Paula Pell is an American comedy writer, producer, and actress. She worked as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2013. For her work on SNL and 30 Rock, she has been recognized with a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program and six Writers Guild of America Awards. In 2019, Pell was honored with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence.
Pell has produced, written, and performed in the TV series 30 Rock, A.P. Bio, Love, and Mapleworth Murders, and has worked as a writer for the awards ceremonies the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the MTV Video Music Awards. As a voiceover artist, she has voiced characters in Inside Out, Big Mouth, and Bless the Harts. Pell has also appeared in films and TV series, including Sisters, Other People, and Wine Country. From 2021 to 2024, Pell was a main cast member on the Peacock and Netflix original series Girls5eva.
Early life Pell wanted to be an actress from an early age. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, she took a job at Walt Disney World, working in the nightclubs of the resort's adults-only Pleasure Island section.
Career Pell was a writer for Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2013, where she is the longest-tenured female writer in the history of the show. She created the characters Debbie Downer, the Culps, Justin Timberlake's Omeletteville mascot, and the Spartan Cheerleaders. She was also a producer and writer for the sitcom 30 Rock, and wrote the episodes "Argus" and "Floyd". In 2006, a pilot she wrote, Thick and Thin, was picked up by NBC for 13 episodes, with Pell as executive producer, but it never aired in the United States. Pell has worked with Judd Apatow providing additional writing for the films Bridesmaids and This Is 40.
As an actress, Pell appeared in several episodes of 30 Rock as the wife of Pete Hornberger and played the mother of Ron Swanson in a 2011 episode of Parks and Recreation. She has also appeared as an extra or in bit parts in dozens of SNL sketches. She voices Gadget Gal in the Hulu original series The Awesomes.
She has a small cameo in the 2013 comedy film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. She co-created the web series Hudson Valley Ballers with fellow SNL writer and long-time friend James Anderson with whom she also co-stars. Tina Fey produced and starred in Pell's first feature screenplay, Sisters (2015). Pell played the Dream Director and Mom's Anger in the 2015 Pixar film Inside Out. From 2016–2018, she guest-starred in the TV series Love as Erika. She played a character based on Elaine Stritch in the mockumentary musical episode "Co-op" on Documentary Now! She appeared in one episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in 2017, season 3 episode 10. She played Helen Henry DeMarcus on the show, A.P. Bio. She also played Aunt Mo in the Showtime series SMILF.
Pell co-starred alongside several other Saturday Night Live alumnae in the 2019 Netflix original comedy Wine Country.
On August 10, 2020, the comedy-mystery Mapleworth Murders, which she also co-wrote and executive produced, aired on Quibi. Pell was nominated at the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her performance. Between 2020 and 2021, Pell voiced several characters in the animated series Bless the Harts.
In 2021, she began starring as Gloria McManus in the Peacock comedy series Girls5eva.
Personal life Pell is openly gay. She was married for 17 years before getting divorced. She later married Janine Brito on November 13, 2020.
