Pakistan, June 2 -- Ellie Kemper has described her time on The Office as "the gift of a lifetime" and given the friendships she has formed with her castmates, it is easy to see why.

The 46-year-old actress, who joined the beloved NBC mockumentary in 2009 as the cheerful and naive receptionist Erin Hannon, spoke to PEOPLE recently.

"Isn't it the gift of a lifetime? I feel like I won the lottery getting cast on the show because it is so organic and it is a very natural friendship that we share, which feels rare," Kemper said.

She was already a fan of the show before landing her role in season five, which makes the whole thing feel even more magical.

Asked what she thinks has given the series such lasting appeal, Kemper pointed to someth...