It seems that improvisation played a key role in making The Office the beloved show we know today, but what really set it apart were the creative strategies the team used to support the actors while filming. Melora Hardin, who portrayed Jan Levinson, shared some insights into this in a recent interview with Steve Kmetko on his Still Here Hollywood podcast.
According to Hardin, the cast would always stick to the script initially, but they were also given the opportunity to add some of their own flair. She recalled, “They would hand us sort of a candy bag,” where the actors could pull out optional lines to use if they felt inspired. These lines were an extra, creative touch that allowed actors to improvise and make their scenes feel more natural and spontaneous.
Hardin’s character, Jan, shared an on-screen romance with Steve Carell’s Michael Scott from Seasons 2 to 4. She mentioned that most of her scenes were with Carell and described him as “great” to work with. She explained that their improv backgrounds made for an exciting dynamic, with her often throwing a “ball” one way and Carell sending it back in a different direction. This back-and-forth improvisation helped elevate the chemistry between the characters.
In addition, Hardin shared that the team encouraged improv from the very beginning, even during the pilot. She recalled a funny moment where her phone went off during rehearsal. She was ready to turn it off, but director Ken Kwapis, whom she praised as “amazing,” encouraged her to leave it on, believing it would add humor to the scene. He even suggested that if the phone rang, she should answer it in character. Hardin said, “I just thought, ‘This is my kind of group, where we get to really play like that, and they trusted our craft enough.’”
This trust in the actors’ improv skills and the freedom to play around with their lines helped create the authentic and hilarious moments that made The Office such a unique and unforgettable show.