Occupation: Actress
Date of Birth: February 11, 1969
Place of Birth: Sherman Oaks, Calif., USA
Sign: Sun in Aquarius, Moon in Sagittarius
Relations: John Aniston (actor); godfather: Telly Savalas (actor); companion: Brad Pitt
Actress. Born Jennifer Aniston (original family name was Anastassakis), on February 11, 1969, in Sherman Oaks, California. Born to actors Nancy and John Aniston, and the goddaughter of Telly Savalas, Jennifer was exposed to acting at an early age. She is of Greek descent and spent a year of her childhood living in Greece. Her family eventually returned to the U.S., settling in New York when her father landed the role of the villainous Victor Kiriakis on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives.
After her parent?ivorced, in 1980, Aniston lived primarily with her mother. Two years later, she enrolled at the Rudolf Steiner School, where she was a member of the drama club. She went on to attend New York City?enowned High School of Performing Arts, where she was educated in theater and fine art. Although she was an artist of considerable talent (one of her paintings was chosen for exhibit at New York?etropolitan Museum of Art), Aniston opted for a professional acting career.
After her graduation in 1987, Aniston appeared in a number of TV commercials and off-Broadway productions, including For Dear Life at New York?ublic Theater, and Dancing on Checker?rave. During this time, the struggling actress often supplemented her income by waitressing. In an attempt to find more lucrative work, she moved to Los Angeles, where she was featured in her first television role on the short-lived sitcom Molloy (1990). During the early 1990s, Aniston landed a succession of supporting roles in failed television sitcoms, including Ferris Bueller (1990), Herman?ead (1991), The Edge (1992), and Muddling Through
(1994). She also managed to make her feature acting debut in the inept horror film Leprechaun (1993).
In 1994, the undaunted actress auditioned for yet another TV pilot called Friends, which focused on a group of 20-something New Yorkers. Impressed with her delivery, the producers cast Aniston in the role of suburban princess turned waitress Rachel Green. The series met with both critical and commercial acclaim when it premiered, making household names of Aniston and her co-stars ??tthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow.
The success of the show was followed by a wealth of media attention. Aniston?opularity was confirmed when she was listed among People magazine?Most Intriguing People?? 1995 and 1996. Furthermore, the layered hairstyle that she adopted in the early years of the show became such an overwhelming trend with American women that Rolling Stone deemed her ?rica's First Hairdo.??lt;br>
Aniston has since tried to translate her TV stardom into success on the big screen. She has appeared in several lighthearted films, including the well-received romantic comedy She?he One (1996) with Edward Burns and Cameron Diaz, and Picture Perfect (1997) which brought Aniston her first leading role as well as a $2 million paycheck. In 1998?creen adaptation of Stephen McCauley's novel The Object of My Affection, she delivered a commendable performance as a pregnant social worker who falls for her gay friend.
Most recently, Aniston provided the voice of Annie Hughes in the animated fantasy feature The Iron Giant (1999). She is set to star opposite a stellar cast, including Susan Sarandon, Sally Field and Angelica Huston in 2000?ime of Our Lives.
Now entering its sixth season, Friends still remains one of the most popular sitcoms on television. In 2000, after a widely publicized battle with NBC, Aniston and the other cast members negotiated a salary of $750,000 per episode.
In addition to her professional strides, she has remained in the headlines for her high-profile personal relationships. In 1995, she dated Counting Crows band member Adam Duritz, before starting a three-year relationship with actor Tate Donovan, which ended in 1998. Later that year, she began a serious romance with actor Brad Pitt, whom she is currently dating.
Formerly spoiled but always lovely, Rachel Karen Green is charming enough to single-handedly make "Princess" a regal compliment again. Before finding modestly gainful employment at Central Perk, Rachel came from the suburbs, where she had apparently been raised like a prized veal.
Her decision to leave her fianc?arry the Evil Orthodontist at the altar led her to dramatically search out a new life in the big city. Rachel - who we?heard was the queen of her high school - and Monica were childhood friends who?rown apart for a time. Ross, of course, had a crush on Rachel even back in those old school days. It?ot hard to see why.
