Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Jennifer Aniston
#10: Weekend Update
“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)
Although Jennifer Aniston has an impressive and extensive resume, Rachel Green will almost definitely go down as her most memorable role. During a “Weekend Update” segment on “Saturday Night Live,” Aniston makes a special cameo appearance. She’s there to defend herself and the beloved character in response to cast member Vanessa Bayer’s hilarious impression. From the classic haircut to the distinct voice, Bayer has Rachel down pat. Of course, the impression is all in good fun. Jennifer, who was in on the joke, proves that imitation is the highest form of flattery.
#9: “30 Rock” Cameo
“30 Rock” (2006-13)
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Long after “Friends” ended, Jennifer returned to NBC’s “Must See TV Thursday” by making a guest appearance on “30 Rock.” Aniston ditches her Rachel Green persona for someone who is a little more...dramatic. She plays Liz Lemon’s former roommate, Claire, a total party girl. Lemon’s boss, Jack, falls head over heels for the hat designer. Things take a turn as Claire reveals that she’s a little bit more than he expected. Full of physical and musical comedy, it’s a fun watch where Jennifer tackles a different type of humor and taps into her wild side.
#8: “The One After I Do”
“Friends” (1994-2003)
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The Season 7 finale cliffhanger left fans in utter shock after discovering that Rachel Green was pregnant. In the Season 8 premiere, Monica and Phoebe have Rachel take another test, and Phoebe pretends it’s negative. It’s actually positive, but Phoebe lies so that Rachel understands how she really feels about her pregnancy. The moment sparks some of Jennifer’s finest acting in the series. In the sweet and emotional scene, she goes from shocked to overjoyed as the audience hangs on her every word. In this short span of time, she manages to make us love Rachel even more than we already did.
#7: Her Performance in “Horrible Bosses”
“Horrible Bosses” (2011)
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Thanks to her down-to-earth and personable nature, Jennifer usually plays the part of the protagonist. So, when she veered into a more villainous path in this 2011 dark comedy, fans were taken aback. Aniston steps into the high heels of Dr. Julia Harris, a dentist who is an HR nightmare. Throughout the film, she sexually harasses her dental assistant, Dale, played by Charlie Day. The film tackles the topic of toxic workplace environments through a comedic lens and forces Aniston to finally play an unlikeable character. While it's a risky choice, we applaud her efforts to go full antagonist and expand her acting abilities.
#6: Sumo Wrestling
“The Ellen Show” (2003-21)
During one of her many appearances on the talk show of her real-life pal Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer channels her inner child. It seems like a classic game of charades, but with quite a big twist. The actress and host hilariously don matching blow-up sumo wrestling suits. Racing against the clock, Aniston has to run, dance, and shimmy her way to victory as Ellen tries to guess her actions and vice versa. It’s a silly and lighthearted segment showing that Jennifer is a good sport as well as a good Friend.
#5: “We’re The Millers” Blooper
“We’re the Millers” (2013)
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While filming the 2013 comedy, Jennifer’s colleagues took the opportunity to have some fun and pull off the perfect prank. During a take, her co-star Jason Sudeikis turns on a car radio. Much to Aniston’s surprise the “Friends” iconic theme song begins to play. The cast sings along as a very bewildered Jennifer sheepishly shakes her head. It might be a slightly embarrassing moment, but she has a good sense of humor about the whole thing. Something tells us this isn’t the first time this song has been played for her.
#4: Her Performance in “Cake”
“Cake” (2014)
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While she’s known for her sharp comedic chops, it’s always a treat to see Jennifer tackle drama. In the 2014 film, “Cake,” Aniston appears in her most serious role to date. She plays a character who is strongly affected by the death of a member of her support group. Jennifer’s raw performance as a woman dealing with chronic pain is incredibly convincing. After the film’s release, the rumor mill started to swirl around the prospect of her earning an Oscar nomination. Although the odds didn’t play out in her favor, she didn’t need an award to prove her talent.
#3: “There Are Bad People!” Speech
“The Morning Show” (2019-)
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In 2019, Jennifer made her triumphant return to the small screen in “The Morning Show.” It’s a meaty role that allows her to do both drama and comedy. Her character, network journalist Alex Levy, battles the complexities of a media scandal and toxic workplace. She’s forced to choose between standing up for what’s right or playing it safe with her image and career. In the season one finale, she’s at her wits end and goes off on a rage-filled tangent during her early morning hosting duties. She lays it all out on the line, revealing all the misconduct and shady happenings of the fictional network, UBA. Her performance really drives home a timely and important message.
#2: Her Confession
“Friends: The Reunion” (2021)
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Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there is no denying that Ross and Rachel are iconic. Even decades later, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer’s unmatched chemistry is still as potent as ever. The duo reunited with their castmates for the 2021 “Friends” reunion. And they sent fans into a tizzy by revealing they once had major crushes on each other. Sadly, timing wasn’t on their side and they never took their fondness to the next level. Their confessions even sparked rumours that the two had begun dating post reunion. Although they might always remain platonic, we’ll always ship them.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Her Performance in “The Good Girl” (2002)
The First Time Audiences Saw Her in a Dramatic Role
Her Performance in “Marley & Me” (2008)
An Emotional Performance That Will Make You Cry Even If You Don’t Have a Pet
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” Reading (2020)
Jennifer & Brad Pitt Reunite for a Special Reading of This Teen Classic
“I Hate This Job” Speech, “Office Space” (1999)
Joanna Quits Her Waitressing Gig After Being Told She Isn’t Wearing Enough Flair
Singing Sondheim, “The Morning Show” (2019-)
Shows Off Her Vocal Skills Dueting “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd
#1: Her Introduction in the Pilot
“Friends” (1994-2003)
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Although she started off her career in a handful of pilots before “Friends,” Jennifer Aniston was still trying to make a name for herself. When she earned the part of Rachel Green, she won her golden ticket. Her first appearance in the pilot sees Miss Green stumbling into Central Perk, wearing a wedding dress with soaking wet hair. Revealing that she just ran away from her wedding, her vulnerability allows viewers to instantly feel for her. It's a pivotal moment that still makes an impact decades later. And for Jennifer, it was the moment that changed her life forever.
