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Aniston proved to
be a talented painter during her stay at the Rudolf
Steiner School (one of her pieces was displayed at
the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art), but acting
became her primary focus after graduating from New
York's prestigious High School for the Performing
Arts in 1987, and she held roles in off-Broadway
productions such as For Dear Life and Dancing on
Checker's Grave.
Though Friends
launched Aniston's career as a sitcom actress, her
television debut was in 1989, when she starred in
1990's short-lived series Molloy. Before long,
Aniston's television resume had grown to include
appearances in The Edge, a role in the ultimately
unsuccessful attempt at adapting Ferris Bueller's
Day Off into sitcom format, and a part in an episode
of Quantum Leap. In 1991, she landed a recurring
role on Herman's Head, while 1993 led her to a small
part on The Ben Stiller Show.
By 1994, it looked
like Aniston was destined for a life of obscure
parts in doomed television sitcoms. Despite being
asked to audition for the role of Monica Gellar in a
pilot for a sitcom at that point titled
"Friends Like These" (a role that would
eventually be filled by
Courtney Cox-Arquette),
Aniston insisted on trying out for the part of
Rachel Green, a spoiled suburbanite turned spunky
coffee house waitress. The rest, as they say, is
history -- "Friends Like These" would
become the mega-hit Friends.
Friends quickly
inspired an obsessive following, as did Aniston's
signature hairstyle. Just as "The Rachel"
fell out of popularity in the salons, Aniston began
scoring roles in a series of romantic comedies --
namely, She's the One (1996), Picture Perfect
(1997), 'Til There Was You (1997), and The Object of
My Affection(1998) -- and met fellow actor Brad
Pitt. Gwen and Brad quickly turned to Jen and Brad,
and the two young stars took their place among
Hollywood's elite power couples after their marriage
in 2000.
Needless to say,
Aniston had gained an astounding amount of notoriety
since her fledgling film debut in 1993's Leprechaun,
and starred in director Stephen Herek's Rock Star in
2000 after a relatively well-received supporting
role in 1999's Office Space. Though Rock Star was
far from a massive success, Aniston's talent for
dramatic roles was finally given a proper outlet,
and she went on to land the lead part in 2002's The
Good Girl. In 2003, Aniston starred alongside
Jim
Carrey in the romantic comedy Bruce Almighty, and
Friends began what is rumored to be its final
season. |
