Who is Erin in The Office?​

The Office is a superhit mockumentary-style sitcom that aired from 2005 to 2013. The show is set in the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin paper company and follows the daily lives of its employees. It is known for its humor and relatable workplace situations. The Office is one of the most watched sitcoms of all time. The cast of the show includes Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms, etc.

Over nine seasons, the show introduced many memorable characters, including Erin Hannon. She joined the show in Season 5 as the new receptionist, replacing Pam Beesly after she moved to sales. She is portrayed as a bubbly, innocent, and enthusiastic person. Let’s take a look at Erin’s character and the actress who plays her.

Who is Erin in The Office?

Erin was introduced in the 5th season of The Office as a new receptionist of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. She replaced Pam, when she temporarily left the office for the Michael Scott Paper Company. Unlike Pam, she did not find the receptionist job boring and was excited about it. She made meaningful relationships with her co-workers. One of her closest relationships was with Michael Scott, who treats her like a daughter. Since Erin grew up in foster care without a stable family, she looks up to Michael as a father figure.

She also shares a fun and quirky friendship with Kevin Malone and Kelly Kapoor. Her relationship with Andy Bernard is one of the important parts of her storylines. Andy had a crush on Erin soon after she joined the office, and they eventually started dating. Their relationship was full of ups and downs because of miscommunication and Andy’s indecisiveness. When Andy went on a long boat trip without telling Erin, she realized he did not prioritize her, which led to their breakup.

Her relationship with Andy helped in her emotional growth, and she learned to stand up for herself. Later, in the final season, she developed feelings for Pete Miller, a new employee at Dunder Mifflin, and they ended up dating each other. Her time at Dunder Mifflin helps her grow emotionally and professionally. In the series finale, Erin finally reconnects with her birth parents, giving her the family she always longed for.

Who plays Erin in The Office?

Ellie Kemper plays Erin in the show. She is an American actress, born on May 2, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. In 2002, she graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree in English. At Princeton, she was involved in improvisational comedy, and she later studied at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York. She started working in TV in the early 2000s. She gained international popularity for her role as Erin in the hit show The Office (2009–2013).

After The Office, she worked as a main lead in the Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt which ran from 2015 to 2019. She received critical acclaim for her work in the show and earned 2 Primetime Emmy nominations and 2 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Apart from these, she has appeared in many TV shows like The Mindy Project (2012-2013), Sofia the First (2013-2018), You're Not a Monster (2019), The Great American Baking Show (2022-2023), etc.

She has also worked in many popular films like Bridesmaids (2011), 21 Jump Street (2012), and Sex Tape (2014). Apart from acting, she is also a writer and has published her 1st book, a comedic memoir titled My Squirrel Days, in 2018. Kemper got married to writer Michael Koman in 2012. The couple has 2 sons, born in 2016 and 2019.

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