Jennifer Aniston epitomizes one of the industry’s most curious juxtapositions—an actress so often represented on screen by bubbly, buoyant, energetic and humorous antics, yet someone who, away from the flashbulbs and the premieres has found the challenges of settling down and finding the right partner slightly more challenging. It follows then that one of the actresses biggest frustrations has been her inability to start a family, and that is a tale that rumbles on in the life of someone who, seemingly, has everything else, including an estimated $200 million fortune.
On the subject of children, Aniston has often admitted to being “fed up” with the continuous and unfounded reports about her being pregnant. Indeed, she even issued a public denunciation (via a letter to The Huffington Post) of the media’s intrusive behavior and “The kind of unfair shaming that takes place to women who, for whatever reason, remain childless as if you’ve failed yourself as a female.”
And speaking at the 2016 Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, Aniston took matters a step further by urging women to stand up for themselves in supporting one another: “The world is starting to realize that women are not only clothes, makeup, and selfies,” Aniston said. Sometimes we as women are our own worst enemies and that’s why we have to support each other. When I was a teenager, I grew up with a great circle of friends who always supported me and were like family to me. As women, we should accept every aspect of ourselves and embrace ourselves for who and what we are, including our faults. That will make you strong.”
Public statements aside, what the 51-year-old also retains is the rare ability to enchant and engage an audience some 25 years after she first appeared on the scene. Numerous careers have been and gone in a fraction of that time. Yet, Aniston’s girl next door image has carried her through generations, genres, and a crossover from comedy into more serious roles with all the flowing ease of a Chandler chat-up line.
Aniston is both reliant on and frustrated by media speculation, which has become such a part of her life that, now entering a new phase of her career with TV drama projects success, she has an almost nagging acceptance that these are the rules of the game. And if that is so, she continues to play out the drama with a shrug, a smile and the unerring ability to deliver a devastating rebuke to any journalist question that strays off-track, albeit, she will follow it with a laugh and smile.
A jewel in Hollywood’s tarnished crown, she will be returning later this year or early next year in “The One Where They Got Back Together,” the hugely-anticipated “Friends” reunion screening on HBO, that has been postponed because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
STRIPLV: You are the latest to step across from film into TV, although really for you, this is a case of coming full circle. ANISTON: Absolutely, although, of course, the landscape is so different now. When we were working on Friends, and when we started to appreciate the magnitude of what it was that we were doing, there was a feeling that this was probably the biggest thing traditional TV entertainment could do in terms of drama or comedy. And we didn’t speculate on that in a way that was to put ourselves at the top, and it’s just you have a sense that you are in something big and you can’t see how that would be different in future, albeit you’ll be replaced by something else, but the format will stay the same. And yet, you look at it now with premium channels, boxsets, and these big-budget TV projects that are now leading the way, and you realize how everything did indeed change from the way it was. It’s like saying TV has evolved in itself, while film has just carried on doing the same thing in the same format. So, it’s a very interesting and very exciting time, and I’m just glad I’m still involved, on both sides of the camera because you have actors who have had their whole career in film switching across to experience something really different and really unique. STRIPLV: Before Friends, you struggled to find work and took many odd jobs in New York to help you pay the rent. What kept you going through those tough times? ANISTON: Stubbornness and determination keep you going. You’re also spending a lot of time with other actors who are going through the same thing, and you’re all dealing with rejection and disappointment. So, you tell yourself to just hang in there and have faith in yourself and persevere. But you never forget the tough times. It makes you respect your success and everything good that happens to you, and I’m just very grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had. I have never found any other job to be as exciting as acting. I never had any doubts about what I wanted to do in life. STRIPLV: It’s ironic in a way that your father (actor John Aniston) never wanted you to become an actress. ANISTON: No, never. He was worried that I was going to get my heart broken and spend years living with all the anxieties and stresses that come with trying to get your career going. I think in a way that I wanted to prove to him and to myself that I had what it takes to make it in the business and that I wasn’t to back down even when things would get tough. STRIPLV: How did you begin to sense that maybe comedy was your forte as an actress? ANISTON: I was studying at the High School for the Performing Arts, and one time, while I was performing a Chekhov play, the audience was laughing at certain points instead of taking my performance very seriously as I expected. I was offended at first, but then my teacher told me that I was unintentionally funny but in a good way. That’s when I started to understand that I had a gift for comedy and that I could make audiences laugh. That experience also helped lead me to appreciate that I should not only be willing to expose that lighter side of me but also those other feelings that I tended to hide. STRIPLV: Throughout your film career, you’ve become famous for playing the good girl or very sympathetic characters, although occasionally, like in Horrible Bosses, you played a very twisted dentist. Which character type do you prefer? ANISTON: I love exploring different kinds of characters, especially those with flaws or problems that we can all relate to. I also enjoy playing women who are