Jennifer Aniston says she found it difficult to land meaningful roles after successful portrayal of Rachel Green in 'Friends'

In a couple of candid interviews, the 50-year-old actress opened up about frustration over being typecast as 'America's sweetheart' and 'isolating' herself at home.
UPDATED FEB 24, 2020
Jennifer Aniston (Source : Getty Images)
Jennifer Aniston (Source : Getty Images)

In a couple of candid interviews while promoting her upcoming series called 'The Morning Show,' Jennifer Aniston opened up about her frustration at being typecast after she shot to fame with the cult classic, 'Friends.'

The 50-year-old actress said in the initial years of her career, she found it difficult to land meaningful roles as Hollywood refused to cast her as anything other than "the girl next door," especially after her hugely successful portrayal of Rachel Green in 'Friends'. 

"I feel like I’ve always been fighting for the right to be here. I was only seen as the girl next door, or America’s sweetheart. There was nothing else out there for me to play, nothing more complicated or juicy so I had to find the material myself," she told The Times' T2 on Monday, November 4.

Reese Witherspoon (L) and Jennifer Aniston attend Apple's global premiere of 'The Morning Show' at Josie Robertson Plaza and David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on October 28, 2019, in New York City. (Getty Images)

In the same interview, Aniston's new costar Reese Witherspoon chimed in, echoing the former's thoughts. She said she had to compete with other female counterparts for "only one job" sometimes, which gave rise to the infamous notion that actresses could not be supportive of one another in the industry.

She added that she was inspired to become a producer after reading a "horrible, terrible" script. "We’re fighting over playing somebody’s girlfriend in a stupid movie because it’s the only job? That’s when I started getting busy with my production company," she said.

In a separate interview with Glamour, Aniston admitted she often found herself "isolating" and as a result, "losing touch with the real world."

"I find myself at times isolating. Don't get me wrong, I love being home. Home is a very comfortable, safe space for me. But if you stay home for too long you will become isolated and lose touch with what's going on in the real world." she said.

RELATED TOPICS JENNIFER ANISTON

MORE STORIES

John Oliver was bleeped out twice during his brief, 15-second Emmys acceptance speech on live television after he roasted host Nate Bargatze
Sep 15, 2025
Kevin Hart doesn't appreciate paparazzi’s question after viral video of him hosting Diddy’s party resurfaces
Apr 6, 2025
Diddy’s childhood friend Tim Patterson claims Janice Combs’s wild parties often involved pimps, homosexuals, and other adult activities
Apr 6, 2025
Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson tied the knot in 1994, but she initially thought the King of Pop was a creep—and we totally get why
Apr 6, 2025
Riley Keough opens up about the Presley family curse in a candid interview while on tour for her book, 'From Here to the Great Unknown'
Apr 5, 2025
Natalie Morales hits back after her interview with Seth Meyers is removed from all platforms due to a revealing outfit
Apr 5, 2025
"Babyface, can you believe she wants me to dress like a girl?" Michael Jackson told a producer.
Apr 2, 2025
Sofia Vergara also dished out on why she doesn't ever want to play Modern Family's Gloria again
Apr 2, 2025
"It took more and more to get high, and I honestly don't know when your body decides it can't deal with it anymore," Lisa Marie Presley wrote.
Apr 1, 2025
A family member's last-minute intervention saved Michael Jackson from the 9/11 tragedy—here’s what happened
Apr 1, 2025