Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto
Natalie Rose Berzatto Katinsky | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sugar, Nat |
| Occupation(s) | Restaurant operations manager, former bank executive (fictional) |
| Known for | Character on FX Network drama The Bear |
Natalie Rose Berzatto Katinsky, also referred to as Sugar and Nat, is a fictional persona featured on the FX Network drama The Bear. Conceived by Christopher Storer and embodied by Abby Elliott since 2022, Natalie transitioned from a career as a bank executive to overseeing restaurant operations. Initially hesitant to invest in her family's traditional Italian beef sandwich establishment, the Original Beef of Chicagoland, she was dissatisfied with its management under her elder brother Michael. Following Mikey's tragic suicide, her younger brother, renowned chef Carmy Berzatto, returned to Chicago to assume control. Carmy's collaborator, Chef Sydney, persuaded Natalie to handle the business aspects of their upscale dining project, the Bear.
Biography
Nat, along with her brothers Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Mikey Berzatto (Jon Bernthal), were predominantly raised by their mother Donna (Jaime Lee Curtis), who struggled with alcoholism and mental illness. Their father left the family during the 1990s. Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt), a close family friend, last encountered their father about two decades before 2022. According to Elliott, as the sole daughter, Sugar took on a nurturing role toward her mother, often sacrificing her own well-being: while "[Carmy and Mikey] put their heads down and ignore Donna," Natalie could not. Donna’s temperament was "moody" and she was verbally harsh toward Natalie. In contrast to their volatile mother and brother, Nat and Carmy often act as mediators in familial disputes. The nickname Sugar originated from a childhood error that Donna twisted into teasing but has since become a cherished family term. Despite her "sweet-natured" demeanor, Sugar matches the family's frequent use of strong language throughout the series.
The suicide of Mikey sets the narrative in motion and leaves surviving family members burdened with guilt and trauma. Although Nat and Carmy maintain a difficult relationship with their mother, they remain connected; for instance, Nat summoned Donna to be present during childbirth when her husband was unavailable. Elliott highlights that Sugar’s attempts to reach out to Carmy sometimes expose her fears of being abandoned by family.
Nat is married to Pete Katinsky (Chris Witaske), an upbeat corporate attorney who affectionately calls her Nat. Their marriage is stable; however, Pete occasionally struggles emotionally with the family's hardships. Due to his suburban upbringing and educational background, the Berzattos regard Pete as somewhat of an outsider. He initially experiences teasing from Nat’s relatives but eventually gains Carmy’s cautious approval. Nat and Pete have a daughter named Sophie Katinsky; she announces her pregnancy early in season two, delivers in season three, and returns to work by season four. They embrace parenthood despite concerns about its influence on the restaurant.
Nat shares a strong connection with Carmy; Elliott notes that although Nat is highly competent in managing restaurant affairs, her primary motivation for assuming this role stems from affection for Carmy. A flashback reveals Nat financially supporting Carmy at the outset of his culinary career. This focus allows her to avoid confronting personal trauma. She encourages Carmy’s participation in Al-Anon meetings and oversees financial matters during the transition from Beef to Bear. Sugar’s "Type A" disposition provides balance to Carmy’s unpredictable creativity and limited business acumen.
Nat forms a cordial relationship with Carmy’s close colleague, Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), who supports Sugar during pivotal moments such as the Bear’s soft launch. Natalie admires Sydney’s leadership qualities but doubts Carmy’s capacity to engage fully with both family and restaurant responsibilities.
Natalie holds Marcus Brooks (Lionel Boyce) in high regard; formerly Mikey’s bread baker and now an esteemed pastry chef at Bear under mentorship from Carmy, Sydney, and Luca (Will Poulter). Sugar vigorously defends Marcus’ position against budget-cutting proposals and trusts him enough to allow him to hold her baby at the restaurant.
Her relationship with neighborhood siblings Neil (Matty Matheson) and Ted (Ricky Staffieri) Fak, along with their sister Francine "Francie" Fak (Brie Larson), is mixed. She previously had a romantic involvement with Francie that ended poorly. The Faks affectionately call her "Mom" due to her maturity but are not permitted to hold baby Sophie; meanwhile, newcomer Luca quickly gains full access to baby cuddling.
The Berzatto family identifies as Italian American, rooted in Roman Catholic traditions such as celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Unlike Mikey, Sugar does not exhibit typical Italian-American physical traits.
In the episode "Ice Chips," Sugar is seen driving a Porsche Cayenne.