Office Ladies – "The Paper Interviews #4" with Ramona Young & Gbemisola Ikumelo

Release Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Guests: Ramona Young & Gbemisola Ikumelo

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey continue their special "The Paper Interviews" series, speaking with cast members from the eagerly anticipated spinoff show The Paper. The hosts chat with Ramona Young (who plays Nicole Lee) and Gbemisola Ikumelo (who plays Adilola Olofin and is also a writer on the show). The conversations dive into audition stories, set culture, creating backstories, the unique collaborative ethos of Greg Daniels’ productions, and plenty of delightful behind-the-scenes revelations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Excitement for The Paper’s Premiere & Episode Structure

• The hosts open with excitement—“We are getting really close to the premiere of The Paper.” (02:24)
• Announce interviews with Ramona Young and Gbemisola Ikumelo, explaining both were grabbed during Office Ladies’ set visit.
• Ramona’s interview was cut short due to scheduling but packed with insight; Gbemisola’s is more in-depth.

2. Ramona Young on Playing Nicole Lee

Role and Audition Process

• Nicole Lee’s Job: “She works in circulation…she mass emails people who are signed up and keeps subscriptions going.” (Ramona Young, 04:00)
• Audition involved self-tape, followed by an hour-long conversation with creators Greg Daniels and Michael, focused more on her personal story than typical auditions.
• Jenna and Angela reflect on Greg’s unique approach: “He likes to get to know the essence of a person so he can see if he can be, like, a creative collaborator…” (Jenna Fischer, 05:01)
• Ramona: “I do feel like this is one of the first projects where…they do want me to, like, share ideas...” (05:56)

Collaborative Culture on Set

• The cast is encouraged to offer input and ideas.
• Ramona journals Nicole’s backstory to help inspire the writers, even if those specifics haven't directly made it into scripts yet.
• Angela relates by describing her own detailed Pam backstory journal, some of which organically made it into The Office.

Professional Journey and Connections

• Ramona began her acting career with background work and “YouTube shorts” (08:08).
• Discovers she and Angela have been in three previous projects together—even if never sharing a scene: "We were on the real Oneals together...and we also did Never have I ever together." (Ramona Young, 08:53–09:23)
• Heartfelt ending: “I love the original Office cast so much, and you guys seem so intelligent and thoughtful…” (Ramona Young, 09:46)

3. Gbemisola Ikumelo on Double-Duty as Writer & Actor

Character Creation: Adilola Olofin

• Adilola is “an accountant…her whole aim in life is just to get through the day, have as little interaction with humans as possible, and get home and…sleep.” (Gbemisola Ikumelo, 13:52)
• She lives with her brother and his fiancée—a unique detail Gbemisola created herself for the character’s backstory.

Audition & How She Joined the Team

• The audition used a “dummy script,” keeping show details secret but hinting “talking head stuff” reminiscent of The Office (14:43).
• Eventually learned Greg Daniels was behind the show and participated via self-tape and Zoom calls.
• The writing gig happened organically: “…I said, I'd love to, you know, be in the room, if that's an option. He was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, let's look at that. And the next thing I knew, I was in the room and in the cast.” (Gbemisola Ikumelo, 15:55)

Crossing Over: Writer & Actor

• Similar path on A League of Their Own—began as actor, then joined writing. Writer’s room started remote; transitioned to in-person later.

