Catherine Tate ( born Catherine Ford ; 5 December 1969 in Bloomsbury , London , UK ) is a British actress , comedian and screenwriter , the creator of a number of memorable characters that have taken a firm place in the history of British comedy. She is best known as the rude pensioner and ill-mannered schoolgirl who became famous for her cheeky responses to Queen Elizabeth II and the 73rd Prime Minister of Great Britain from The Catherine Tate Show , Time Lord companion Donna Noble from Doctor Who , special projects manager Nellie Bertram from The Office , and French teacher Sarah Postern from Big School . Winner of about twenty awards and the same number of nominations, including BAFTA and Emmy television awards . Read More