The evergreen television series, ‘Friends’ is what made the actress Jennifer Aniston a global star. From doing multiple jobs and various acting gigs, Aniston had her life turn around with her role as Rachel. But what if she had turned down the role of Rachel? Surely Aniston had another opportunity waiting for her.
Aniston started her career back in the 1990s with her name being established with ‘Friends’. The actress got her major role in the movie, ‘Picture Perfect’ in 1997. Through the years, the ‘We’re the Millers’ actress has become a household name, acting in many successful movies and series.
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Jennifer Aniston Turned Down Her Role On ‘Saturday Night Live’
Jennifer Aniston was tied between choices in 1994 – either take the spot on ‘Saturday Night Live‘ or enter a new show ‘Friends’. And the rest is history. The actress had already been cast in four unsuccessful television shows. However, the ‘The Morning Show’ actress was not ready to take her role in ‘SNL’ and she had her reasons.
The ‘Friends’ star had walked into SNL producer Lorne Micheal’s office to reject the offer. “I hear women are not respected on this show.” I don’t remember exactly what I said next, but it was something like, “I would prefer if it were like the days of Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin,” she reasoned according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actress added awed, “I mean, it was such a boys’ club back then, but who the f–k was I to be saying this to Lorne Michaels?” But this must be one of the best decisions, Aniston made in her career.
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Adam Sandler Wanted Jennifer Aniston To Be In ‘SNL’
Jennifer Aniston’s rejecting ‘SNL’ disappointed Adam Sandler the most. “We wanted Aniston to be on the show with us,” he said in an interview with Oprah according to Screenrant. Seeing the actress in Lorne’s office, Sandler had been excited. But hearing she turned down the role had shocked the ‘First 50 Dates’ actor. “‘She said no?’ She’s gonna do Friends? What the hell is Friends,” the actor recalled thinking.
However, the fame from her hit sitcom helped Aniston host SNL a couple of times. In 1995, she did an opening monologue and was featured in the ‘Spade in America’ sketch in the same episode. Later, she hosted SNL twice, in 1999 and 2004. Finally, in 2016, Jennifer Aniston appeared for a Weekend update segment where Vanessa Bayer did an impression of Rachel Green.
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