Jenna Fischer helped make the case foroffice romancesfor nine seasons on workplace comedyThe Office.
AnEmmy nominationfor supporting actress followed, as did the film offers.
Fischer’s road from St. Louis to stardom was less than glamorous.
Here’s a closer look at that path and how Fischer has transformed over the years.
“I cast my little sister in various roles,” Fischer toldMaster Chat.
“In fact, I barely got the supporting roles.
I usually found myself being offered the obligatory consolation prize: A role in the dancing chorus.”
“And I said, ‘Have you heard of a little thing called discrimination?'”
Fischer was granted her request, only to regret it immediately.
Her hair and clothes smelled.
Her hands were burnt.
And her once-determined spirit was broken.
Still, she’s proud of what she accomplished in that Long John Silver’s.
“I do feel like I broke down barriers,” Fischer toldConanfacetiously.
“I brought women to the fryer.”
The book included entries such as “You tried strained peaches today and you loved them!”
and “Today you tried on your Easter outfit.
It has little bunnies on it and you look so cute!”
Looking back, she’s glad they did.
“But my parents insisted I go to college and I’m really glad I went… One reason: Alyson Hannigan.
She was my biggest competition.
And then she’d walk in the door and I’d go, ‘Nope.'”
That had to sting.
But don’t feel too bad for Fischer.
She doesn’t think she would have been a great fit for the physically demanding role.
And besides, Fischer’s girl-next-door looks may have helped her land her biggest role to date.
Don’t make yourself all pretty, and dare to bore me withyour audition."
Odd advice, but, as we now know, it must have been effective.
Suddenly,How I Met Your Mother’s Alyson Hanniganhad some serious competition.
This only juxtaposed how difficult it was to be incapacitated while her body healed.
“Before the accident, I wore size 26 jeans!
I was truly in the best shape of my life,” Fischer toldShape.
“Afterward, I gained 10 pounds and got flabby.”
Fischer revealed during one such appearance that Gunn had given her the role as a “birthday present.”
I realized there was a whole other set of criteria.
You have to ask,Do we have the same goals?
But that wasn’t enough for Fischer.
AfterThe Officewrapped in 2013, Fischer contemplated getting apixie haircut.
Though that idea was tossed out, she proudly showed off hercurly bobin 2015.
Then, in 2018, she raved about herbig, crazy hairinThe15:17 to Paris.
Clearly someone is enjoying their hair freedom.
That stuck with her as she took a dip back into the dating pool.
You have to ask, ‘Do we have the same goals?'"
But, thankfully, not as slow as the two-season build to Jim and Pam’s love affair.
Jenna Fischer started a family
In 2011, Jenna Fischer became a mother.
While pregnant for the first time, she admitted toE!
Newsthat morning sickness wasn’t much of an issue.
However, she said she had accrued “plenty of cellulite.”
Now it’s a lot of strawberries.
“Vultureconfirmed the pregnancy would be written intoThe Officeaccordingly, too.
Daughter Harper followed in May 2014, as confirmed byE!
“We are happy, healthy and sleepy,” the family confirmed at the time.
However, they did throw in a copy ofTheNew York Timesfor free, so it wasn’tthatbad of a deal.
It appeared Fischer found her next sitcom home in CBS’sMan with a Plan.
To be fair, Pam and Joey seem like an odd couple, don’t you think?
She toldParade, “I still audition for things.
There’s no finish line in this business.”
And I can’t really bring them with me because it’s so expensive to relocate a family.
I have a very pragmatic approach to work now.”
Far from taking offense, however, the actress welcomes the comparison.
I am literally the only person who should play this part.
This is mine."
She also felt her best as Pam opposite John Krasinski as Jim.
“I know about that deep desire to have a change in your life,” Fischer admitted.
