Alumna works in "The Office" on NBC

Although she began her career at Truman with an interest in law, University alumna Jenna Fischer never dreamed of becoming a lawyer.

She only wanted to act like one.

Fischer said she used to sit in Pickler Memorial Library surrounded by law books, imagining what a law student should look like and picturing a pair of studious-looking glasses perched on her nose.

"I wanted to be in a montage about studying," Fischer said. "I was really good at pretending to study."

Fischer, 31, now resides in Los Angeles, where she accepted the part of Pam Beesley, an office receptionist, on NBC's new mockumentary sitcom, "The Office." It could be a perfect role for Fischer, who has both acting and thorough office experience, she said.

After graduating from Truman with a degree in theater, Fischer moved to L.A. where Sean Gunn, a friend from her childhood acting class, recommended Fischer for a part in a showcase. The assistance of Gunn, who is now Fischer's brother-in-law and plays Kirk on the WB's "Gilmore Girls," put Fischer in touch with two people who would change her life, she said.

"By doing that small part, my manager discovered me," Fischer said. "It was also at that same showcase that [I met Sean's brother]. By doing that one showcase, I ended up with a manager and a husband."

Now Fischer has landed a role in "The Office," as a meek and sympathetic character, she said.

"Pam is ... a good-hearted person who's kind of stuck in life," Fischer said. "She's stuck in a relationship that doesn't work. ... She can see better things for herself, but she doesn't know how to get them."

Fischer said she enjoys the role.

"Honestly it would be great to get to play Pam for a long, long time ... ," she said. "I don't have real big aspirations to be a movie star. I would love to be on a long-running hit TV show. You end up playing a defining role."

Off the set, Fischer said she listens to music appropriate for her character, drinks out of a World's Best Secretary mug and decorates her trailer with pictures from home.

"It's definitely a crazy life," Fischer said. "You get catered to a lot. It's good to do something that reminds you of home and reminds you of who you are."

But before Fischer established a stable career, she lived in LA for nine years working at several different jobs while struggling to find her niche in the industry, she said.

"I worked in an ice creamery, but I got fired because I gave away more ice cream than you were supposed to," she said.

Fischer began acting even before she came to Truman.

"In order for me to get leading roles, I had to put on my own productions," she said. "I wasn't that kid that was the star of everything, but I didn't give up."

At Truman, Fischer found two professors who affected her, she said.

Ron Rybkowski, professor of theatre, cast Fischer as a lead in one of his plays, "Crimes of the Heart."

"I had such a blast doing that play," she said. "It was thrilling to have a lead role. It was such a juicy role. ... I was so privileged to play it."

In working with Fischer at Truman, Rybkowski remembers her as fun, energetic and a joy to work with, he said.

"[She was] very professional when it came to acting ... ," Rybkowski said. "Jenna was always one that had great potential."

Fischer said she also remembers Lee Orchard, professor of theatre, as teaching very beneficial classes about the classics, she said.

Orchard said he remembers Fischer as animated, creative, energetic and constantly smiling.

"When I think of Jenna, I think of just somebody who's fun to work with," Orchard said. "You'd want to cast her on a project because you know you'd have a good time. And you know she'd be very coachable and directable and creative."

For other Truman students looking to get into the business, Fischer has plenty of advice to offer.

"There's a huge part of this where you have to be an excellent business person," she said. "You have to know how to market yourself. ... I would just say know that your education isn't going to stop. ... It's not a just-add-water career. ... If you want to do it, don't give up."

Aside from "The Office," which airs at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday nights on NBC, Fischer also will appear in two films scheduled for release in 2005. "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" stars "The Office" co-star Steve Carell, and "Slither," which was written and directed by her husband.

"[In Slither] I got to scream a lot, which was so great," she said.