Who played Nellie in The Office?

Last Modified Mar 12, 2025 03:41 EDT
Who played Nellie in The Office?
Nellie in The Office (Source: Screengrab from the show)


The English actress, comedian and writer Catherine Tate portrayed Nellie Bertram in The Office. She appeared as a guest cast in the seventh season of the series and then as a regular in the eighth and ninth.


She was considered the front-runner to replace Steve Carell, but she was unable to join the series because of her commitment to the West End production of the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing. She initially planned for a one-episode guest role. Later, however, Tate reprised the character as a series regular for the latter part of season eight and remained in it until the end.


Who played Nellie in The Office?


Catherine Tate plays Nellie in the American mockumentary sitcom television series The Office. Catherine Tate is an English actress, comedian, and author who was nominated for seven BAFTAs and an International Emmy Award. She has received multiple accolades for her work on the BBC sketch comedy series The Catherine Tate Show (2004–2007). Tate portrayed Donna Noble in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who's 2006 Christmas special. She returned for the show's fourth season in 2008 and its 60th anniversary episodes in 2023.


Nellie Bertram in The Office


Who played Nellie in The Office?
Nellie in The Office (Source: Screengrab from the show)


Helen "Nellie" Bertram is portrayed as a crude, impolite, illogical, and socially and professionally incompetent individual. But despite all of her flaws, she is also driven and intelligent, seeking positions for which she is frequently unsuitable. Though challenging to adjust to, Nellie is ultimately proven to be friendly toward her coworkers and to be on good terms with the majority of them, with the notable exception of Andy Bernard, who harbored a deep-seated grudge against her for taking his job.


Nellie’s background in The Office


Nellie was raised in poverty in Basildon, England, a working-class town where she was born. She spoke with a "bloody horrendous" Cockney accent until she was thirty-two. She has stated that she goes to church, which suggests that she is religious. She says that she had a one-night stand with Hugh Grant's older brother, John Grant, by "sheer force of will"; however, this is probably fake because Hugh Grant doesn't have an older brother named John.


She was involved with a stage magician for a long time, but he abruptly left her for a waitress and disappeared from her life. She once raced a Formula One car for three of the slowest laps ever recorded, demonstrating her business attitude of "if the seat is open, the job is open." She freely acknowledges that she lacks motivation, has no formal education, and no actual talents.


Nellie seems to be rather delicate despite her harsh appearance. Her enormous credit card debt suggests that she is a compulsive shopper. It is also said that she experiences loneliness and sadness, which are made worse by her relocation from England to the US. She responded by attempting to adopt a child but ultimately failing. However, she "adopts" the child Ryan left behind in order to start a new life with Kelly in the show's conclusion. She is acquainted with Jo Bennett, the CEO of Sabre.


Also read: Who Is Creed in the Office?

FAQs about Nellie in The Office

A. Nellie Bertram appeared in the Season 7 finale episode titled, "Search Committee.”

A. Catherine Tate is famous for her role of Donna Noble in the "Doctor Who" franchise and for her work on the BBC sketch comedy series The Catherine Tate Show (2004–2007).

A. Nellie was in a long-term relationship with a magician who abruptly left her for a waitress and disappeared from her life.

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