Paula Pell (born April 15, 1963) is an American writer, actress, comedian, and producer. Pell is best known for her work as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2020. 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.

Filmography

• The 'Burbs — Dana Richards
• 2026The Cat in the Hat — (voice)
• Dying for Sex — Nurse Amy
• Everybody's Live with John Mulaney — Jean Dumb
• 2025Summer of 69 — Betty Spaghetti
• The Four Seasons — Dana
• 2024Die Hart 2: Die Harter — Cynthia
• Dream Productions — Paula Persimmon (voice)
• 2024Inside Out 2 — Mom's Anger (voice)
• Not Dead Yet — Marlena
• 2023The Slumber Party — Principal Petersen
• Loot — Paula, Consulting Producer
• Girls5eva — Gloria
• Monsters at Work — Sunny (voice)
• 202030 Rock: A One-Time Special — Paula Hornberger
• Die Hart — Cynthia
• Mapleworth Murders — Abigail Mapleworth, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
• 2020Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine — Writer, Executive Producer
• Harley Quinn — G.A.I.L (voice)
• 2019Wine Country — Val
• 2019Wyrm — Tanya
• A.P. Bio — Helen Henry Demarcus, Writer
• Camping — Writer, Co-Executive Producer
• Big Mouth — Barbara Glouberman / Bubbe (voice), Barbara Glouberman (voice), Barbara Glouberman / Lola's Couch Pillow (voice)
• No Activity — Daisy, Trucker
• 2016Brother Nature — Woman in Suit
• 2016Other People — Aunt Patti
• Documentary Now! — Patty
• 2015Inside Out — Dream Director / Mom's Anger (voice)
• 2015Riley's First Date? — Mom's Anger (voice)
• 2015Sisters — Dana, Screenplay
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — Bev
• 2014Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) — Lady in Bar
• Late Night with Seth Meyers — Self, Self - Guest, Trisha Bumrock, Self - Guest
• 2013Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues — Crowd Member at Ice Rink
• The Awesomes — Gadget Gal (voice)
• The Mindy Project — Evelyn
• 2012This Is 40 — Executive Producer
• 2010The Women of SNL — Writer
• Parks and Recreation — Tammy Zero
• 30 Rock — Paula Hornberger, Writer
• 2002NBC 75th Anniversary Special — Writer
• The Colin Quinn Show
• 1999Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special — Writer
• Super Force — Mrs. BIloxi
• Saturday Night Live — Self - Cameo (uncredited), Robin Walker Fan (uncredited), Paula (uncredited), Self (uncredited), Mother (uncredited), Church Member (uncredited), Karen Coolidge (uncredited), Self / Taddli Audience Member (uncredited), Caller (voice) (uncredited), Betty Michaels (uncredited), Betty Ford (voice), Laughing Writer (uncredited), Various (uncredited), Sarah (voice) (uncredited), Helen (voice) (uncredited), Operator (uncredited), Friend (uncredited), Assistant (uncredited), China Delegate Translator (uncredited), P. J. Dougherty (uncredited), Terrell's Wife (uncredited), New Canaan Woman (uncredited), Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Judge on The Swan / Announcer (uncredited), Linda Grabel (uncredited), Ashley (voice) (uncredited), Lesbian (uncredited), Trio Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Judine (uncredited), Valentine Commercial Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Staff Member (uncredited), Nun (uncredited), I Drink Your Milkshake Announcer (voice) (uncredited), ABC Family Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Joann (uncredited), Audience Member With Question (uncredited), Cougar Den Announcer (voice) (uncredited), QVC Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Sketch Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Denise (voice) (uncredited), Far Side Woman (uncredited), Teacher (uncredited)
• The Fifth Wheel — Producer, Screenplay

Appearances as themselves (13)

• 2026Lorne — Self
• Good Hang with Amy Poehler — Self - Guest
• SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night — Self
• 2025SNL50: The Homecoming Concert — Self
• 2024Will & Harper — Self
• The Jennifer Hudson Show — Self
• 2021Amidst the Chaos – Live (Again) from the Hollywood Bowl — Self
• Carpool Karaoke: The Series — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — Self - Guest
• 2010Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again — Self
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen — Self - Guest
• 2007Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation — Self
• Made in Hollywood — Self