Character Development & Visuals

• Had significant input on Adilola’s appearance—requested a “weirdo, burnout vibe…less professional…she just…picks out the most clashy clothes, but she’s not doing it on purpose” (18:50).
• Created a detailed character “bible” including backstory, images, and personal history.
• “The wardrobes department…turned that whole new look around in like a 24 hour period. And the next day…color, vibrant septum rings…” (19:59)

Acting Choices & Inner Life

• Adilola’s presence driven by reactions and inner thoughts rather than dialogue:
  “...maybe she. It's a lot of what's going on in her head rather than what she says.” (21:09)
• Backstory includes living with her brother and his fiancée—both named Bola, “1 is spelled with a gb and 1 is with a B…” (22:49)

4. Cultural Differences: UK vs. US Production

• Gbemisola shares culture shock at the abundance and variety of American craft services:
  “Your crafty is like…on steroids…hot crafty…ramen noodles like an hour before lunch…it's endless…like a bodega and not having to pay for any of the stuff…” (25:01)
• Jenna reminisces about their caterer, Sergio, and his legendary homemade salsa (26:09).
• Gbemisola marvels at on-set steak cooked to order (26:29).

Memorable Quotes:

• “For someone like me, who never says no to food…it's rude and I can't waste food. So I become like a human dumpster.” (Gbemisola Ikumelo, 26:54)

5. Accents, Identity, and Set Culture

• Gbemisola stays in her American accent on set: “Otherwise, people start making me feel British.” (23:10)
• Playful banter about British vs. American stereotypes.
• Angela shares her experience with British craft services while filming in the UK—tea and biscuits “...I thought, oh, my gosh, it’s real.” (24:05)

6. Reflection and Analysis by Hosts

• Angela and Jenna reflect on the collaborative tradition Greg Daniels brings to his shows.
• Admire how Gbemisola shaped her character's visual identity, connecting it to similar transformative processes Mindy Kaling undertook as Kelly Kapoor (28:13).
• Highlight how detailed backstories can become show canon.
• Angela: “That is something that would totally make it into an episode someday.” (28:51)
• Both love the anecdotes about cast members navigating identity and working environments.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Greg Daniels’ process:
  “He likes to get to know the essence of a person so he can see if he can be, like, a creative collaborator with that person.”
  — Jenna Fischer (05:01)

• On creative freedom on set:
  “I do feel like this is one of the first projects where…they do want me to, like, share ideas.”
  — Ramona Young (05:56)

• On acting and writing crossover:
  “I am one of the crossovers; I am both a writer and an actor on the show.”
  — Gbemisola Ikumelo (16:38)

• On culture shock with American craft services:
  “It is like going into a bodega and not having to pay for any of the stuff…and you'll see me often just…shopping for the…at the end of the week…”
  — Gbemisola Ikumelo (25:01)

• On investing in character development:
  “We love investing in getting to know your character and what's their backstory…”
  — Jenna Fischer (20:31)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:24 | Show hosts introduce the guest interviews and The Paper's upcoming premiere | | 04:00 | Ramona Young describes her character and how she got the part | | 05:01 | Hosts discuss Greg Daniels’ interview style | | 05:56 | Ramona on set culture and creative collaboration | | 08:08 | Ramona shares her acting journey and surprising connections to Angela | | 13:34 | Gbemisola introduces herself and her character | | 14:43 | Gbemisola details the audition process—including secrecy and “dummy” scripts | | 15:55 | How she ended up both acting and writing for The Paper | | 18:50 | Discussion of Adilola’s wardrobe/backstory and creative input | | 21:09 | On Adilola’s “inner life” and storytelling through subtlety | | 22:49 | Gbemisola’s “Bola and Bola” backstory for her character’s family | | 25:01 | Gbemisola details the American craft services food experience | | 26:09 | Sergio’s legendary salsa—set catering nostalgia | | 28:13 | Reflection on character wardrobe and Mindy Kaling parallel | | 29:16 | Wrap-up, previewing next episodes and sharing gratitude |

Final Thoughts

This episode is a deep dive into the collaborative, actor-driven ethos of The Paper—a tradition inherited from The Office. Ramona Young and Gbemisola Ikumelo’s stories reveal a set where creativity flourishes, character work is deeply valued, and off-the-cuff moments and cultural crossover make for rich, relatable comedy. The warmth, humor, and candid reflections from all participants make this episode an excellent listen for fans of both The Office and its comedic legacy.