Office Ladies The Paper Ep 10: The Ohio Journalism Awards with Chelsea Frei
Mar 11, 2026
Chelsea Frei, actress who plays Mare on The Paper, joins to discuss the season-one finale. They talk awards-night drama, wardrobe choices, on-location filming, and the steamy Mare and Ned moment. Conversation also covers tense head-table antics, a cringe in-memoriam song, and the chaotic afterparty.
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Nervous First Meeting With Office Ladies
- Chelsea Frei describes meeting Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey early on as nerve-wracking because she's a huge longtime fan and felt like she might get 'tapped on the shoulder' to leave.
- She recalls sitting in an abandoned cafeteria during their first meeting and feeling surprised and grateful to be part of the show world.
Comfort Boosts On Set Creativity
- Chelsea explains season two felt more relaxed because the cast returned knowing each other, which made on-set camaraderie and laughter stronger.
- She and Donal discussed how comfortable everyone was, calling rehearsal a joyful time compared with anxious early days.
How Esmeralda's Red Dress Was Built
- Chelsea and the hosts discuss Esmeralda's Solace London dress which costume designer Kathleen modified by adding large flowers.
- The team used a Farfetch purchase as a base and enhanced it during fittings to match Esmeralda's Met Gala energy.