Filmography
Film +Pell's film workYearTitleRoleNotes2012LillyLilliShort film2013Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesCrowd Member2014BirdmanLady in Bar2015Inside OutDream Director / Mom's Anger (voice) A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.Riley's First Date?Mom's Anger (voice)The Parker TribeDot ParkerShort filmSistersDana2016Other PeopleAunt PattiBrother NatureWoman in Suit2019Wine CountryValWyrmTanya2024Inside Out 2Mom's Anger (voice) 2025 Summer of 69 Betty Spaghetti 2026The Cat in the HatTBA (voice)In-production
Television +Pell's television workYearTitleRoleNotes1991Super ForceMrs. BIloxiEpisode: "A Hundred Share"1992–1993Welcome FreshmenMrs. Gillman / Hillbilly Teacher2 episodes2002The Colin Quinn ShowVarious characters3 episodes2007–201330 RockPaula Hornberger6 episodes, recurring role2011Funny or Die PresentsLady Refs3 episodesParks and RecreationTamara SwansonEpisode: "Ron and Tammys"2012The Front DeskHerselfEpisode: "Turn Down"2013–2015The AwesomesGadget Gal (voice)30 episodes2013Hudson Valley BallersPaulaMain role, 14 episodes2014Monkey LoveArianaEpisode: "Girls Night Ou"2015Above Average PresentsMom 12 episodesThe Mindy ProjectEvelynEpisode: "Road Trip"2015–2019Documentary Now!Patti Skrowaczeski / Patty3 episodes2017The CatchCarol Cooney2 episodesUnbreakable Kimmy SchmidtBevEpisode: "Kimmy Pulls Off a Heist!"SMILFAunt MoEpisode: "Run, Bridgette, Run or Forty-Eight Burnt Cupcakes & Graveyard Rum"2017–2025Big MouthBarbara Glouberman / various (voice)35 episodes2017–2018LoveErika7 episodes, recurring role2018–2021A.P. BioHelen Henry DemarcusRecurring (season 1), main role (seasons 2–4)2019No ActivityDaisy / Trucker (voice)2 episodes2020Mapleworth MurdersAbigail MapleworthMain role2020–2021Bless the HartsRuth / Lenore (voice)3 episodes2021–2024Girls5evaGloria McManusMain role, 22 episodes2022Duncanville(voice)episode: "The Sharent Trap"2023Die HartCynthia4 episodesNot Dead YetMarlena QuintroEpisode: "Not Friends Yet"The Slumber PartyPrincipal PetersenTelevision film2024Monsters at WorkSunny (voice)4 episodesDream ProductionsPaula Persimmon (voice)Main role2025Harley QuinnG.A.I.L. (voice)Episode: "Family Feud"Dying for SexAmyEpisode: "It's Not That Serious"LootPaulaEpisode: "What's Up with Us2026The 'BurbsDanaMain role, 8 episodesThe Four SeasonsWoman 1 (cameo)Episode: "Little Thanksgiving"
Producer and screenwriter +Paula Pell production and screenwriting workYearTitleRoleNotes1995–2013Saturday Night LiveScreenwriter / writing supervisor311 episodes1999Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary SpecialScreenwriterTelevision special2002NBC 75th Anniversary SpecialMTV Video Music Awards Awards ceremony2003Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime SpecialTelevision special2004Macy's 4th of July SpectacularSaturday Night Live: The Best of Cheri OteriTelevision documentary2006Thick and ThinExecutive producer3 episodes, Television series2007Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture NationScreenwriterTelevision special2008Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday3 episodes2009–201030 RockProducer / screenwriter22 episodes, television series2010The Women of SNLScreenwriterTelevision movie201183rd Academy Awards Awards ceremony2012This Is 40Executive producerFilm2013–2015Hudson Valley BallersScreenwriter14 episodes, television series2014The Re-GiftShort film86th Academy Awards Awards ceremony2015Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary SpecialTelevision special87th Academy Awards Awards ceremonySistersFilm201774th Golden Globe AwardsAward ceremony201875th Golden Globe AwardsAward ceremonyCampingExecutive producer / screenwriter3 episodes, television series2019A.P. BioScreenwriterEpisode: "Handcuffed"2020Sarah Cooper: Everything's FineTelevision specialMapleworth MurdersExecutive producer / screenwriter12 episodes, television series
Awards and nominations +Awards and nominations for Paula Pell Award Year Category Work Result Annie Awards 2025 Best Voice Acting – TV/Media Dream Productions Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards 2021 Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy Girls5eva Primetime Emmy Awards 2001Outstanding Writing for a Variety SeriesSaturday Night Live 2002 2003 2008 2009 2010 2011 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special The Women of SNL 2012 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live 2015 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special 2021 Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Mapleworth Murders 2023Die Hart 2: Die HarterWriters Guild of America Awards 2001 Best Comedy/Variety – Talk Series Saturday Night Live Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials Saturday Night Live 25 2002Best Comedy/Variety – Talk SeriesSaturday Night Live 2003 Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials NBC 75th Anniversary Special 2007Best Comedy/Variety – Talk SeriesSaturday Night Live 2008 2009 2010 Best Comedy Series30 Rock 2011 Best Comedy/Variety – Talk SeriesSaturday Night Live 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special 2017 Best Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series Saturday Night Live
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