One of the Biggest The Office Stars Was Initially Slated for Just One Episode
What was initially meant to be just a single-episode stint for Amy Ryan turned into one of the most wholesome love stories on the show.
How did this happen? Well, fans, as well as producers of The Office, fell in love with her character, Holly Flax.
Amy Ryan had already appeared in a few films and made a name for herself and wanted to take a break from playing in dramas, it was time for a comedy. She was a massive fan of The Office and asked her agent to reach out to producers at the same time that producers had wanted to reach out to her. They had seen her work and were happy to have her on board as Holly, the HR manager and a potential love interest for the main character, Michael Scott.
Holly Flax was brought in as a breath of fresh air and exciting new addition to the cast; producers were ready to shake things up and see where things went between her character and Michael. It was meant to be just one episode, and she and the cast loosely followed the script they were given.
The episode was funny and wholesome, and producers recognized the chemistry between her character and Michael as well as how nicely she fitted into the cast so her role grew beyond just a single appearance.
Besides proving to be the perfect match for Michael Scott and allowing his character to grow, Holly was energetic and optimistic, she was intelligent and kind, and she had a brilliant sense of humor. Her character was just so easy to love fans couldn't get enough of her.
There is no saying what direction the show would have gone had her character left after just one episode. Who would Michael have ended up with? Would anyone have made him truly happy? Would his character have developed as much as he did with Holly?
Although her and Michael's story had a few ups and downs, they were meant to be together, and he ended up proposing to her at the end of season 7 and quit his job to move with her to Colorado to help her aging parents.
There is no denying that Holly Flax was meant to be a part of The Office, and fans can be grateful that her role grew to what it was. Not only was she a character that always lifted the mood and made fans laugh, but she also turned out to be everything that Michael was wanting and needed in a partner, and fans were delighted that both characters got a "happily ever after" together.