Phyllis Smith Recalls “The Office” Scene That Was Almost Too Funny for Steve Carell: 'He Couldn't Get Through It'

The 'Inside Out' voice actress joined former costars Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer on their 'Office Ladies' podcast

Phyllis Smith is spilling about The Office scene that was almost too funny for her and Steve Carell to film.

Smith, 74, who played the beloved character by her same first name, joined her former castmates Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer on their Office Ladies podcast on Wednesday, June 19, and the three reminisced about their favorite memories from the NBC sitcom.

Thinking of some of Smith's character's best episodes, the actress herself recalled what it was like to shoot her on-screen nuptials in the season 3 episode titled "Phyllis' Wedding." According to the actress, their costar Carell — who played goofy office boss Michael Scott — was in stitches as he tried to deliver one particular line during a shared scene.

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"The one scene I had a really hard time not laughing through was ... when [Carell] came into the bride's room to give me advice, and we could not get through the word 'pungent,'" Smith shared, describing a moment when Michael accuses Phyllis of farting.

"Every time he would say 'pungent,' he would break out in his cackle. He couldn't get through it and I couldn't get through it," she continued. "And then we hear the sound people sitting outside the door laughing, so they had to move them down the stairway, down into the bottom because every time we said 'pungent,' we lost it."

Smith said that she was only able to get through the scene by holding her breath, adding, "So if I looked a little blue in that scene, that's the reason."

Related: Domhnall Gleeson Called Steve Carell for Advice Before Joining The Office Spinoff

Earlier in the episode, the podcast guest also shared how she ended up on The Office. With several years of experience working in the field, Smith was originally a casting associate for the series. She was surprised when one day, the director asked her to read for the part of Fischer's character, Pam.

"We were at the point in the casting process where we were pairing up the actors to see what their chemistry would be together and putting them on tape for the producers and also for the network," the Inside Out star said. "I remember Ken Kwapis, the director, he was getting his coffee together, and he turned around to me, and he said, 'Phyllis, I want you to read the character of Pam today.' "

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She remembered how it was a unique ask, since they were already pairing people together to gauge chemistry, meaning casting associates weren't as involved in script readings at that point. She read with a few auditioning stars, including John Krasinski, who ultimately nabbed the role of Pam's love interest, Jim.

Related: Steve Carell's Appearance in the Finale of The Office 'Was a Big Reveal' — Even for the Cast: 'Swore Us to Secrecy'

Smith said she was never officially offered a part on the show, but one day she and the show's casting director, Allison Jones, received an updated script with "Phyllis" listed on it. Still, she didn't officially confirm her spot on the series until she got a call from the wardrobe department.

"I had one line in the pilot. Wardrobe called and said, 'I understand you're playing the character of Phyllis.' And I said, 'Yes, I am!' " Smith told Kinsey and Fischer. "Because I knew from the union rules that if wardrobe called you, or if you were sent a script, that constitutes a work call. And so when wardrobe called, I knew it was to be. And I said yes."

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