Kemper starred in the Netflix comedy series from 2015 to 2019

NEED TO KNOW

• Ellie Kemper revealed what she thinks her Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt character would be doing today
• Kemper also said she hopes her character from The Office, Erin Hannon, has found happiness, possibly working in hospitality and making others feel good
• The Office cast remains close with a group chat, and several members star in AT&T Business’ new short film campaign

Ellie Kemper is imagining where her most famous characters would be today.

At the AT&T Business Small Business Appreciation event at Los Angeles' Rolling Greens on May 27, The Office alum joined her former costars Craig Robinson, Angela Kinsey, Creed Bratton and Oscar Nuñez for a panel discussion and screening of the AT&T Business Wake Up with Craig short film campaign.

Kemper, 46, was asked what her title character from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — a Netflix series that ran from 2015 to 2019 — would do if she ever started a small business in 2026.

The comedy series followed Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who tries to adjust to normal life by moving to New York City after escaping a cult. She lives with her actor roommate, Titus, and works as a nanny for a socialite named Jacqueline, played by Jane Krakowski.

"Maybe she would be joined up with her friend Titus to start a winery," Kemper replied, mentioning Tituss Burgess' character on the series. "Pinot Noir, yes. Pinot Noir and Kimmy."

During an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the event, Kemper also shared that she hoped her character from The Office, Erin Hannon, would be "happy" in life.

Kemper joined the sitcom as the Dunder Mifflin receptionist during season 5. Her character has an on-again, off-again relationship with Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) until she ultimately ends season 9 by dating Pete Miller (Jake Lacy).

"Yeah, I would hope that she has found a partner," she said. "And I also have a feeling she would be working, I think. I'm not sure if she would still be working in reception, but hopefully a job in hospitality. I do think that she tries to make people happy, so in whatever way that takes."

Since The Office ended in 2013, Kemper and the rest of the cast have remained close. Kinsey, 54, shared on the panel that the actors have a group chat with each other called "The Office Peeps."

"But, like, Creed will send you a video at Christmas of him singing a song," she said. "I just shared with the group that my daughter turned 18. I was like, 'If you want to feel old.' Because she was born right after ‘Dinner Party' season 4. So, yeah, it feels good [to share] things like that. It's really special."

Kemper, Kinsey, Robinson, 54, Bratton, 83, and Nuñez, 67, all star in AT&T Business' new Wake Up with Craig short film to showcase the realities of small business ownership.

“Isn't it the gift of a lifetime? I feel like I won the lottery getting cast on the show because it is so organic, and it is a very natural friendship that we share, which feels rare,” Kemper told PEOPLE about the Office cast's enduring connection.

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"So I think there is something to — I should mention I can speak as a viewer because I was a big fan of the show before I got a job on it," she added. "I think what speaks to audiences, or at least I'll speak for myself, was that you can relate to everybody in that show. There's a character for everyone in your life. Like you can say, 'Oh, that's Uncle Kenny', whatever it is, like you see people in your life in that show, and I think that makes it easy for audiences to relate."

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