HBO Max’s long-delayed Friends: The Reunion finally happened in May 2021 which squeezed the magical moments into silly memories. Finally reuniting Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, the show reflected upon the legacy of the most iconic works on American television. Clicking into the engaging special show, that appeared composed and emotional, we can all agree the behind-the-scenes weren’t quite the same.
Reminiscing the reunion that happened after almost two decades, since the TV show ended, Jennifer Aniston discussed the tough moments associated with the HBO Max special. Opening up about her experience of reuniting with her FRIENDS co-stars, Aniston discussed her emotional instability to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jennifer Aniston Discussed FRIENDS: The Reunion
HBO Max went to great extents and expenses to reunite the cast of FRIENDS after almost two decades. But no matter what it took, the reunion was worth it. Watching the original cast of FRIENDS come together after years, to discuss the legendary show, was worth the wait. Airing in May 2021, after the pandemic, the show overwhelmed not only the audience but also the cast members.
Opening up about Friends: The Reunion, Jennifer Aniston discussed the emotions associated with the show. Revealing her instability, Aniston mentioned being not as composed as she appeared. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress mentioned, although she was onboard with the reunion, she wasn’t prepared for the memories it triggered. “Time travel is hard” she stated.
“I think we were just so naive walking into it, thinking, ‘How fun is this going to be? They’re putting the sets back together, exactly as they were.’ Then you get there and it’s like, “Oh right, I hadn’t thought about what was going on the last time I was actually here.” Aniston shared.
Feeling triggered by not just the memories associated with the show, but also her real-life ups and downs, the 54-year-old broke down her experience. Starring as Rachel Green on FRIENDS from 1994 to 2004, Jennifer Aniston was totally convinced by director Ben Winston’s idea of a reunion. However, little did she know about the emotional challenges she might face during the shoots.
Jennifer Aniston Walked Out Of The Reunion
Although appearing in Friends: The Reunion was the best thing that happened to Jennifer Aniston during the pandemic, she wasn’t quite ready to embark on the emotional journey that came along. Without disclosing her personal life struggles, Aniston simply hinted at her troubled marriage and wrecked relationships while discussing her emotional instability during the reunion.
“And it just took me by surprise because it was like, ‘Hi, past, remember me? Remember how that s*cked? You thought everything was in front of you and life was going to be just gorgeous and then you went through maybe the hardest time in your life?’” Aniston discussed.
Describing her real-life experiences to be “very jarring” the 54-year-old mentioned walking out of the show to calm herself. Often losing her composed nature during the shoots, Aniston mentioned feeling overwhelmed, unlike what the final edit made her appear.
“I’m already a little emotionally accessible, I guess you could say, so I had to walk out at certain points. I don’t know how they cut around it.” Jennifer Aniston discussed.
Despite the emotionally overwhelming journey, Aniston did elaborate on how her career exploded right after her appearance in the sitcom, FRIENDS. “I didn’t know what was coming, and that’s been nothing but blessed. It’s a different caliber of work but I love it, no matter what,” the actress stated. Experiencing a sudden shift in her career, Aniston mentioned, it was nothing but a blessing that made her the woman she is today.
Watch Friends: The Reunion on Amazon Prime and HBO Max.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
