Jennifer Aniston is so close to Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow that Lisa’s son even used to call her “Mummy”.
Courtney Cox – Jennifer Aniston – Lisa Kudrow – Feb 1996 – Alon
The 57-year-old actress spoke to Lisa as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors series, where they reflected on their time on the beloved US sitcom – filmed on the same stage at the Warner Bros. lot as Lisa’s new TV show The Comeback.
Lisa’s son Julian also stars in the third series of the programme, with Jennifer saying of the filming location: “It’s like he grew up hearing laughter all the time.”
Lisa added: “I know. Can you imagine? Just the amount of joy. Because it was the most fun.”
Jennifer then smiled: “He is today one of the most joyful human beings that I get to spend time with. Like, I love him.
“I would choose him as a person I would like to spend time with as a friend, not just because he’s your son.”
At that point in the conversation, Lisa recalled of her now 28-year-old son: “When he could first speak, he’d look at the TV, point to Jennifer and say, ‘Mummy!’ So he had a connection to you.”
Jennifer, who has never had children herself, mused: “That was weird. He knew, somehow, that that would make me feel good.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Jennifer made a rare reference to her ex-husband Brad Pitt, who appeared on Friends as a guest star, playing Ross’ school friend Will Colbert, who hated Jennifer’s Rachel.
Jennifer asked Lisa: “Did you like the Thanksgiving episodes? Those were fun.”
To which Lisa replied: “Yes. Those were great, the Thanksgiving episodes. When Brad was on, that was hilarious!”
With Jennifer responding: “I know. How funny. The movie stars that came on Friends. Brad, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Isabella Rossellini.
“We had so many – Sean Penn. They were always nervous. Remember? I always found it fascinating how nervous they were.”
Lisa replied: “Yes. Nervous. Well, because what’s the tone? It’s not theatre; it’s for TV. It’s not a movie. What the hell is this?
“And it’s a good question. And I remember someone asked one time. I didn’t know how to explain it, so I said, ‘Oh, just talk louder!'”
Jennifer and Brad started dating in 1998, marrying in 2000 and splitting in 2005.
