 |
| Is Betty Gilpin Actually Pregnant in Office Romance? The Truth Behind Sydney’s Baby Bump. (Credits: Netflix) |
Anyone watching Netflix's Office Romance could be forgiven for wondering whether Betty Gilpin was genuinely expecting during filming. Her character, Sydney, spends much of the film heavily pregnant, confidently navigating office drama, friendship crises and workplace chaos while carrying what looks like one of the most convincing baby bumps seen on screen in recent memory. The answer, however, is surprisingly simple: no, Betty Gilpin was not pregnant while making the film.
The confusion comes from just how central Sydney's pregnancy is to the story. Unlike many films where a pregnancy subplot quietly sits in the background, Office Romance practically places it in the middle of every major moment.
Sydney is not merely expecting a child; she is also determined to prove that pregnancy will not slow her down. In fact, she becomes so committed to work that viewers witness one of the film's most memorable moments when her baby arrives in the office rather than a hospital.
Human resources departments everywhere probably watched that scene with their eyes closed. While Sydney's pregnancy feels authentic throughout the film, reports indicate that Betty Gilpin, already a mother of two in real life, relied on a prosthetic baby bump during production.
The realistic appearance clearly did its job because many viewers left the film convinced that art had imitated life. Instead, it was simply a strong performance combined with impressive costume and production work.
Sydney's storyline goes beyond motherhood. The character reveals that she chose to have a child through artificial insemination, deciding to build a family on her own terms rather than waiting for a perfect relationship to appear.
This gives her storyline an added layer of independence and confidence that many viewers found refreshing. At the same time, the film cleverly contrasts Sydney's personal life with that of her best friend Jackie, played by Jennifer Lopez, whose romantic life has been largely dormant before meeting Daniel.
Ironically, despite preparing to welcome a baby, Sydney may actually be the bigger workaholic. Throughout the film, Jackie repeatedly encourages her to take maternity leave and rest, advice that Sydney treats almost like an unwanted spam email.
No matter how close she gets to her due date, she refuses to step away from the office. Her loyalty to Jackie and her concern over the growing relationship between Jackie and Daniel become just as important as her upcoming motherhood.
This fierce protectiveness forms the emotional core of Sydney's character. Having spent decades working alongside Jackie, she sees herself as both colleague and guardian.
She quickly senses that something is happening between Jackie and Daniel long before anyone else openly acknowledges it.
While everyone else is distracted by office gossip and romance, Sydney remains focused on making sure her friend does not lose sight of everything she has worked so hard to achieve.
Next: Where Office Romance Was Filmed
Fans have reacted positively to the storyline, although opinions vary. Some viewers praised the film for presenting a pregnant character who remains ambitious, funny and fully involved in the plot rather than existing solely as a future parent.
Others felt Sydney occasionally pushed herself too hard, joking online that she seemed more committed to office meetings than preparing a nursery.
A number of netizens also admitted they genuinely believed Betty Gilpin was pregnant during filming, calling the performance and visual effects remarkably convincing.
Meanwhile, many social media discussions have highlighted the friendship between Sydney and Jackie as one of the film's strongest elements.
While the romance drives the main story, viewers have argued that the emotional heart of Office Romance belongs to the friendship between two women navigating career pressures, personal changes and unexpected life turns.
Some even joked that Sydney spent more time investigating Jackie and Daniel's relationship than focusing on her own due date.
Ultimately, Sydney's pregnancy is entirely fictional, but its impact on the story is very real. It adds humour, emotional depth and some of the film's most memorable scenes while showcasing another standout performance from Betty Gilpin.
The fact that so many viewers are still asking whether the pregnancy was real is probably the biggest compliment the actress could receive.
Did you believe Betty Gilpin was pregnant while watching Office Romance, or did you immediately suspect it was movie magic? The debate is still going strong among viewers.