Known for making audiences laugh on screen, actress Ellie Kemper is bringing that same playful energy to families this summer through a recent partnership with Pirate’s Booty.
The mom of two recently sat down with The Blast to share a little about the partnership, as well as to reminisce about some fan-favorite shows, balancing set life with motherhood, and what favorite summer tradition her family looks forward to year after year. She even told The Blast she would love to do a few more seasons of one of her hit shows (no spoiler alerts here)!
Kemper, a mom of two boys ages 6 and 9, said the partnership with Pirate’s Booty for their Captain Bob’s Summer Quest guide was a perfect fit.
“I love Pirate’s Booty. First and foremost, I as an individual love Pirate’s Booty. As a mom, I also love Pirate’s Booty. It’s really easy to pack, it’s easy to put in a lunch bag and my kids love it. It’s a treat they look forward to, and I become a favorite mom,” Kemper told The Blast exclusively. “I was very interested in this partnership.”
After Kemper learned more about Captain Bob’s Summer Quest, she said it was a “no brainer to join forces.”
“The whole kind of premise behind this project is to get kids off screens as much as they can this summer and to fuel imaginative play, which is something I personally like as an adult,” she said. “It’s really nice to share with my own kids.”
Families can join Captain Bob and his parrot sidekick Crunchy on summer adventures through easy-to-follow prompts and imaginative activities designed to spark creativity, encourage exploration, and create memorable moments together.
“Pirate’s Booty’s Summer Quest, inspired by our own Captain Bob, was built around a simple idea: helping families find easy ways to connect through play,” said Eric Bowers, VP of Salty Marketing, The Hershey Company. “We know that meaningful moments don’t require elaborate plans – just opportunities to explore, create, and spend time together.”
The Summer Tradition That Brings Ellie Kemper Back To Childhood
Kemper and her family have a summer tradition that they look forward to each year – visiting the grandparents in San Diego and St. Louis.
“We go to visit both sets every summer and it’s a lot of fun. We usually spend a longer time in St. Louis, and I have family there so the kids get to see their cousins. It’s always unbearably hot but that’s part of the experience. It’s what I grew up with,” she told The Blast. “It’s nice to share that with the kids.”
Finding That Work-Life Balance Can Be Tougher In The Summer Months
When asked how she finds a balance between set life and mom life, especially in the summer months when the kids are out of school, Kemper responded, “tell me because I am constantly asking that question of other moms too.”
“Any job that you have, I think once summer hits, it’s really crazy because your schedule doesn’t necessarily shift, but the kids don’t have school,” she said. “So that I find to be a constant balancing act. I certainly haven’t figured it out, and I am often very stressed out trying to fill in those gaps.”
Kemper said that the Pirate’s Booty guide has been a “breath of fresh air” for her because the activities are easy and fun and only require items around the house.
“You don’t have to go out and get anything. And those have been moments to take deep breaths for me and the kids,” she shared. “So those have been real nice moments of respite.”
What Hit Series Would Ellie Kemper Love To Do Another Season Or Two?
For fans of the hit Netflix original series, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” four seasons wasn’t enough. It’s such a fan-favorite that many rewatch it over and over. When asked what the best part about filming the show was, Kemper said she has “very tender memories of all of it.”
“At first, it was working with Robert Carlock and Tina Fey because I admired their work for years and years, and they’re just icons,” she said. “And then, once I got to meet the other actors on the show, that was like the blessings just kept coming. What a gift to be able to work with all of my castmates.”
She added that it was a bonus that filming took place in New York City, and said “every part of that worked out.”
When the chat moved in the direction of wishing there was another season, Kemper said she would do it in a heartbeat.
Ellie Kemper Loved ‘The Office’ Before She Was Even On It
When talking about beloved television series, “The Office” is sure to pop into any chat. Many fans still binge it to this day, years after it ended production.
“I loved the show before I got a job on it, because my character didn’t make an appearance until season 5,” Kemper told The Blast. “I understand why people love it. It’s so relatable and so comforting. The characters are jus like you know one of those characters in every part of your life. You could say, ‘oh that’s a Dwight,’ or ‘that’s a Phyllis.’”
She also added that the fact that people are still watching the show “speaks to the writing on the show, the heart of the show.” Kemper said she was “blessed to have had any part in any of it.”
