Angela Kinsey recently revealed the creative lengths she went to secure an internship at NBC prior to her breakout role as Angela Martin on The Office. In a candid conversation on the Lay It On With Brad Leone podcast, the 54-year-old actress shared that the internship application process was a challenge, particularly because she had no connections at the network.
Recalling her experience, Kinsey explained that prospective interns were required to call a central number that would connect them to a call center. Unfortunately, after several attempts and a three-month wait for a callback, Kinsey decided to take matters into her own hands.
“I just one day called and I said, ‘I was disconnected. I was talking to someone about an internship,’” she recounted. This simple lie proved to be a turning point. The operator transferred her to a real person, and when asked how she got the number, Kinsey candidly admitted, “I lied.” This honesty ultimately led to an interview and, eventually, her placement as an intern under Late Night with Conan O’Brien’s band director Max Weinberg.
Kinsey’s internship paved the way for her future on television, as she later starred in The Office, which premiered on March 24, 2005. The show, a mockumentary-style comedy about the day-to-day operations of a Scranton, Pennsylvania paper company, faced initial struggles but blossomed into a cultural phenomenon. It garnered critical acclaim, receiving five Emmy Awards and nine Golden Globe nominations while also boosting the careers of numerous cast members including Steve Carell, John Krasinski, and Mindy Kaling.
Today, Kinsey continues to engage with fans through her work on the Office Ladies rewatch podcast, where she revisits the beloved series alongside co-host Jenna Fischer. This journey from intern to star serves as an inspiring reminder of the unpredictable paths that can lead to success in the entertainment industry.