• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Truth behind Steve Carell's 'glow up' between season one and two in The Office

Home> Film & TV

Published 16:16 28 Mar 2023 GMT+1

Truth behind Steve Carell's 'glow up' between season one and two in The Office

Carell underwent a noticeable transformation after returning for season two of The Office.

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine Sidnell

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’.

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.

Advert

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.

Steve Carell had also filmed The 40-Year-Old Virgin between the first two seasons of The Office.
Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo

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.

Advert

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.”

The actor looked noticeably different in series one of The Office.
NBC

Advert

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.”

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.”

Advert

From season two onwards, Carell looked noticeably more 'Hollywood'.
NBC

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’.

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?

Featured Image Credit: NBC

Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV

Katherine Sidnell
Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

X

@ksidnell

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
13 hours ago
a day ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Netflix crime drama streamed for 38,900,000 hours fans are binge-watching ‘in one day’

    'A sweetly satisfying binge'

    Film & TV
  • 13 hours ago

    People think The Simpsons predicted Labubus as disturbing theory has owners burning viral toy

    The much-loved Chinese soft toys have been linked with a dark conspiracy theory that has started a trend of owners burning their toys

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Netflix fans are binge-watching 'perfectly paced' mystery mini-series in one weekend

    'Stream it...binge it. So worth it.'

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Stephen King's new Amazon Prime Video series might just plug that Stranger Things gap in your life

    A fan-favorite King book gets the streaming treatment - but does it pay off?

    Film & TV
  • Truth behind Steve Carell's 'glow up' between season one and two in The Office
  • 95% rated Netflix miniseries compared to The Office fans are watching ‘three times over’
  • Netflix viewers defy critics over comedy sitcom which has left them ‘wheeze laughing constantly’ and demanding a third season
  • Former child star who appeared in cult classic movie grew up to be one of the richest actors in the world