In the late 1970s, she spent two years in Washington, D.C., working with political activist Ralph Nader at his Center for the Study of Responsive Law. Nearly thirty years later, she co-wrote and co-directed An Unreasonable Man, a 2006 documentary that traces the life and career of Nader, with her friend Steve Skrovan. The movie was a hit at Sundance.[2]
In 1989, during her pursuit of stand-up comedy, Mantel appeared on many television shows including Carolines Comedy Hour and VH-1 Stand-up Spotlight.
As an actress, Mantel has appeared in many feature films and television comedies. She appeared in The Brady Bunch films as Alice the maid.[3] She played Shelley Long's lovable nanny in the second season of the CBS sitcom Good Advice. She also appeared in an episode of Friends as a nurse in the 23rd episode of the eighth season, "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby". Mantel was also in the very final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond as a nurse who explains a potential problem with Ray waking up from his surgery.
Mantel appeared in the pilot episode of the long-running comedy series The Office. While only credited as "Office Worker", it was revealed that she was supposed to be Meredith Palmer. Her role would be recast with Kate Flannery taking over for the entirety of the series.[4]
Books
Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood(with Teri Garr (Plume 2006) (ISBN0452285712)
No Kidding: Women Writers on Bypassing Parenthood (Seal Press) (ISBN978-1580054430)