15 Most Amazing Jennifer Aniston Facts!

Jennifer Aniston, born February 11 1969 in Los Angeles, might be the most famous Friend of them all! Since her big breakout in Friends, she's stayed one of the most popular actresses in the world! Read on to learn amazing facts about Jen you never knew - can you name her debut film, or her favourite charities, or her real BFF from the case of Friends? You're about to learn it all! We've got more Friends fun, too - why not find out what % Rachel Green you are, or which Friend would be your bestie?

1. Her parents were actors!

Jennifer's mum and dad were both actors, too! Her mother Nancy appeared in 1960s shows The Beverly Hillbillies and The Wild Wild West, and her father John starred in long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives (just like Joey!). But even though they were TV stars, they were strict when it came to TV time! Jennifer says her parents didn't like her watching television. They also didn't want her to go into showbusiness, because it's a very tough industry. Luckily Jennifer came out on top!

2. She had some boring jobs

Jennifer started doing theatre at age 11, but getting into the film industry is very tough! Most actors have to do some boring jobs while they try to get their big break, and Jennifer was no different. When she was 19 she worked as a bike messenger in New York, and drove right into an open car door! She also worked as a telemarketer, and a waitress (just like Rachel)!

3. Her first film was... interesting

Jennifer's first major film role was in the 1993 comedy-horror film Leprechaun, which is about a killer leprechaun (yes, really). Before this she had an uncredited role as an extra in the 1988 sci-fi film Mac and Me, which was a widely-panned rip-off of E.T. (yes, really).

4. She could have been on Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live is a long-running American comedy show that has produced some of the best comic talents of all time. Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, Kate McKinnon, Bill Murray, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph are just SOME of the celebs who started out in SNL. Jennifer Aniston was offered a featured spot on Saturday Night Live, but she turned it down to star in Friends, which was a big risk at the time. It definitely paid off for Jennifer, though!

5. Someone else might have played Rachel!

Jennifer was originally asked to audition for the role of Monica Geller! What's more, Courtney Cox (who played Monica) was considered to play Rachel Green! That would have been a VERY different show!

6. She didn't like that haircut

One of Rachel's defining features in the early seasons is her layered haircut. The cut was known as "The Rachel", and women worldwide copied it! Jennifer did not like it at all, and is still baffled why people liked it so much. She had difficulty making the style work by herself, and needed help from hairdresser Chris McMillan in her personal life to make the haircut look good.

7. She's a Guinness World Record holder!

In 2019 Jennifer's Instagram account was the fastest to reach 1 million followers. It took her just 5 hours and 16 minutes from creating her account to hitting the goal!

8. She's a romcom icon

Outside of Friends, Jennifer is best known for her work in romcoms! She's the queen of the genre, with films like Along Came Polly, The Break-Up, Just Go With It, He's Just Not That Into You, Rumour Has It, Picture Perfect - and more!

9. She's one of the highest-paid actresses in the world

Since the 1990s, Jennifer has appeared regularly in lists of the top-paid actresses in Hollywood. In 2018 she came in at number 3, and in 2023 she's still at number 8! Incidentally, Scarlett Johannson was the top-paid actress in both of those years!

10. She's a philanthropist

Jennifer is not just famous for her acting, but for her amazing charity work too! Some of her favourite charities include Doctors Without Borders, Comic Relief USA, Feeding America, Clothes Off Our Back, and Stand Up To Cancer. She directed and starred in a charity video to free Burma, and is part of an organisation that raises money for a Mexican orphanage. She also does charitable work for St. Jude's (a children's hospital in Tennessee), and has donated money to victims of hurricanes and earthquakes.

11. She has a star!

Jennifer has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - the highest honour for any actor! Friends star Courtney Cox also has one!

12. She loves interior design

In a house tour for Architectural Digest, Jennifer revealed that she would have a go at interior design as a career if she weren't an actress! Jen lives in a gorgeous midcentury house in Los Angeles, and you can really see her personal touch!

13. She has a perfume!

Lots of celebs have produced their own fragrances, and Jennifer is no exception! She's made nine perfumes under her self-named perfume brand, and the first came out in 2010.

14. She's been in music videos

Jennifer has appeared in several big music videos, for artists like Melissa Etheridge and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. She also appeared in the music video for "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts, which is (of course) the Friends theme song! The song was written for the show - originally, the producers wanted R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" as the show's theme!

15. She's a real Friend!

Jennifer is still BFFs with Courtney Cox! The whole Friends cast stayed, well, friends, but Jen and Courtney are especially close! Jennifer said: "We fell in love with each other and wanted to hang out," and says Courtney has been there for her through thick and thin. Awww!