Angela Kinsey Speaks Up About Jokes on Faith in “The Office”
Angela Kinsey, widely known for her role as Angela Martin in “The Office,” recently shared her thoughts on certain jokes revolving around her Christian faith within the show in a podcast conversation with her former co-star Rainn Wilson. As an actress with personal beliefs, she raised concerns about one-dimensional stereotyping and misrepresented views.[1]
Highlighting Concerns
During the insightful episode of Rainn Wilson’s podcast, “Soul Boom,” Wilson raised the topic of Kinsey portraying an “uptight Christian” despite her own upbringing of having a warm and meaningful relationship with her faith and the church.[2] Kinsey openly acknowledged her discomfort with certain jokes and storylines, pointing out incidents that she believed stereotyped and pigeonholed Christians.[3]
Challenging Stereotypes
Kinsey specifically mentioned an instance from the show’s third season where her character, Angela, delivered a line that she felt was “super judge-y” towards Oscar, a gay character.[4] Dissatisfied with the portrayal, Kinsey approached show producer and showrunner Greg Daniels to express her concerns and discomfort with the representation.[5]
Kinsey recalled her conversation with Daniels, where she candidly admitted, “‘I don’t feel good about it. I don’t feel like that’s what Jesus represented to me.'” Impressed with her perspective, Daniels listened to her, valued her opinion, and ultimately removed the joke from the script.[6] Kinsey emphasized her desire to portray Angela as a well-rounded, multi-dimensional character rather than an embodiment of stereotypes.[7]
Conclusion
Angela Kinsey, reflecting on her character in “The Office,” brings attention to the importance of accurately representing people’s beliefs and avoiding stereotypes. With her openness and constructive dialogue, Kinsey successfully contributed to shaping the portrayal of her character in a more nuanced and thoughtful way.[8]
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