Natalie Berzatto
Natalie Rose Berzatto Katinsky | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sugar, Nat |
| Occupation(s) | Restaurant manager, former bank executive (fictional) |
| Known for | Character on FX Network drama The Bear |
| Notable work | The Bear (TV series) |
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 managing a restaurant business. Initially hesitant to invest in her family's longstanding Italian beef sandwich establishment, the Original Beef of Chicagoland, she held a negative view of the operation under her brother Michael's leadership. Following Mikey’s tragic suicide, their younger brother, the renowned chef Carmy Berzatto, returned to Chicago to oversee the restaurant. At Carmy’s urging, along with his partner Chef Sydney, Natalie took charge of managing their new fine dining project, the Bear.
Biography
Nat, 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. The last known contact with him was approximately two decades ago through Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt), his closest friend. According to Elliott, as the sole daughter, Sugar was compelled to assume a caregiving role toward Donna, often sacrificing her own well-being: "[Carmy and Mikey] tend to ignore Donna, but Natalie cannot." Donna’s temperament was "moody" and she directed verbal abuse at Natalie. Within the family’s turbulent relationships, Nat and Carmy generally act as mediators rather than provocateurs. Her nickname Sugar originated from a childhood slip-up that Donna twisted into an enduring tease; nonetheless, it fittingly reflects her composed and compassionate demeanor. Despite the series’ frequent use of coarse language, Sugar adopts her family’s vernacular.
The catalyst for the storyline is Mikey’s suicide, which leaves enduring emotional scars and guilt among those left behind. Although Nat and Carmy have a complicated relationship with Donna, they maintain a connection; notably, Nat contacted her mother during childbirth when her husband was unavailable. Elliott interprets Sugar’s continual efforts to reach out to Carmy as indicative of her anxiety about facing their shared family trauma alone.
Nat is married to Pete Katinsky (Chris Witaske), an optimistic corporate attorney who affectionately calls her Nat. Their marriage is stable despite Pete being perceived as an outsider by the Berzatto family. Unlike Natalie's brothers and cousin Richie Jerimovich, Pete holds advanced academic qualifications. Initially subjected to teasing by Nat’s relatives, Pete eventually gains Carmy’s hesitant approval. The couple has a daughter named Sophie Katinsky; Nat discloses her pregnancy in season two, delivers Sophie in season three’s episode "Ice Chips," takes maternity leave, and returns in season four’s "Replicants." They embrace parenthood even as it impacts their restaurant responsibilities.
Nat shares a close connection with Carmy; Elliott emphasizes that while Nat is highly skilled at restaurant management, her primary motivation for joining the business was love for Carmy and a desire to support him. Flashbacks reveal Natalie providing financial backing when Carmy left for New York to pursue his culinary career. This focus partly serves as a way for Natalie to avoid confronting her own emotional wounds. She encourages Carmy to participate in Al-Anon meetings and manages the logistical and financial transition from Beef to Bear. Her "Type A" disposition complements Carmy’s creative disorderliness and weak numerical aptitude.
Natalie also cultivates a warm relationship with Carmy’s creative collaborator Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), who prepares an iconic omelette for pregnant Sugar during the Bear’s soft opening—a silent moment highlighting nurturing through cuisine. Nat regards Sydney as a capable leader while harboring doubts about Carmy’s engagement both professionally and personally.
She holds great affection for Marcus Brooks (Lionel Boyce), formerly Mikey’s bread baker who has evolved into a distinguished pastry chef under mentorship from Carmy, Sydney, and Luca the Bear (Will Poulter). Sugar staunchly defends Marcus’ position against budget cuts and trusts him enough to allow him to hold baby Sophie at the restaurant.
Natalie maintains complex relationships with neighborhood Fak siblings Neil (Matty Matheson), Ted (Ricky Staffieri), and Francine "Francie" Fak (Brie Larson). Nat previously had a brief romantic involvement with Francie that ended unfavorably. The Faks and Richie jokingly nickname her "Mom" due to her maturity; however, she restricts their access to Sophie. In contrast, British chef Luca quickly earns full privileges for baby cuddling after meeting Nat.
The Berzatto family is Italian American with Roman Catholic heritage; they observe customs such as the Feast of the Seven Fishes and seek intercession from Our Mother of Victory.
In "Ice Chips," Sugar is seen driving a Porsche Cayenne.