For a lot of people, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly from The Office were the perfect TV couple. So perfect, in fact, that fingers were crossed that the actors behind them, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer, would make it happen in real life.
Of course, we know that Krasinski is happily married to the amazing Emily Blunt and Fischer is also wed to writer Lee Kirk. But these two just keep feeding us false hope.
In her new book, The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide, Fischer confessed that sparks were flying immediately.
“[John Krasinski] wasn’t just the best Jim — he was Jim,” she wrote as the casting was nearly complete. “I remember the day we met. As I was being shown to the actor’s holding room, he was just being called in to read with another potential Pam… As he passed by, he introduced himself, and we shook hands. It was if lightning struck through the center of the room.”
And Krasinski felt it too.
“John and I were walking out of an audition scene, and he suddenly turned to me and whispered, ‘You’re my favorite Pam. I hope you get this job,’” the actress recalled. “It was exactly as sweet and cute and supportive as anything Jim would say to Pam. I smiled really big and said, ‘I’m so glad you said that because you’re my favorite Jim and I don’t think anyone could do it except for you.’”
Are you melted? Because I am. I’m currently a puddle of mush.
We know now that the show was a huge success and it took TWO WHOLE SEASONS for Jim and Pam to finally lock lips. It also happened to be Fischer’s first-ever on-camera kiss.
Director Ken Kwapis told her to start the scene after he walked away, as he didn’t want to break the moment by saying “action.”
“When he walked away, I felt completely transported into a new reality. I was Pam, I was talking with my mother, and my heart was breaking,” wrote Fischer. “I spoke into the phone, telling her I was in love with Jim, but I couldn’t confess my feelings to him. Suddenly, Jim walked in the door. I turned and saw him and my heart felt like it might burst out of my chest. I wanted so much to tell him how I felt, but before I could, he kissed me. It was perfect.”
Again. Puddle.
