Ellie Kemper is an award-winning actress and comedian. She best known for her role as Erin Hannon on “The Office” and Kimmy Schmidt on the Netflix original “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” While her roles are often goofy, the characters are much more than that. By tackling political issues in a subtle and comedic way, Kemper is able to speak to varieties of audiences and get her point across while also being entertaining.
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” screened at SCADshow on the opening night of SCAD aTVfest. It was the last episode of the last season and though fans don’t want it to end, the reaction was tremendous. Kemper, along with co-stars Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski and Carol Kane, end the show with an emotional but hopeful message. Without spoiling anything, the message is this simple: things will change in your life, but, eventually, for the better.
Kemper explained that before she got her role on “The Office,” she auditioned for an unnamed role. After a while of waiting, she found out that she did not receive the part and that the role was for “Parks and Recreation.”
“I had gotten so close and it’s so hard to have any success in the arts,” Kemper explained, “I don’t think everything happens for a reason but I do think timing and luck have a lot to do with it.”
The advice she has for students going forward in their art is simply put: “I do think you have to put yourself out there in order for you to be in the way of luck. So, get up and keep putting yourself out there.”
Later that night, she was part of a Q&A after the screening of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” There, she inspired students to keep pushing themselves and told stories of her time before Erin Hannon and Kimmy Schmidt.
Kemper also expressed her interest in a reunion episode of “The Office.” The possibility being that maybe the cast shoots for a week then airs one episode that catches fans up on the lives of Dunder Mifflin Employees.
Along with her interest in a reunion, she also said that there might be an “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” movie. Though there aren’t many details — howver, the possibility is out there.
You can stream the full series of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “The Office” on Netflix. Kemper also has a memoir out that tells stories from her time on the shows. You can purchase it here.
