In a revealing new interview, Rashida Jones is looking back on her stint as Karen Filippelli on NBC’s beloved sitcom The Office—and why her character didn’t quite win over the show’s fiercely loyal fanbase. Speaking with a mix of candor and grace, the actress unpacked her experience on the mockumentary series, offering fresh insight into her role as the “other woman” in one of TV’s most iconic love stories.
Jones joined The Office in its third season, stepping into the paper-pushing world of Dunder Mifflin as Karen Filippelli, a sharp and charming employee at the Stamford branch. Her character soon became entangled in a romantic tug-of-war with Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), complicating his simmering connection with Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer). For a show that thrived on the will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Jim and Pam, Karen’s arrival was a bold narrative jolt—albeit one that didn’t sit well with viewers rooting for the Scranton sweethearts.
“People did not like me,” Jones admitted with a laugh during the interview. “Fans were not about it.” And yet, she harbors no resentment about her character’s chilly reception. “I was the third point in the triangle. It’s fine. I accept it,” she said, reflecting a clear-eyed understanding of Karen’s purpose: to stir the pot and heighten the stakes for Jim and Pam’s eventual happily-ever-after.
That slow-burn romance, of course, remains a defining pillar of The Office’s enduring appeal. Adapted from the British series by Greg Daniels, the sitcom blended cringe-worthy humor with heartfelt moments, turning Dunder Mifflin into a cultural touchstone across its nine-season run. By the time Karen entered the fray, fans were deeply invested in Jim and Pam—a reality that made Jones’s character a lightning rod, no matter how likable her performance.
But Jones’s time on The Office was just a blip in an otherwise illustrious career. Post-Scranton, she landed a starring role as the endearing Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, cementing her status as a comedy mainstay. Her résumé has since expanded to include standout turns in films like Celeste and Jesse Forever and behind-the-scenes work as a producer and director—proof that Karen Filippelli was merely a stepping stone.
Behind the scenes, there was a moment when Karen’s story might have stretched beyond Season 3. Jenna Fischer once revealed that the show’s creators shot an alternate ending in which Karen takes a job at Dunder Mifflin’s corporate office—a lifeline that could have kept Jones in the fold. Ultimately, though, the writers opted to phase her out, a decision that preserved the sanctity of Jim and Pam’s arc.
Jones’s reflections underscore a larger truth about storytelling: not every character gets to be the hero—or the fan favorite. Karen Filippelli was a catalyst, a necessary spark in the Jim-Pam saga, and Jones played her with aplomb. “Her time on The Office may have been short-lived,” as one might imagine a fan tweeting today, “but Rashida Jones made it count.” And as she continues to carve her path in Hollywood, it’s clear that her Dunder Mifflin days were just one chapter in a much bigger, brighter narrative.
