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-'90s, 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. (He had.) But Aniston appeared to bounce back with Vince Vaughn, even though the pair rarely spoke publicly about their romance. They broke up in 2006.
Jennifer Aniston Fast Facts:
- Original family name was Anastassakis.
- Godfather was actor Telly Savalas.
- At age 11, she created a painting that was displayed in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Worked as a messenger, waitress, receptionist and telemarketer before becoming famous.
- Appeared off-Broadway in For Dear Life and Dancing on Checker's Grave.
- 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.
- Jennifer Aniston Relationships:
- Brad Pitt - Ex-husband
- John Aniston - Father
- John Mayer - Ex-significant Other
- John Melick - Half Brother
- Nancy Aniston - Mother
- Tate Donovan - Ex-significant Other
- Vince Vaughn - Ex-significant Other
- Jennifer Aniston Awards:
- 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
- 2002 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
- 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
