Felicity Ward addresses fan backlash over Australian version of The Office

The beloved UK comedy The Office has been through many transformations, from the Ricky Gervais original to the cult status of the US version starring Steve Carell and another dozen different versions across the world.

Now, in its first Australian adaptation, comedian Felicity Ward steps into the spotlight as Hannah Howard, the bumbling yet well-meaning managing director of Sydney-based packaging company Flinley Craddick.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Felicty Ward’s message to hesitant The Office fans.

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But fans of the original shows have voiced some hesitation — especially given the iconic status of the UK and US iterations.

Ward, however, implores them to give the show a chance.

“I think a lot of people have contempt prior to investigation,” Ward tells 7NEWS.com.au of the fan backlash.

“But for everyone that’s seen it, the amount of people that have said, ‘Oh my God, I am a huge fan of the American Office, and I effing loved this,’ it’s been overwhelming.”

Felicity Ward as Hannah Howard. Credit: John Platt / Prime Video

But Ward understands the fan anxiety.

“I’ve had shows that I adore, and I was really angry when they remade them too. When you find something that makes your heart sing, it’s hard to let go.”

Still, she’s confident in what The Office Australia offers, urging fans to give it a chance before jumping to conclusions.

“Watch it and then have an opinion. If you like the American Office, I think you’ll like the Australian one.”

Felicity Ward has shared a message to hesitant fans. Credit: Peter Brew-Bevan / Prime Video

The 44-year-old Ward is making history as the first woman to play the boss in the global franchise, and she’s clear that this milestone comes with its own pressures.

“Initially, I just cried because I was happy, not because I was scared.

“I’ve been a stand-up comedian for a long time, so to get a job where I’m not only in a sitcom but leading The Office— it’s huge. But then I thought, ‘Oh, I’m gonna get dragged by the internet, hey?’

“It’s really exciting. Well, I feel like if you’re gonna make a show 23 years later, you’ve got to have your own reason, your own point of view for making it.

“I think that the Australian culture and Australian humour is absolutely worth encapsulating, and then may as well do it with a woman, right? Why not?”

Following the chaotic efforts of Hannah Howard to save her office from closure amid a push to work from home, The Office Australia draws on themes that resonate with the modern workforce.

“We filmed this a year ago, and I thought the conversations about working from home would be done by now, but it’s come up again. It’s terrible for workers, but wonderful for the show’s relevance,” Ward said.

The Australian cast of The Office. Credit: JOHN PLATT/Prime Video

When she began preparing for the role, Ward found herself immediately connecting with her character, joking she was “not very far off” Howard.

“Hannah was very well fleshed out. I knew who she was right away. Honestly, there’s not a lot of acting going on —it’s just me but with more dancing and song.

“What happens when you have a character and a script that is so funny and ready to go, and then you have a director like Jackie van Beek, who is used to working with people who improvise, you get a really fun playground, because I knew who the character was immediately, so then it made it really easy to improvise on top of that.”

Ward also revealed she reached out to beloved actor Jenna Fischer, who played Pam Beesly Halpert in the US version of the show.

“I DM’d her on Instagram, expecting nothing.

“She writes back immediately, and she’s like, ‘I never check my DMs, I’m never on Instagram, we know about the show, we are so excited, we are rooting for you’.

“There is space for 1000 spin-offs in The Office world.”

Ward has also been invited onto Fischer’s Office-themed podcast called Office Ladies, which she hosts alongside co-star Angela Kinsey who played Angela Martin in the US version.

“I think I’m doing a podcast in a couple of weeks. It just feel like I feel like I’m playing dress-ups as someone who’s successful.”

The full season of The Office Australia can be watched now on Prime Video.