If you're anything like us and have been rewatching The Office for the millionth time, you may have noticed Steve Carell’s major glow-up after the first season.
Whilst it may have been obvious to those watching at home, the beloved US sitcom never addresses why Michael Scott looked so different upon his return to Dunder Mifflin.
However, Carell’s co-stars have opened up about his makeover and the surprising impact it had on the show.
Prior to joining the NBC sitcom, the 60-year-old actor had a recurring role on The Daily Show and even presented several segments, including ‘Produce Pete’.
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Though he’d been a regular fixture on the small screen from 1999 onwards, Carell didn’t appear in his first feature film until 2003 with Bruce Almighty.
Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to wait so long to be cast in his next Hollywood movie and landed the role of Brick Tamland in Anchorman.
However, nothing would prepare Carell for the success of The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Not only would his first lead role as hapless Andy make him a household name, the 2005 film would also have a lasting impact on The Office.
While you may be forgiven for thinking Carell had taken inspiration from Ryan Gosling's character in Crazy Stupid Love, what had actually happened was just an old-fashioned Hollywood glow-up.
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According to his castmates, Carell had shot the comic film between seasons one and two of The Office, with the actor cleaning up his image for his first leading role.
Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey even discussed this on their podcast, Office Ladies, saying how noticeable his transformation was.
Kinsey told listeners: “The summer that he was going to film The 40-Year-Old Virgin, he got in crazy amazing shape… and then he’s maintained that.”
She continued, adding: “He’s very fit now, he sort of, like, made that part of his life. They just made gave him a whole new look too, they zhuzhed him up.”
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You’d think that this would have only impacted Carell, but the actor’s glow-up actually changed The Office forever.
Fischer, who played Pam Beesly in the beloved sitcom, said that producers used Carell’s change in appearance to distance themselves from the UK version of the show.
“Originally his character was based on the British show and the boss there, so they really mirrored his look after David Brent,” she explained on the podcast, adding: “And when Steve came back so much thinner and just looking amazing, they used it as an excuse… he looked great.”
The host then went on to explain that execs were keen to base Michael Scott on ‘what Steve [Carell] was going to bring to the character’.
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In addition to his on-screen transformation, Carell’s role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin helped secure a second season of The Office due to the hype around the soon-to-be-released film.
Guess, he more than earned that world’s best boss mug, eh?
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV