The “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star was a fan of the workplace comedy before joining the cast in season 5.

Ellie Kemper says landing her role on* The Office* felt like winning the lottery: ‘The gift of a lifetime’

The "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" star was a fan of the workplace comedy before joining the cast in season 5.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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May 31, 2026 7:03 p.m. ET

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Ellie Kemper on 'The Office'. Credit:

Chris Haston/NBC/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

- Ellie Kemper still considers The Office to be be "the gift of a lifetime."

- The actress, who starred as receptionist Erin, recently reflected on the role and the lifelong friendships forged on the sitcom.

- Kemper, who joined the show in its fifth season, was already a big fan of the hit series when she landed the role.

Being part of *The Office* family makes Ellie Kemper feel like a million bucks.

The comedian, who played ditzy Dunder Mifflin receptionist Erin Hannon in the workplace comedy, recently told PEOPLE that her role on the show still feels like "the gift of a lifetime."

"I feel like I won the lottery getting cast on the show because it is so organic, and it is a very natural friendship that we share, which feels rare," she said in the interview published Sunday.

*The Office *was already a TV phenomenon when Kemper joined the mix, initially coming aboard as a recurring star of the fifth season before being promoted to series regular for season 6. Kemper noted she was already a "big fan of the show" when she landed the part, giving her plenty of insight into what made the paper company sitcom work.

Ellie Kemper and Steve Carell on 'The Office'.

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

"I think what speaks to audiences, or at least I'll speak for myself, was that you can relate to everybody in that show,” Kemper said. "There's a character for everyone in your life. Like you can say, 'Oh that's Uncle Kenny' [or] whatever."

Kemper also credited the very real relationships among the series actors as a significant factor in prompting the show's success, noting that the case was full of "really nice people" playing relatable characters, which made for a "nice combination."

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Over the years, Kemper and her costars have proven those real connections by jumping at every possible opportunity to reunite, whether that be the recap podcast hosted by cast members Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, panel events or various ad campaigns.

Just last year, Kemper faced off against Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute) and Oscar Nuñez (Oscar Martinez) for a competitive game of *Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.* Wilson ultimately won the episode, which saw the trio raising money for various charities.

One year prior, Kemper joined Fischer (Pam), Kinsey (Angela), and Mindy Kaling (Kelly) for a festive impromptu reunion.

Ellie Kemper attends the 2026 Oscars.

Mike Coppola/Getty

"*The Office* Xmas episodes were always my favorite episodes, so it only made sense to ring in the holidays with these Dunder Mifflin ladies," Kemper captioned a post of the former castmates smiling together.

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She went on to praise the women for welcoming her "with warmth and kindness" from the first day she stepped on set.

"I felt so lucky then, and I feel so lucky now. So what if I’m getting mushy, it’s all true," she concluded.

Also last year, Kemper assured PEOPLE that the love amongst the cast members is still going strong — as is their collective group chat.

"There's an *Office* text thread that everybody's on. There are emails. Everybody's very much connected still,” she told the outlet. "It's a nice thing to be a part of and definitely a mood booster whenever I get a text from one of them."

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Source: “EW Comedy”