While it's hard to believe that this beloved actress made her film debut in the low-grade 1993 horror flick
Leprechaun, even megastars have to start somewhere. The attractive, quirky daughter of soap-opera star John Aniston studied acting at New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts (aka the
Fame school) and appeared in a handful of stage productions before moving to Los Angeles. Although she had no problem landing small-screen roles, they were all on short-lived series, until she signed on to
Friends in 1994. Aniston instantly charmed audiences with her perfect looks and endearingly flawed persona, and during the sitcom's 10-year run she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, became a hairstyle icon and married Brad Pitt. In the mid-1990s, Aniston began to appear in films while on hiatus from the small screen. Though she proved her dramatic chops as a frustrated wife who has an affair with a teen in the indie
The Good Girl, she was usually called upon to play a variation of her neurotic and adorable
Friends' character (
Picture Perfect,
The Object of My Affection,
Rumor Has It... ). Meanwhile, her love life constantly kept her in the spotlight. After reigning as Hollywood's It Couple for eight years, Aniston and Pitt split in 2005 when rumors circulated that he had taken up with his
Mr. & Mrs. Smith costar Angelina Jolie. (Of course, those rumors were proved true.) After her 2005 divorce, speculation about her romantic life made her a popular tabloid cover girl, and high-profile relationships with Vince Vaughn (her costar in
The Break-Up) and singer John Mayer helped fan the flames. A pleasant by-product of her popularity is the attention it brings to some of her favorite charities, including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, for which she appeared in a widely seen 2009 PSA.
Jennifer Aniston Fast Facts:
- Original family name was Anastassakis.
- Godfather was actor Telly Savalas.
- At age 11, created a painting that was displayed in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Has had jobs as a messenger, waitress, receptionist and telemarketer.
- Won the role of Rachel on Friends after she shed 30 pounds per an agent's suggestion; was originally asked to audition for the part of Monica.
- Godmother of Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette's daughter, Coco.
- Won People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Television Performer in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
- Was named GQ magazine's first-ever Woman of the Year in 2005.
- A devoted practitioner of yoga, she filmed the introduction for her instructor's 2009 Yogalosophy DVD.
- Jennifer Aniston Relationships:
- Brad Pitt - Ex-husband
- John Aniston - Father
- John Melick - Half Brother
- Nancy Dow - Mother
- Tate Donovan - Ex-significant Other
- Vince Vaughn - Ex-significant Other
- John Mayer - Ex-significant Other
- Justin Theroux - Significant Other
- Jennifer Aniston Awards:
- 2002 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2001 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2002 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 2003 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2004 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2003 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 2009 Emmy: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2007 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Female Movie Star - Winner
- 2004 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Female TV Performer - Winner
- 2003 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Female TV Performer - Winner
- 2002 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Female TV Performer - Winner
- 2001 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Female TV Performer - Winner
- 2003 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2002 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2002 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2001 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2001 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2000 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1999 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1998 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Winner