OFM_People_Dept_Ellie_Kemper_0219_v2_DEPT 1 / 22 / 19 2 : 38 PM Page 1 PLE From her days at PEO Princeton to becoming a star comedic actress , not to mention a new author , Ellie Kemper is enjoying life to its fullest . HappyKEMPER By Debra Wallace of the day from smiling so much when I play Kimmy . But I think that one of my favorite things about Kimmy is that she is so rugged and fierce , llie Kemper traces her vivid imagination back to her childhood while also being really girlish , ” she says . days when she would climb into the tree house at her suburban “ She wears pink pants , necklaces that say St . Louis home and play with Natalie , an overweight squirrel ‘ Kimmy ’ and she’s kind of a nerd . At the same time , that often visited her to feast on a steady diet of crackers , she has been through something I could never imagine having to go through . So , I hope I share Ecookies and withered wild berries . some of those stalwart qualities . ” These days , the Missouri native makes her was originally slated for NBC before it was sold to While one may think befriending , even naming , home in Manhattan with Michael Korman , her Netflix where it has enjoyed great success and further a squirrel may seem like something one would keep husband of six years cemented Kemper’s place in the limelight . to themselves , Kemper isn’t shy . In fact , it’s just and their adorable 2 - year - old If there is one thread throughout her personal another example of the seemingly carefree person - son , James . life and career it seems to be her gusto for going for ality that radiates whether she’s on screen or sitting “ One of my favorite things is going to the park what she wants ; whether it is tackling new mother - across from you . with him . … I love just watching him — even at the hood , honing her passion for acting or indulging in Kemper’s early predisposition to creativity tender age of 2 — become more independent . ” guilty pleasures like a big scoop of gooey butter helped catapult her into the spotlight with a break - It appears that comedy runs in the family cake ice cream . through role in the Emmy - award winning sitcom , because Kemper says that young James “ is making And recently the 38 - year - old , who attended The Office , where she played the dimwitted Erin these hilarious facial expressions and he will say Princeton University where she played field hockey , Hannon for the show’s final five seasons . From there things to me and it makes me laugh like an adult s became an author , scribing her first book , the aptly she would co - star in the raunchy comedic film makes me laugh . ” ccle named My Squirrel Days . The book is a collection of Bridesmaids before ultimately landing on the quirky When asked what kind of mother she thinks E ew essays chronicling the bumps , bruises and discoveries sitcom The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt , which she is , Kemper expresses a bit of amusement . “ In my ndr along follows the adventures of Kemper’s eponymous head , I think I’m laid back and cool and that I go the way to her many accolades . A by character as she navigates the streets of New York with the flow and roll with the punches , ” she muses . For Kemper , the good fortune she’s experienced aph City following her rescue from the cult where she has “ But in reality , I think I am hyper - controlling . I leaves many fans wondering if she’s as happy - go - togr spent the think I worry about things that maybe don’t really lucky as her TV alter ego . past 15 years . The Tina Fey - produced Pho require me to worry about . ” “ I know that my face hurts a little at the end show , now in the midst of its fourth and final season , 34 ORLANDO FAMILY february 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM