Felicity Ward’s Role in ‘The Office’ Australia: Actress Responds to Viewer Criticism

Felicity Ward, known for her role in The Office Australia, recently responded to critiques concerning her new television show. In an interview featured in The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, October 17, the Australian comedian discussed the backlash over her portrayal of Hannah Howard, a gender-reinterpreted version of Michael Scott from The Office US. Ward expressed her thoughts candidly, stating:

“Naturally, this reaction was expected. There are a lot of upset individuals out there, and inevitably they will take aim at me—it’s a double blow, given that it’s The Office and I’m a woman, but I don’t say this from a place of victimhood.”

Felicity pointed out that the Prime Video series aligns with the same comedic themes explored by the American adaptation two decades ago. She reminisced about the substantial criticism the US series faced upon its initial launch.

“It’s a unique show”- Felicity Ward on The Office Australia

The trailer for the Australian rendition of The Office was released in September and received significant backlash. Critics not only scrutinized the show’s aesthetics but also directed their discontent towards comedian Felicity Ward, who will portray the lead character, Hannah Howard.

This series follows Hannah, the managing director at Flinley Craddick, as she navigates the challenges of running her quirky team while striving to maintain their branch’s viability. Much like the American version, Hannah Howard finds herself in a role where she must hold her ‘work family’ together with her unconventional methods and strong leadership style.

During her conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Felicity Ward was queried about her perspective on “the gender swap”and the adverse feedback from some fans of The Office. She reflected on how often people had inquired if she felt “the pressure”over the past week.

She clarified that it was the media adding pressure, which she wasn’t experiencing elsewhere. Her family, in contrast, has expressed immense pride in her efforts.

Aware that she would face a wave of criticism for reviving The Office—with added scrutiny as a woman—the seasoned stand-up comedian revealed she has encountered similar challenges over her 16-year career.

Felicity also acknowledged her own past frustrations with reboots, recalling instances when beloved films were remade. For instance, she cited her deep affection for the 1991 film Point Break, which starred Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, and was later redone in 2015. Ward elaborated:

“Point Break is my all-time favorite movie. It’s perfection. Why would anyone tamper with it? When they announced the remake, I was furious. However, I didn’t take to the Internet to unleash my anger on the lead actors. That’s just ludicrous. I understand the frustration, but perhaps a call to a friend would be more sensible, right?”

Felicity highlighted that a similar phenomenon occurred 20 years prior when the American Office first debuted, and fans were upset over the adaptation of a “British legacy comedy.”She noted the evolution of the series, transitioning from British scripts to original content, ultimately becoming renowned as “the most cherished comedy of all time.”Ward clarified:

“This is a distinct show. It’s certainly not a replica. We’re featuring entirely original scripts, characters, and narratives. We’re simply offering a format reminiscent of what the American Office experienced two decades ago.”

The inaugural season of The Office Australia, consisting of eight episodes, is currently available for streaming on Prime Video.

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