Part of the charm of Rachel no doubt comes from Jennifer Aniston herself, who grew up around actors - her father John Aniston, who plays Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives, while the late Telly Savalas was her godfather. Born in Sherman Oaks, CA, she was raised by her mother in New York City by her mom, now a photographer. Her parents were divorced when she was nine. Aniston - also an artist - started acting at Manhattan?udolf Steiner School.
Jennifer has Greek ancestors, and actually spent some time in Greece as a child, before settling in New York because of her father's acting career (specifically he landed a role on "Love of Life"). She first acted at around age 11, as part of the Rudolf Steiner School's drama club. Jennifer says that she was always interested in acting, but it Rudolf Steiner's free-spirited atmosphere that encouraged her to make it her career.
She went on to attend New York?igh School for Performing Arts, familiar as the Fame school. After graduating in 1987, Aniston did impressive stage work such as For Dear Life at the Public Theatre and Dancing on Checker's Grave. Her TV work, meanwhile, included, Molloy, Ferris Bueller, The Edge, and Muddling Through, and a recurring role on Herman?ead and even some guest appearances on "Quantum Leap" and "Burke's Law".<. She can also be seen in the 1993 Celtic-themed slasher movie, Leprechaun. During the summer hiatus, Aniston filled the upcoming indie film, Dream for an Insomnian, with Ione Skye, as well as two supporting roles in Edward Burns?e?he One and Till There Was You. She also plays the lead in Picture Perfect and How to Date A Congressman. On top of that, there?he milk ad with Friend Lisa Kudrow, the Windows ?video guide with Matthew Perry, and a Steven Spielberg directed CD-ROM. Even her hair has achieved fame as a popular new ? the "Rachel."
Jennifer is also an artist. At age 11 (busy year), one of her paintings was selected for display in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. She still spends much time on art projects, including charcoal drawings, clay sculptures, and paintings.
Now is the truth really true about how friendly each of the friends are? "You can really talk only with each other," she says in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview.
When her agent first came across the pilot for Friends Like These, now obviously just shortened to Friends, she was originally asked to audition for Monica, though she refused, and thought she was more like Rachel. Obviously that was the truth, because she plays the part perfectly.
In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and getting closer to nature. She currently lives in Los Angeles
When Jennifer Aniston ??e of several stars on the hit television show Friends ??peared butt-naked on the cover of Rolling Stone, she reached a level of sitcom stardom that few of her contemporaries could match. In the revealing article, Aniston not only showed off that famous coiffure, but uncovered a tan line that spoke to her love of uncomfortable swimwear. But, at the time, one couldn't help but wonder if there was any substance behind the big hair and the pleasing posterior.
It wasn't until she landed the role of Rachel Green in Friends that Aniston became a household mane ??ores of women flocked to their hairdressers to demand the Rachel 'do. She emerged as "the sexy Friend," although co-stars Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow could hardly be considered short on looks. Aniston tributes and temples erupted in megabytes of fan pages all over the Internet, and her followers didn't just watch the show with the sound turned down (fans Beavis and Butt-Head suggested this for optimal viewing pleasure), but compiled episode lists and spent hours discussing whether Rachel and Ross (David Schwimmer) would finally break the sexual tension and just do it. The fact that Aniston has managed to gain such a following for playing a ditsy, spoiled waitress who's a little on the bitchy side is a tribute to her appeal.
(1999) While hosting Saturday Night Live (1975), she did a skit satirizing boyfriend Brad Pitt's stalker aspiring actress 'Athena Marie Rolando'. Brad Pitt was promoting Fight Club (1999) at the time.
(June 1998-present) Dating Brad Pitt
Daughter of John Aniston
Original family name Anastassakis; changed when her family moved to the US from Greece.
Raised in Greece and New York City
The late Telly Savalas is her godfather.
Dated Tate Donovan
Listed in "People Weekly"s "Most Intriguing People" list.
(December 25, 1995/January 1, 1996 issue)
Before landing the role of Rachel Green, Jennifer auditoned for the role of Monica, on the sitcom Friends (1994)
(1999) Chosen as one of People magazine's Most Beautiful People in the World
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