both smart and have a big sense of humor. But I honestly try not to place limits on what I could do. I want to be able to explore all aspects of my personality because I think we all have different and contradictory sides. I have my crazy and perfectionist sides, so why should I ignore those character traits in my work? STRIPLV: You originally wanted to become a dramatic actress as opposed to doing comedy. Is that what made such a devastatingly good, but sad, performance in the film Cake so crucial to you? ANISTON: I was in love with that story. I felt that I understood the pain and depression that this woman was experiencing and that I could do justice to that kind of role. I have no qualms about exploring the darker sides of human nature. I’ve lived through dark times myself. We all have. STRIPLV: Did you ever wonder whether the public would accept you in darker roles because your Friends character, Rachel, is so beloved? ANISTON: I’m very grateful for what that role gave me back then, we all are; it was a gift for all of us. Sometime Rachel seems like three lifetimes ago, and it is scary to think of her as coming back. That said, I’m at a point in my life and career where I can say: who cares about my image! In all, I’m ready to play characters that reveal the painful and ugly sides of life rather than just playing more glamorous or attractive kinds of roles. There is something very liberating about being able to just let go and throw yourself into characters where you can reveal those darker and sadder emotional sides to yourself. STRIPLV: You’ve spoken out against sexism in Hollywood and about how women have to hang in there and not give up even in the face of bullying or pressure. How have you dealt with the pressure during your career? ANISTON: The actor’s craft can overwhelm people who are too sensitive, but I’ve always found the strength to keep fighting. So many times, I felt stressed out because I wasn’t connecting with the director, or I couldn’t quite play a scene the way I wanted to, but I never thought of giving up. That’s not to say that this job or life, for that matter, is easy. We are human beings, and sometimes we feel that we can’t endure those painful moments in your lives, but eventually, you realize that you can survive. It’s like a miracle. And in times of crisis, it’s important to turn to your friends for support. STRIPLV: You seem to have a very positive outlook and perspective on life. Have you always been that way? ANISTON: Even before I had success as an actress, I was always able to look forward. Sure I went through some difficult periods where you only see obstacles blocking your path. But even as a waitress, I still felt happy and was able to tell myself to keep trying, and eventually, something good would come along. I have looked for ways to overcome those obstacles that crop up in life. STRIPLV: What qualities do you think you have from your mother? Which ones do you love, and which ones do you hate? ANISTON: What qualities do I have from my mother? She has a great sense of humor. Qualities I hate? I’m a nervous driver. When I would drive, she would always scream, but maybe because I’m a nervous driver, she’d scream! But I’m a nervous driver, well passenger more than a driver, great driver so when I’m a passenger, I’m a nervous passenger. I’m making no sense. STRIPLV: You’ve spoken at length about comfort clothes in the past. Are you comfortable in yoga pants and always wearing athletic clothes everyone wears now? Are you living in those when you want to be comfortable? ANISTON: As my comfort clothes? No. I do jeans and a T-shirt or boxers - let’s get personal, huh? STRIPLV: Now you mention it, I read you get your t-shirts altered, and someone in the fashion world tried to replicate that, is it true? ANISTON: Yes, it’s true. I would take the sleeve in or something, and sometimes they are a perfect t-shirt, and sometimes they need some tweaks. STRIPLV: What is your favorite holiday of the year? ANISTON: Holiday as in break? Well, we enjoy Thanksgiving. You’re allowed to eat at home and take naps, and you’re allowed to have another meal later. It’s a family day. It’s about being grateful. STRIPLV: And holiday destination?
ANISTON: I love Paris, it’s absolutely one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to. There is such a mystical air to the place, and it just breathes romance and history. It can drag you out of any slumber and make you feel energized and excited about things you never knew you cared about architecture, history, even the river. So, Paris is always very special to me. For other places, Italy would definitely be there. There is just so much beauty and love and passion and incredible food. The Italians have a very exacting way. They can be wild and limitless but also very calm and suave. I would also have to say Greece. Of course, a big part of my family is from Greece. I’ve had many special experiences there, tracing ancestors, working out my own methods and personality and celebrating what is a wonderful country with warm, genuine people. STRIPLV: You seem very comfortable in who you are. ANISTON: You’re so careful and controlled in your twenties, and you’re just more aware of your every move. Now, I think there’s just more of a freedom and comfort, and none of it really matters, as long as you’re enjoying yourself and having a really good time. Not hurting other people - of course, that goes without saying. I think that’s what’s great about these comedies is that there’s no apology. STRIPLV: Women in their fifties seem to have earned a new kind of respect. How do you feel about your fifties? ANISTON: I’ve never had a problem with that. I’m so much happier with how I feel about myself and things in general and about where my life is going now than I was when I was in my twenties or early thirties. I have an inner peace and calm that has guided me over the years. It’s really valuable to have that, even if it takes a while to find it. I’ve never really thought about age, just like I’ve never thought too much about health or fitness or image. I find that those are the things the media talk about, whereas all I’m concerned about is wellbeing and being happy. Sometimes it’s not that I don’t consciously want to consider those things, but in my head, I just get on with me being me. I can’t afford to spend every waking moment wondering what my body