Although when off camera, Fischer is more charismatic — and more attractive — than the unassuming receptionist she portrays on
The Office, this comic player does have one thing in common with her small-screen alter ego: administrative experience. An aspiring performer since childhood, her first acting class at age 5 was a family affair. Not only was her mother the teacher, but her classmate,
Gilmore Girls' Sean Gunn, ended up becoming her brother-in-law two decades later. After graduating college, she worked a host of administrative jobs in between gigs, popping up primarily on the small screen and in indie films such as
The Specials, which was penned by her husband, writer/director James Gunn. With his support as a producer and actor, Fischer made her directorial debut with the 2004 mockumentary
LolliLove. But her breakthrough came the next year, when she landed a spot on
The Office.
Jenna Fischer Fast Facts:
- Began acting at age 5 in a workshop taught by her mother, where Sean Gunn (Gilmore Girls) was also a young student. She formed a longtime friendship with him and ended up marrying his brother, screenwriter-director James Gunn, in 2000.
- Once worked as a telephone psychic but quit after two days and didn't even bother to pick up her paycheck.
- Like her character Pam in The Office, she worked as a secretary and as a receptionist (and can type 85 words per minute).
- Has a passion for animals and volunteered with an organization called Kitten Rescue.
- Wrote, directed and starred in the 2004 film LolliLove, about a hip Tinseltown couple that tries to help homeless people. The mockumentary costarred her husband James Gunn.
- Like many of her Office costars, she maintained a blog on MySpace as her character, Pam Beesly.
- Jenna Fischer Relationships:
- Anne Fischer - Mother
- Emily - Sister
- James Gunn - Ex-husband
- Jim Fischer - Father
- Lee Kirk - Fiancé
- Jenna Fischer Awards:
- 2007 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- College:
- Truman State University, Kirksville, MO (BA in Theater)
