Can you believe, the Oscar-winning Reese Witherspoon was once terrified of being on the set of the hit NBC sitcom FRIENDS? Although she brought back cherished memories from the show where she guest starred as Jennifer Aniston’s sister, Witherspoon noted being anxious about her performance, amid the actors who had already garnered significant fame.
Fast-forward to today, Reese Witherspoon claimed to know her lines by heart, but back when she was actually on the show, the actress noted being scared of messing up her opportunity. Therefore, recalling her time on FRIENDS, during her appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Witherspoon detailed her experiences filming with Jennifer Aniston, and the advice that the actress offered her.
Reese Witherspoon Reflected on Her Iconic FRIENDS Cameo
The NBC sitcom FRIENDS that catapulted the six main stars’ career through decades, happened to be the home for few of the best cameos in the realm of television. From featuring the likes of Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and even George Clooney, the show garnered significant praise for its humor and heartfelt storyline about six friends navigating through life in New York.
But among the iconic cameos, Reese Witherspoon’s guest appearance turned out to be the most fascinating one, following her nostalgic trip back to her role, on Late Night with Seth Meyers. While it might be hard to imagine that someone so accomplished could feel nervous, Witherspoon revealed that appearing as Jill Green was daunting, especially alongside Jennifer Aniston and the rest of the talented ensemble.
I was terrified. I was out of my body… My body was there and then my head and my brain was somewhere else. I’d just had a baby… The funny storyline was that I started dating Ross because she and Ross were ‘on a break’. And she was — gets really jealous and she’s like ‘You can’t date Ross’,
And I was like ‘I can’t? The only thing I can’t have is dairy’. I still remember the line. Their writing was so good on that show, so it’s really memorable… I have all sorts of funny, famous ‘Friends’ lines that are stuck in my head. Don’t y’all?
Well, while Reese Witherspoon seemed to know her FRIENDS lines by heart—back when she actually appeared on the show, the actress revealed being terrified of messing things up. Starring alongside renowned faces like Jennifer Anniston, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc, the Legally Blonde actress noted feeling overwhelmed. Believe it or not, the actress almost channeled her inner Chandler Bing.
Reese Witherspoon Recalled a Timeless Advice from Jennifer Aniston
However, amid Reese Witherspoon’s anxiety, it was Jennifer Aniston’s reassuring words that made all the difference. Being very aware of the success of the show, Witherspoon recalled feeling ostracized among the main cast. So much so that her nervousness almost led her to wreck things up. But that’s when Aniston appeared as a supporting figure in her life, who helped her feel more comfortable on set.
I was terrified, but Aniston was so sweet to me. She was like, ‘They don’t care if you mess up. They actually like it better when you mess up,’
This particular piece of wisdom transformed Reese Witherspoon’s perspective. Suddenly, the pressure lifted, and the actress could embrace the spontaneity that made FRIENDS so endearing. That’s when she began living through the journey and embracing every bit of experience she gained from being on the set. After being comfortable and confident about her role, Witherspoon recalled the excitement she felt upon walking into the show’s famous coffee spot.
Walking into Central Perk, that main coffee place, and sitting on the couch, I was like ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening. Oh my God, there’s Joey. Oh my God’. Joey said to me, ‘How you doing,’
As filming progressed, Reese Witherspoon learned to let loose. Thereafter, embracing the absurdity of the situation and leaning into the laughter, the actress made her scenes with Jennifer Aniston and the rest of the gang even more delightful. Her appearance on FRIENDS quickly became a career milestone and soon she became a popular face and a household name in Hollywood.
FRIENDS is currently available to watch on Netflix.
