Mrs. Lovett is a fictional character appearing in many adaptations of the story Sweeney Todd. She is most commonly referred to as Nellie, although Marjorie, Maggie, Sarah, Shirley, Wilhemia and Claudetta are other names she has been given.
It is debated if she was based on an actual person or not. The character also appears in modern media related to Sweeney Todd including the Stephen Sondheim musical and its 2007 film adaptation. In every version of the story in which she appears, Mrs.
Lovett is the business partner and accomplice of barber/serial killer Sweeney Todd; in some versions, she is also his lover. She makes and sells meat pies made from Todd's victims. Usually, Mrs.
Lovett is depicted as a childless widow, although in some depictions (but very rarely) Mr. Albert Lovett is shown. Before she goes into business with Todd, she is on the verge of poverty, with her premises being filthy and infested with vermin.
In the musical she has resorted to using a rather revolting substitute for meat, and laments her pies are the worst ones in London. She also appears to have a rivalry (or at least in her mind) with Mrs. Mooney an opponent pie seller, who uses cats for her pies.
Just loved this character in the latest remake of Sweeney Todd, the demon baraber of Fleet st! She loved Mr. Todd, to death!! She took him in upon his return, as she was now living alone in his... more
Just loved this character in the latest remake of Sweeney Todd, the demon baraber of Fleet st! She loved Mr. Todd, to death!! She took him in upon his return, as she was now living alone in his once owned apartment house- having opened a pie shop. An unsuccessful pie shop, that is, until Mr. Todd comes round and makes it bustling with customers after good meat!!