Mrs. Lovett is a fictional character appearing in many adaptations of the story
Sweeney Todd. She is most commonly referred to as Nellie, although Margery, Maggie, Sarah, Shirley, Wilhemina and Claudetta are other names she has been given. First appearing in the
penny dreadful serial
The String of Pearls, 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.