(continued)

Overall, how did you like Dartmouth?
I loved Dartmouth and I think that really surprises people. If I had gone to school with any kind of legitimate art program, I probably never would have gotten any attention. But because I went to a college where there were three gay dudes and me and my best friend, we were able to do so much stuff. I felt like if I had gone to NYU I'd be dealing with all the Broadway girls. It was nice that way, to be a big fish in a small pond.

When people see me, they don't know my name. I think they're like, ''You know who looks like shit? That tertiary character from The Office whose name I don't know.''You recently made your first appearance on GoFugYourself. How did you take the critique?
I was so mortified. I thought those boots were so awesome. I went with B.J. [Novak, her costar and also a writer and producer on the show] to that event and he was like, "I love your boots." And then to have them say I was the worst-dressed person to have ever lived!

Do you have to worry about unflattering photos of you turning up now that you're more famous?
Well, I started realizing that I dress so abominably. I have this new thing when I do go to the gym—I usually wear what I wore to bed the night before. God, maybe I should be a little more conscious about what I look like—I don't even comb my hair when I go.

Do people recognize you when you go out?
When people see me, they don't know my name. I think they're like, "You know who looks like shit? That tertiary character from The Office whose name I don't know." Because I'm not a super-skinny actressy girl. They think they went to college with me.

Does the writing staff worry about some kind of "Moonlighting Curse," or about viewers losing interest in the show now that Jim and Pam are finally together?
I think we, as writers, think less about Jim and Pam and more that's it a comedy show starring Steve Carrel. Obviously their relationship is a huge reason why people like the show, but if you ask any of my writers, people also watch the show because of Dwight and Michael.

Ben Silverman, the new head of NBC who brought The Office to the network, has a rep as something of a party boy. Any good stories about him?
Technically, Ben Silverman is the father of the show, but he's more like the crazy young step-uncle. I was with my boyfriend and we ran into Ben, and he was like, "Mindy, baby, it's awesome to run into you! This is so cool! This is my friend Ryan." And it was Ryan Seacrest. I was like, "This is his life. He's always partying with Ryan Seacrest, yet he's the savviest businessman of all time."

Have you ever gotten high together?
No. The closest Ben Silverman and I have ever been is wasted together at Bungalow 8. I wish I had a great story about Ben Silverman and me doing coke at Tenjune, but I have to wait for that. I think it's inevitable that there will be some great thing with me, Ben, Hilary Duff, and James Franco where we all have a lost weekend.

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