Jenna Fischer is mostly known for her role as receptionist-turned-saleswoman-administrator Pam Beesly in the American version of the British sitcom The Office. Her endearing character is part of the Dunder Mifflin staff and serves as the love interest (and eventual wife) of Jim Halpert.
After the series ended, Fischer had been relatively quiet throughout her filmography. But she had notable guest appearances on several TV shows and supporting roles on a few movies. Yet, everyone primarily knows Jenna as Pam Beesly. Even with that, here are just ten projects she worked at after The Office.
Kiss Me (2014)
Kiss Me is a rare adolescent romantic project that Jenna Fischer got involved in. And it was directed by Jeff Probst (yes, that Jeff Probst), the host of Survivor. It tells the story of a girl named Zoe (Sarah Bolger) who had scoliosis and had to go through teenage pains, along with her friend Shelby.
Fischer plays Vera, a mother whose children were babysat by Zoe at a time. Vera is the wife of Chance (John Corbett), whom Zoe once fall for. Her part is minor but it added well.
The 15:17 to Paris (2018)
The first of the two directorial efforts of Clint Eastwood last 2018, The 15:17 to Paris is based on a true story about three American soldiers who thwarted a terrorist bombing in a Thalys train on 2015. The film starred the real-life heroes Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone.
Fischer played the role of Alek Skarlatos’ mother Heidi Skarlatos. She is mostly seen in the flashback sequence where she and Spencer’s single mother Joyce Eskel (Judy Greer) would defend their son’s actions to the principal. It was decently performed.
The Guest Book (2017)
The Guest Book is a TBS anthology series that takes the premise of the daily lives of the employees and guests of several vacation rental establishments. It hosts a round of celebrity guests for each episode, and a specific location for each season. Season One explored stories within Froggy Cottage.
Jenna Fischer guest-starred on the episode “Story Eight” as researcher Dr. Laurie Galiff who helped retrace the memories of Alzheimer's patient Edgar (Orson Bean). But it turns out that Edgar was a white supremacist. That really would not fly today.
The Mysteries of Laura (2016)
The Mysteries of Laura is a police procedural TV series in NBC, starring Debra Messing as the titular Detective Laura Diamond, starring Debra Messing as the titular Detective Laura Diamond, who is locking horns with both her detective career and her domestic life on taking care of two wild sons.
On its two seasons, Fischer appeared as Jennifer Lambert, a prosecutor and new love interest for fellow detective Jake (Josh Lucas), Laura’s ex-husband. At the end of Season 2, she accepts Jake’s marriage proposal before Laura gets back to Jake.
Splitting Up Together (2018-2019)
Splitting Up Together is an ABC sitcom, based on a Danish comedy series, about a couple on the verge of a divorce finding themselves falling for each other as they split time to take care of their children and explore themselves. Fischer and Oliver Hudson play the couple Lena and Martin, respectively, in a delicate fashion.
As the one with the most marquee value, Fischer took inspiration from her personal life and cast it on playing Lena. However, the show did not last long, having only two seasons on mediocre note.
The Grinder (2016)
The Grinder follows the misadventures of TV actor Dean Sanderson Jr. (Rob Lowe), who comes back to his hometown in Idaho to become a real lawyer, using his role as a TV lawyer as justification to pursue law. But his brother and real-life lawyer Stewart (Fred Savage) begs to differ.
Jenna Fischer made an appearance in the episode “Genesis” where she plays Dean’s live-in girlfriend Kelly who is unsupportive of his career as an actor. Fischer’s guest role fits well with the show’s self-aware lunacy and reminds more of Pam.
You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015)
A British-American co-production, You, Me and the Apocalypse revolves on several people bracing for a comet heading towards Earth on a collision course. One of them is Jenna Fischer’s former librarian Rhonda, who took her son’s place for a crime he committed and was imprisoned in a maximum security prison.
She eventually escaped with fellow inmate Leanne (Megan Mullally), a white supremacist, and took on comedic obstacles before crossing paths with other characters. Fischer also served as associate producer in this miniseries, which never picked up for a second series.
Drunk History (2016)
Drunk History has been the current comedic standard for retelling historical events in comical fashion. Created by Derek Waters, each segment has guest stars (joined later by Waters) retell, while intoxicated, about well-known portions of history, featuring famous figures. All the while, those portions are reenacted by famous comedy stars.
In the Season 4 episode “Siblings”, Fischer appeared as Katharine Wright, the younger sister of aircraft pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright (Jason Ritter). And she is portrayed as the overlooked underdog who had a hand in the Wright brothers’ inventions.
Brad’s Status (2017)
Brad’s Status is a 2017 comedy-drama starring Ben Stiller as a worn-out father who feels demotivated by his friends’ more profound successes. He then takes his son Troy (Austin Abrams) to a trip around the East Coast for his ideal college, finding this as his perfect way to gain success.
Jenna Fischer portrays Brad’s wife and Troy’s mother Melanie, who is contented on her family’s domestic life and her son’s newfound stage in life. While she mostly stayed behind, Melanie is vital on Brad recognizing his flawed views about life.
Office Ladies (2019- )
Yet, the name of Jenna Fischer would be impossible to wear out completely from Pam Beesly or The Office. Thus, she and co-star Angela Kinsey (who played Angela Martin in the show) started a podcast entitled Office Ladies where the two discuss everything The Office-related.
Both Fischer and Kinsey rewatch episodes, starting from Season 1, and offer behind-the-scenes stories and commentary. They would sometimes invite co-stars, producers and writers for particular episodes. Guests include Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms, B.J. Novak, director Paul Feig, writer Jennifer Celotta and, definitely, John Krasinski.