A few days before Thanksgiving, Jennifer Aniston invited close pals over for her annual “Friendsgiving” celebration. Among this year’s famous attendees? None other than Sandra Bullock. The woman Jen affectionately calls Sandy or Sand-a-la has been a trusted confidante for three decades — and life’s adversities have only reinforced their bond along the way.
“Sandra was a rock for Jen when she was going through her divorce from Justin Theroux,” an insider exclusively tells Life & Style of the 2017 split, adding that the Friends alum also “stepped up” after the Blind Side star’s longtime partner, Bryan Randall, passed away in 2023 following a long battle with ALS. “A lot of people run away during hard times, but not these two.”
Of course, they’ve had plenty of jovial moments, too. First introduced by mutual ex-boyfriend Tate Donovan at a party in the mid-’90s — “We both partook of Tate,” they joke — the pair later cemented the connection by doing shots together at a pal’s wedding. This past spring, Jen, 55, and Sandy, 60, were even spotted on a girls trip to Connecticut and New York, where they saw a Broadway show, ate out at hotspot Raf’s and visited an upscale plastic surgery retreat.
“They’re very similar,” says the insider. “Jen and Sandra are both very loving and caring, plus they share passions for rescue dogs, cooking, architecture and interior design. But more than that, Jen and Sandra each possess a remarkable internal strength. They aren’t afraid to speak out and stand up for other women in Hollywood. That bonded them from the get-go. So many people will stab you in the back in their industry, but Sandra and Jen have never been like that.”
LASTING TIES
Indeed, while Jen and Sandy were often considered for similar parts, they never let that come between them and always rooted for each other. “Sandra founded her production company in 1995 and was generous with knowledge when Jennifer launched her own company a decade later,” notes the insider. “They enjoy discussing their business projects together.”
Plus, Jen is “like an aunt ” to Sandra’s kids — Louis, 15, and Laila, 11. “She totally spoils them,” says the insider. “This is a true lifelong friendship for Jen and Sandra; they’re going to be there for each other to the end.”
