 

Kemper also noted that felt inspired by the whole experience of shooting the show. As she put it, "I really do think that she's a great symbol of resilience and strength."