The Beesly's knees

It’s hard to watch NBC’s The Office and not develop at least an eentsy-weentsy thing for Pam Beesly, the show’s smiley receptionist. That’s because 34-year-old Jenna Fischer plays her with vulnerability, charm and sarcasm timed to a T. Our careers issue wouldn’t be complete without catching up with Fischer, who has been shooting season five of The Office for a slated September 25 premiere. Though Fischer’s a friendly Midwesterner at heart (she grew up in St. Louis), we found her impervious to our down-home charm.

Time Out Chicago: A number of articles about you start the same way—
Jenna Fischer: Oh! I’m so curious what it is.

TOC: They say something to the effect of: “She may play a boring and unattractive person on The Office, but she isn’t boring or unattractive in real life.”
Jenna Fischer: Going in, I knew this character was different. I would go to auditions for something like a second-grade school teacher, but my instructions would be to be hot and sexy, like, inappropriately so. The Office was the first time that not only did they say, “Don’t be hot,” but the casting director called me at home and said, “Don’t wear makeup to this audition.” [Other casting directors] used to say, “Put your boobs up, make your hair big and wear makeup.”

TOC: So you’re told basically to sex up any role.
Jenna Fischer: Yeah, but this is when you’re trying to land your first TV job. I mean, today I met with a director about a movie role and I wore a baseball hat. At a certain point, your body of work speaks for you instead of just your body. There, how about that for a quote?

TOC: Since this is our careers issue, I was wondering if you’ve ever had a Michael Scott–ish boss.
Jenna Fischer: I never had…well, I did. One boss made me divide his mail into 20 different colored folders. The red folder meant urgent, the orange folder meant it was from HR and the green folder meant please sign. So I said, “What if I get something that’s urgent from HR that needs to be signed?” He told me to make a photocopy and put one in each folder. It was so inefficient and annoying.

TOC: Any Jims in any offices?
Jenna Fischer: No, never a Jim in an office. Never had an office romance…. I mean, I was a theater student, so plenty of theater-company romances.

TOC: How did those end?
Jenna Fischer: Usually with that person dating your best friend and you dating somebody else’s friend. Like an episode of Friends.

TOC: You keep such a personal MySpace blog, even divulging information about your divorce a year ago. Why put out that kind of info?
Jenna Fischer: You know, on MySpace people are so nice with their comments, and they’re so encouraging. It’s a place I can write, in my own words, what’s going on with me. I knew there was one place [the divorce] was going to be reported correctly. It’s been a year now—my divorce is almost final—and I have noticed I pulled back a little in not wanting to share as much personal stuff. You know, personal personal.

TOC: How does it feel that the entire country has a crush on Pam and, somewhat, you?
Jenna Fischer: Yeah, it’s weird because I’m not Pam. I’m far more ambitious, and I work longer hours.

TOC: But I don’t think people like Pam because they think, We have so much in common.
Jenna Fischer: What is nice—I have to say—is that I’m not a sex symbol. Being Pam generates a different kind of affection that seems to come with politeness and manners, and I appreciate that. Nobody’s ever groping me or catcalling me.

TOC: Ever done anything unflattering? Ever been in a fistfight?
Jenna Fischer: Um, I did get in one fight in sixth grade with this girl. I’m sure it was over a boy. We spent the whole day kind of passive-aggressively interrupting one another or giving one another the cold shoulder. I made some snotty remark as I passed by her desk, and she jumped on me and started biting my back.

TOC: What’s the best pickup line you’ve ever heard during an interview?
Jenna Fischer: During an interview? I don’t think I’ve ever heard one.

TOC: That’s too bad. Would you like to hear one?
Jenna Fischer: [Laughs] What is it?

TOC: “What’s the best pickup line you’ve ever heard during an interview?”
Jenna Fischer: Oh, is that it? Nice. Sorry, I was not quick enough for that one.

TOC: You don’t have to patronize me.
Jenna Fischer: [Laughs] I didn’t get it! Nice…nice.