Sixteen years after the finale of Friends, the show remains one of the most beloved TV series ever, captivating audiences with the adventures of six friends in Manhattan. The series, synonymous with true friendship, has garnered millions of fans worldwide.
Jennifer Aniston’s portrayal of Rachel Green, a young woman who left her fiancé at the altar and joined the group’s tight-knit circle, was a breakthrough role. This part catapulted her to stardom, ultimately earning her $1 million per episode by the series’ end. In an interview with Empire Magazine, Aniston reflected on the role as both a blessing and a curse, acknowledging the challenge of moving beyond the character that made her famous.
Now 51, Aniston continues to dazzle audiences with her beauty and talent. Following her iconic role, she has taken on numerous films and projects, becoming one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses. Her incredible talent and genuine character have earned her the title of America’s sweetheart, solidifying her status as one of the most popular figures in the entertainment industry.
Despite being the daughter of renowned actor John Aniston, best known for his role as Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives, Jennifer’s success was not handed to her. She worked hard for her achievements, enduring many professional setbacks along the way. Before her big break, she moved to New York, where she worked as a waitress and a telemarketer. “I had moved away from home, I had been on six failed television shows. I waitressed for years in New York before I got anything. And I was a telemarketer selling time-shares in the Poconos. I didn’t make one sale. I was terrible at it and I was like, ‘Why do we have to call people at dinnertime?’” she shared with Harper’s Bazaar.
Friends changed everything. “I’d done about seven hundred failed shows before Friends, and there was no reason to believe that Friends would be any different,” she said. Director Jimmy Burrows, whom she affectionately calls “Papa,” took the cast to Las Vegas just before the show aired and told them, “You don’t know what you’re about to embark on. You better take care of each other.”
As her fame soared, Aniston began dating Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt. Their relationship, dubbed the perfect love story by fans, was closely followed by the media. They married in 2000, but the marriage lasted only five years. Pitt later married Angelina Jolie, but they split in 2016. Many fans still hope for a reunion between Aniston and Pitt, but Aniston has moved on and is content with her life and career.
View this post on Instagram
In recent years, Aniston has been vocal about the entertainment industry’s fixation on appearance. “The objectification and scrutiny we put women through is absurd and disturbing. The way I am portrayed by the media is simply a reflection of how we see and portray women in general, measured against some warped standard of beauty,” she wrote in an essay for The Huffington Post.
Last year, she posted a makeup-free photo on Instagram, and millions of fans agreed she looked stunning. She continues to share photos emphasizing the importance of natural beauty. Speaking about her role in Cake, she expressed the freedom she felt not having to wear heavy makeup. “It was so empowering and liberating to just put scars on my face. The only time I had to sit in the makeup chair was just for scars,” she told E! Online.
Jennifer Aniston remains a true inspiration for women worldwide. She champions the idea that real beauty comes from within and encourages women to embrace their natural selves. With or without makeup, she remains one of the most beautiful and admired women in the world.