[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/catherine-tate-243x233_7729.jpg]]
->''All the funny stuff's down to Catherine Tate. I'm just her bitch.''
-->-- '''DavidTennant'''

Born in 1968 as Catherine Ford, Tate is a British comedienne. Having played guest roles in ''TheBill'' ([[OnlySoManyEquityMembers who hasn't in the UK?]]), her big break came with ''TheCatherineTateShow''. Her most notable character from that was schoolgirl Lauren, with her CatchPhrase "Am I bovvered?"

Her next well-known role was playing Donna Noble in a well-received ''Series/DoctorWho'' ChristmasSpecial in 2006. She was brought back in 2008 as a full-time companion of the Doctor, and ended up becoming a fan-favorite character thanks to her truly excellent performance and her character's much-needed CharacterDevelopment.

She had a similar experience with the American version of ''Series/{{The Office|US}},'' first making a guest appearance in the final episode of season 7 then returning in season 8 as a major character.
-----
This actor provides examples of:
* BaseBreaker: She seems to be either adored or despised, without much middle ground to speak of.
* CatchPhrase
* ChristmasCake: Donna in ''Series/DoctorWho''.
* FieryRedhead: Plays a lot of these - see [[Series/DoctorWho Donna Noble]] and [[MuchAdoAboutNothing Beatrice]] for starters.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis - it is quite possible that she provided the only recorded '''silent''' example of this trope, courtesy of soundproof glass.
* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Managed one of the most magnificent in the history of television as Donna Noble, and had her own popularity skyrocket as a result.
* SheReallyCanAct: Got a ''lot'' of this with her turn as Donna Noble in ''Series/DoctorWho''.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Any time she's sharing a scene with DavidTennant (and they have quite a bit), they're almost always on the opposite ends of a snark-off. Then they [[SlapSlapKiss got to do it onstage]] as Benedick and Beatrice, in the RSC's ''MuchAdoAboutNothing''. Underneath the snark, however, the two are very close friends in real life, with Tennant stating outright that she's one of his "best mates".
----