Jan Levinson Actor Says Famous “The Office” Scene Was Mostly Improvised

Melora Hardin, who played Jan Levinson on The Office, says one of the show’s most memorable scenes was largely made up on the spot.

She shared this during a recent episode of the Office Ladies podcast, hosted by her former co-stars Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela). The episode focused on Jan’s character and her complicated relationship with Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell.

Fischer praised Hardin’s performance, especially her subtle facial expressions during scenes with Carell. One standout moment happens when Jan and Michael argue while walking to an elevator. The scene ends with Jan giving Michael a sharp, silent look.

Hardin explained that the scene was about 90% improvised. The writers were unhappy with the original script and asked the actors to create the scene themselves while they worked on revisions.

“They told us to hit a few key points and just improvise,” Hardin said. “So we did.”

The scene appears in the season 2 episode “Valentine’s Day.” In it, Michael accidentally reveals he and Jan slept together, which leads to an awkward meeting with their boss. Afterward, Jan unexpectedly kisses Michael near the elevators, not realizing the documentary crew is filming.

Hardin said the show’s creator, Greg Daniels, encouraged collaboration between writers and actors. She described it as one of the most creative sets she had worked on.

The Office aired from 2005 to 2013 and won multiple awards. A new spinoff, The Paper, debuted in 2025. Hardin has suggested a possible return for Jan, imagining her as a documentary director who occasionally appears on camera.