Jenna Fischer Praised John Krasinski’s Talents Long Before He Became a Hollywood Star
Renowned actress Jenna Fischer has revealed that she always knew her former co-star John Krasinski would achieve immense success in his acting career. In a recent interview on the Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade podcast, Fischer reflected on her time working with Krasinski on the hit NBC sitcom The Office and shared that she often compared his career trajectory to that of Hollywood legend Tom Hanks.
According to Fischer, she would frequently tell Krasinski that he had the potential to become a star on the same level as Hanks, who initially gained fame for his role in the 1980 sitcom Bosom Buddies. "I would always say to John, ‘I think you’re gonna be like our Tom Hanks,’" Fischer revealed. "I think The Office is gonna be your Bosom Buddies. Like, you’re going places." As reported by People.com, Fischer made this statement.
Fischer, who played Pam Beesley on The Office from 2005 to 2013, recalled that Krasinski was often embarrassed by her praise. "He’s very humble in that way," she said. "When I would make the comparison, it would be very embarrassing to him. He doesn’t wanna be, like, fussed over like that. But I was like, no. It’s true, mister." As quoted in the original article on People.com, Fischer added, "But, like, when you think of Tom Hanks, you don’t think of Bosom Buddies. You think of everything else Tom Hanks has done."
Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert on The Office, has gone on to achieve significant success in his career, including directing the 2018 film A Quiet Place, which starred his wife Emily Blunt. Fischer’s comments suggest that she had faith in Krasinski’s abilities from the early days of their time on The Office. According to People.com, Fischer also discussed how fans of the show often struggled to separate the actors from their on-screen characters.
In a July 2020 episode of the An Oral History of The Office podcast, Fischer discussed how fans sometimes had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that Jim and Pam’s relationship wasn’t real. "People don’t know how John and I are not a couple in real life," Fischer said. "They don’t understand it." As reported by People.com, Krasinski and Fischer have both moved on to successful careers since their time on The Office, with Krasinski marrying Emily Blunt in 2010 and Fischer wedding writer and director Lee Kirk the same year.
As news of a potential The Office spinoff, titled The Paper, continues to generate buzz, Krasinski has expressed his excitement about the project. In May 2024, NBC announced the spinoff, and Krasinski told Extra that he’s eager to see what the new series will bring. When asked if he would return as Jim, he said: "Done! If they ask me, I’m in." As sourced from People.com, Krasinski’s statement suggests that he remains committed to his fans and his character on The Office.
