When asked by InStyle magazine about her co-star in the film “Hanging Up,” Diane Keaton said of Lisa Kudrow, “She’s complicated and smart and interesting, and she’s got a good handle on her life.” This may come as a surprise to Phoebe fans, but read on and you’ll find out that Lisa is actually nothing like her spacey character on “Friends.”
Born to parents Lee (a doctor) and Nedra (a travel agent), Kudrow was a serious student during her school years. Being surrounded by family members like her father, who is one of the leading experts on headaches, and her brother, David, who is a neurologist, probably had something to do with that. She spent a lot of time studying in high school, which paid off when she was accepted to Vassar College in upstate New York. She majored in Biology, and by the time she graduated, she already had a research credit on one of her father’s studies.
After graduating from college, Kudrow was all set to become a medical researcher. That is until a family friend by the name of Jon Lovitz landed a job on “Saturday Night Live.” Lovitz, a friend of her brother, had started out in the prestigious L.A. comedy troupe the Groundlings, and from there went to SNL. This impressed Lisa, and Lovitz suggested she join the Groundlings. So, after taking a few acting classes (along with Conan O’ Brien, who remains a close friend), and auditioning several times, she was finally offered a spot with the troupe.
Soon after, she landed her first job on television – playing Woody Harrelson’s girlfriend in an episode of “Cheers.” From there, her television career took off, and truly blossomed when she was cast as Ursula, the spacey waitress on “Mad About You.” She then auditioned for the role of Roz on “Frasier,” but was fired from the pilot when the producers realized they were changing the part too much to fit her acting style. Instead, she got the part of Phoebe on “Friends.” Since both “Friends” and “Mad About You” were on NBC, the producers decided to link the two characters by making them twin sisters. Ursula has since made a few appearances on “Friends.”
When “Friends” took off, it seemed at first as though Lisa would be the only cast member without a movie deal. However, she finally did get those parts in movies, and has since built an impressive resume. She starred in the indie “Clockwatchers,” and the comedy “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” alongside Mira Sorvino. Nevertheless, it was her role in “The Opposite of Sex” as an uptight schoolteacher that impressed critics and put her on the list of Hollywood’s elite. The character was so different from Phoebe that critics were finally convinced that she could do more than just giggle and act ditzy. Despite much speculation, she was not nominated for an Oscar that year, but did win the New York Film Critics Circle award. Her newfound respect among filmmakers won her a part in the Billy Crystal comedy “Analyze This,” as well as her role in the Delia Ephron comedy “Hanging Up.” Lisa plays Maddy, a soap opera star who, along with her two sisters (played by Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton), is trying to deal with her father’s impending death.
Since “Friends” began, Lisa’s performance as Phoebe has attracted the most attention out of any of the cast members. She was nominated for several Emmys, and finally won for best supporting actress in a comedy in 1998. She has also collected a few Golden Globes and SAG awards, and was recently nominated alongside co-star Jennifer Aniston for another Emmy.
In addition to starring in one of the most popular TV shows in the country, Lisa is also happily married, and has a two-year-old son, Julian. Her friends and co-stars love to hang out with her and her son, and she has said that motherhood has given her great joy. She loves to spend time with Julian, especially taking him to Mommy and Me class, and recently told InStyle magazine, “He’s definitely cool. Cool and flirty and charming and funny.” In addition to acting and being a mommy, she is also a great friend. “Friends” co-star Courteney Cox Arquette also told InStyle that, “… if you ask her opinion, you know you’re going to get an honest answer, and that’s something I really respect and admire.”
