It’s hard to tell just what it is about “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston that makes her so irresistible to the American public. Perhaps it’s that charming smile; or that infamous hair; or maybe it’s the way she manages to keep her cool while having her face plastered on every tabloid in the country. Since her rise to fame during “Friends’” early seasons, Jennifer has graced countless magazine covers, style pages, and tabloids. On screen and in photos, she is charismatic, confident and charming, while off screen… well, she prefers to keep that to herself.
Aniston was raised in New York City. Her parents, John (a soap opera actor) and Nancy (a model) divorced when she was nine, and she lived with her mother in New York. She first started acting as a pre teen, and was accepted into the High School for Performing Arts (the movie “Fame” is based on it). She always knew she would end up being an actress, and has cited Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton as role models. Before her role on “Friends,” she starred in a few forgettable TV shows, such as 1990’s “Ferris Bueller,” based on the hit movie. When “Friends” came along, she was first asked to audition for the part of Monica. She refused, auditioned for Rachel, and got the part.
Her character on “Friends,” as well as her hairdo, are what made her famous. Soon after “Friends” premiered, women all over the country were cloning her hair. When asked about it now, she still doesn’t understand what the big deal was. At the time, she hoped she would be well known for her talent and not just her hair. It seems like she’s succeeded – she is now one of the most coveted actresses in Hollywood, and was recently nominated for an Emmy for her role as Rachel Green on “Friends.” In addition, after starring in a handful of relatively unsuccessful films, she finally made her breakthrough as a leading actress in “The Object of my Affection.” In interviews, she has said it is the first film she did that she is really proud of.
Her recent success, not only on “Friends” but also in films such as “Object,” has made her one of the biggest trendsetters in Hollywood. Her photo can frequently be seen in fashion magazines such as InStyle, and she was named one of People magazine’s “Most Beautiful People” in 1999. Because of her newfound success, tales of her love life have circulated the tabloids for two years, since she started dating heartthrob Brad Pitt, whom she is now married to. However, before him, she was involved with actor Tate Donovan, and Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz (who also dated her co-star, Courteney Cox). Her friends and co-stars have nothing but good things to say about her, and Courteney Cox once described her as being “… all love and emotion.”