looks like, what’s the point? STRIPLV: That said, it’s perhaps an inconvenient truth that you are known for having one of the best bodies in the business. So how do you stay in such good shape? ANISTON: I don’t have any formula. I love to do yoga, and I feel better, and I feel I have more energy if I can do one 20-minute workout every day. I know if I exercise enough and stay active, I can eat what I want and not worry about my weight or how I look. If I put on a few pounds, I just eat more fish and salads for a week and exercise four or five times a week as opposed to two or three times. STRIPLV: Do you do intensive workouts? ANISTON: No, I like working out for a half-hour at a time rather than doing a thousand crunches or spending the afternoon at the gym. I also like running a few miles because that gives me a lot of energy, and it also helps tone your legs and torso. The important thing is to stick to a healthy routine. I just feel better after a good workout, and it gives you more energy for the entire day. STRIPLV: And yoga? ANISTON: I love doing yoga because I like what it does for my body and also for my overall peace of mind. It puts you in a very relaxed place, and it just calms you and helps you get rid of a lot of anxiety or worries that might be stressing you. STRIPLV: Did you ever ask your actor father (John Aniston) for help getting parts? ANISTON: I once appeared as an extra on Search for Tomorrow, but somehow I never got a regular part on his show. I think he was trying to discourage me from following in his footsteps, and I don’t blame him. I know how he struggled to get roles, and for several years I couldn’t buy myself an audition for anything. STRIPLV: You’ve had to deal with an enormous amount of media attention over the years, yet you’ve always maintained a pretty calm and cool attitude. How have you managed not to let yourself get caught up in all the hype and speculation? ANISTON: (Laughs) Practice! You learn that you can’t get upset about what’s written about you. You’d go nuts. I’ve always had a certain amount of inner strength and confidence that gives me a level of immunity. There’s no point in becoming angry or bitter about things that go wrong in your life or what’s reported about you. You can only control what you do in your world, and that’s the only reality you should think about. I’ve also been lucky to have great friends who I can talk to if I’m ever down or worried and who are there for me. The main thing is to live each day as it comes and just imagine all the wonderful things that can happen to you as long as you’re open to enjoying your life and thinking creatively about what you want to do.
Sixteen things you may or may not know about Jennifer Aniston
#1 • A permanent feature on ‘100 hottest’ lists, Jen was GQ magazine’s first-ever ‘Woman of the Year’ in 2005 and People Magazine’s Best Dressed in 2006. The hairstyle she sported during Friends became known as ‘the Rachel’ and was one of the most iconic, copied haircut of the 1990s.
#2 • Although she is best known for her role as Rachel Green in Friends, she was initially cast to play Monica Geller and had to persuade the producers to let her swap with Courteney Cox. Aniston won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award over the decade of the sitcom.
#3 • She received $1million each episode for the last two Friends seasons, which made her the then highest-paid TV actress of all time, along with her female co-stars Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox.
#4 • Her father, John Aniston, was born Yannis Anastassakis in Crete, Greece. She lived in Greece herself for a year when she was a child, before moving to New York. Her father enjoyed a successful sitcom career in hit series like Days of Our Lives.
#5 • Jennifer was a pupil at progressive education center Rudolf Steiner School in New York. Despite being the class clown, she had a painting exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when she was only 11 years old.
#6 • Outside of marriage, her high-profile relationships have included musician Adam Duritz, actor Vince Vaughn, model Paul Sculfor and an engagement to actor Tate Donovan. #7 • Before her big break, Jennifer worked as a bike messenger and in telemarketing. During 1987, she was a waitress at a burger bar in Manhattan called Jackson Hole.
#8 • She first met Brad Pitt in early 1998 when their agents set them up on a blind date. Their marriage, one of the most sensational in showbusiness, lasted until their divorce in 2005. #9 • Jennifer’s parents separated when she was nine, and in later life she fell out with her mother Nancy after she spoke out about her on TV and in a memoir From Mother and Daughter to Friends (1999). They were estranged for nearly ten years, but Aniston’s divorce from Pitt caused her to reach out to her mom.
#10 • Aniston devotes a lot of time to charity work. She supports Friends of El Faro, which raises money for an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, and has appeared in a TV campaign for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
#11 • Her father’s bestfriend, Telly Savalas, was her godfather. Jen herself is the godmother of Coco Riley Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
#12 • Aniston’s enviable figure is due to her yoga addiction, which she started a month after her divorce. Tutored by Mandy Ingber, her favorite poses are the tree and child pose. She is also a long time devotee of the Zone Diet.
#13 • In less than two weeks in 2005, Jennifer was the victim of two security breaches. First, her trailer on the set of The Break Up was broken into, and her underwear was stolen and sold on eBay. Then a man called David Hesterbey broke into her Malibu home. She won a three-year restraining order against him.
#14 • Suffering from a deviated septum, which made it difficult for her to breathe or sleep comfortably, Aniston had two septoplasties to correct it - the second procedure in 2007 was necessary as the first in 1994 was not done correctly.
#15 • Aniston suffers from sleepwalking when she is going through stressful times. It started during the breakdown of her marriage to Brad Pitt and occurred again when she broke up with Vince Vaughn in 2006.
#16 • Jennifer is mad about her dogs, saying she prefers them to men. She has owned a Welsh corgi-terrier mix, Norman, and a young white German Shepherd, Dolly.