‘The Office’: Jenna Fischer Describes Steve Carell in 1 Word; ‘I Don’t Think You Ever See Him Trying’
Fans of Steve Carell will likely agree that the actor is a master of comedy. Prior to his memorable roles in The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Carell cut his teeth training in improvisation. For years, Carell studied at The Second City in Chicago where he strengthened his natural talent. From there, he was able to take his learnings and infuse them into the roles that he played.
Though The Office is a scripted series, some of the show’s most hilarious moments are thanks to Carell’s improvisational skills. Fans may recall when Carell’s character, Michael Scott, kissed his employee, Oscar Martinez, in order to “prove” that he was tolerant of gay people. The memorable kiss actually wasn’t scripted at all, but rather something that Carell dreamed up in the moment. Naturally, the cast was driven to hysterics, but fortunately, everyone was able to keep it together long enough for the take to make the cut.
Jenna Fischer describes her former castmate, Steve Carell, in one word
But there’s much more to Carell’s comedy than just impeccable improv. So what makes him such a comedic master? In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jenna Fischer (who played Pam Beesly in The Office) weighed in on her former castmate and what makes him such an incredible actor and comedian.
“When I think of Steve I just think of the word precision,” Fischer shared about her Office castmate. “He is so precise in his ability to land a joke or to land an emotional beat, and yet it appears effortless. I don’t think you ever see him trying. It’s just a really beautiful quality, really a treat to get to work with him for so long and get to observe that. And I’m not sure if it’s something you can learn. You either just have that inherent sense of timing, or you don’t. He is a master of timing.”
Another alum of ‘The Office’ says it’s terrifying to work with Carell
Of course, Fischer isn’t the only member of The Office cast who has made note of Carell’s precision. Paul Lieberstein, who wrote for the show, was the showrunner in later seasons, and played Toby Flenderson also cited that Carell had an innate ability to notice everything. Lieberstein had tons of scenes with Carell and shared that the actor was always watching his every move so he could find things to react to.
“It’s terrifying acting with Steve,” Lieberstein jokingly shared in a 2018 interview with The Daily Beast. “He misses nothing. If you slip in any way, he pounces—just in a fun way, but it’s embarrassing.” Clearly, there are plenty of things that make Carell such a strong actor and a comedic giant. We’re sure fans of The Office appreciate the innate precision that the actor has because it allowed him to bring so much to the world of Dunder Mifflin.
