Jenna Fischer Bagged ‘The Office’ Role After Improvising ONE Word

For every actor, there is one role that changes their life forever! For actor Jenna Fischer, landing a role in “The Office” was one life-changing event! But did you know all it took for her was one word? Fischer, best known as Pam Beesley on the iconic NBC series, revealed the surprising story behind her audition on the Fly on the Wall podcast with Dana Carvey and David Spade.

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“I had been auditioning for [casting director] Allison [Jones] for about five years before The Office,” Fischer said. When she asked Jones for advice, she was told: “Don’t come in looking hot. Don’t come in all done up.”

Fischer admitted this was very different from the usual industry advice, which was often to look “hot,” even when playing roles like a pediatric nurse. But it was the second piece of guidance that stuck with her: “We’re going to have you improvise during the audition, and my advice is: Dare to bore me.”

The ‘Word’ That Sealed The Deal

During her audition, Fischer was asked by showrunner Greg Daniels (playing a documentary filmmaker) if she liked being a receptionist. “I had that note in my head and he said, ‘Do you like being a receptionist here?’ And I just paused and I said, nothing,” she recalled. “And then I said, ‘No.’ And that’s all I said.”

That single-word response—delivered with honesty and restraint—got her the job. “Greg told me that’s what got me the job,” she said.

Fischer explained, “She’s like a deeply honest person so she can’t lie and say she does like it, but she’s also not going to say any more.” Though it was a risky move, it paid off.

“It’s so scary to hold back in an audition,” she added. “For me, the hardest thing about acting is just holding on.”

Fischer’s subtle approach helped her land one of TV’s most iconic roles, which she held for nine seasons. “It’s amazing. It’s just [an] amazing, amazing thing to have been a part of,” she said. “I still can’t believe it, and just what it means to people too. I know that The Office has gotten people through hard times in their lives.”

Fischer Says Rewatching the Show Changed Her Perspective

Fischer has been rewatching the hit sitcom for her Office Ladies podcast, co-hosted by Angela Kinsey. While revisiting the series, Fischer admitted that she was taken aback by how consistently high the quality was.

“I was surprised ‘The Office’ was really good the whole time,” she said. Though some fans have criticized the later seasons, particularly after Steve Carell’s exit and a rotating cast of new bosses like Will Ferrell, James Spader, and Catherine Tate, Fischer defended the show’s final stretch.

“I think there was this lore, especially among the cast and the creatives, that maybe we hit our peak in Season 3 or Season 4,” she shared. “And also this belief that the two seasons after Steve left, we were just treading water, and maybe they weren’t as good. But when I watched everything, some of my favorite episodes were in Seasons 8 and 9 after Steve had left. There were still these amazing storylines.”

Fischer did note that her favorite stretch of the show was Seasons 4 through 6, naming the fan-favorite episode “Dinner Party” as her top pick.

“The Office” originally aired from 2005 to 2013, earning five Emmy Awards during its run. Steve Carell received six Emmy nominations for his role as Michael Scott but never won the award.

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