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Shari Sebbens steps into iconic role of Pam for Prime Video’s The Office Aussie spin-off

Clare RigdenThe West Australian
Shari Sebbens is stepping in to play the role of Pam in the Aussie version of The Office. Fun fact: she’ll be known as Greta in our reboot!
Camera IconShari Sebbens is stepping in to play the role of Pam in the Aussie version of The Office. Fun fact: she’ll be known as Greta in our reboot! Credit: Supplied/Peter Brew-Bevan / Prime Video

Get ready to see a whole lot more of Shari Sebbens.

In the next few weeks the Darwin-raised Indigenous actress, who made her career breakthrough in 2012’s smash hit Aussie film The Sapphires, will pop up in not one, but three high-profile projects: the horror film, The Moogai, Stan’s new drama Thou Shalt Not Steal and in Prime Video’s Aussie spin-off of The Office.

“It so happens that all the work I have done in the last two years is all coming out in the next 16 days,” Sebbens tells The West.

“So, Thou Shalt Not Steal comes out on the 17th, The Office on the 18th and then The Moogai on the 31st — it’s a busy time.”

It sure is.

And Sebbens is all too aware that one of these projects — the Aussie reboot of Ricky Gervais’ perennial fave, The Office — is sure to generate a LOT of interest.

Australian comedian Felicity Ward plays the central role, first made famous by original creator Ricky Gervais, then inhabited by Steve Carell in the American version.

It’s the first time in any of the show’s 13 international incarnations that a woman has played the central part (the Dwight/Gareth role is also female) — and some fans are not happy.

“That is my favourite fact when all the ‘bro’s’ get up in arms about it — it’s like ‘There are 13 versions!’” Sebbens laughs.

“Just because it’s a Western-speaking version, you’re more protective of it I suppose?

“It’s wild.”

In our version, Sebbens steps in to play the Pam character (she’s called Greta in this), with fellow Aussie actor and comedian Steen Raskopoulos as her office love interest (he’s called Nick).

The roles are the beating heart of the comedy, anchoring viewers through the cringe of Ward’s performance (if you’ve seen Gervais and Carell, you’ll know what we mean) — they’re arguably every bit as important.

Clockwise from left - Shari Sebbens, Steen Raskopoulos, Edith Poor and Felicity Ward.
Camera IconClockwise from left - Shari Sebbens, Steen Raskopoulos, Edith Poor and Felicity Ward. Credit: Supplied/Peter Brew-Bevan / Prime Video

“(I was) terrified,” Sebbens says of reading the first scripts that passed her desk.

“I actually didn’t know whether or not I should even audition.

“I had a big chat with my agent, and I was like ‘I love everyone involved, and the production house, and I love the writers’, but I still wasn’t convinced because the show is just so . . . iconic.”

Iconic is right — the series, which ran for two seasons in 2001 and 2002 in the UK and another nine in the US, is one of TV’s biggest hits, spawning a host of international versions in countries as varied as India, Saudi Arabia and Chile.

In the end, Sebbens’ curiosity won out, and before long she found herself in the bizarre position of doing an all-important “chemistry” line-read with Raskopoulos over Zoom.

“And the poor bugger — I think he was about six hours into being a new dad!” she laughs.

“I was like ‘Dude, I don’t know where your brain is at right now. This is so weird — I mean, how do you get your flirtatious groove on over Zoom . . . when you’ve just had a child?’”

But something clicked on that call —producers signed them up, and their undeniable chemistry translates beautifully to the small screen.

Felicity Ward, Sebbens and Steen Raskopoulos in a scene from episode three.
Camera IconFelicity Ward, Sebbens and Steen Raskopoulos in a scene from episode three. Credit: John Platt/Prime Video/Supplied

“By the time we got to set it was like ‘Oh, actually, we’ve been mates for a year now!’” Sebbens explains, noting filming was pushed out by several months.

“We already had this great rapport, and great camaraderie between us, which I think was super helpful.”

During filming, the cast and crew became “office” colleagues for real, setting up camp in a real office building in Sydney.

Their production took up one floor — around them the building’s other actual offices operated as usual.

“Half of our floor was The Office production office, and the other half was the set,” Sebbens explains.

“And it was mad — you’d walk in and it would be as boring and mundane and as interesting and rich as a real-life office.”

Filming took place over eight weeks, though the cast were afforded a two-week rehearsal period beforehand — a luxury by Australian production standards.

The Office filmed in a real office in Sydney.
Camera IconThe Office filmed in a real office in Sydney. Credit: John Platt/Prime Video/Supplied

Everything flowed.

“Because of the mockumentary style, we were not beholden to storyboarding every scene and moment, and it meant everything was so much more free,” Sebbens explains.

“You don’t have to worry so much about continuity because it is trying to capture a documentary style, which means there’s this level of spontaneity and freedom about (filming).”

There was only one problem — Sebbens had to find a way to control her urge to laugh during takes.

“There were a good six-or-so times I just could not keep it together,” she says.

“In one scene . . . I knew the camera was behind me, and I had to make sure they couldn’t see my shoulders shaking (from laughing so much).”

Sebbens knows more than most how important it is to play it straight during takes — as well as an actor, she is an accomplished theatre director and recently made the transition to directing for TV, making her debut in the forthcoming Prime Video series, Top End Bub starring Miranda Tapsell.

How does she find it, crossing between the worlds of acting and directing?

“It’s actually awesome — acting is like a holiday compared to directing or anything else,” she says.

Sebbens admits never having thought she’d be in a professional position where she’d be able to do both — she loves the sweet spot she’s in.

“It certainly wasn’t my dream when I was at drama school. I was like ‘Oh my god, I could never be a director — I was so terrified of the thought of it,” she explains.

“I thought ‘If anything, I’ll give theatre a go’, but then I fell desperately in love with wanting to continue to create and to work in screen directing.

“It’s stressful, but it’s incredible.

“And the exciting thing is that you get to tell Australian stories.”

The Office premieres Friday October 18 on Prime Video

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