It’s hard to picture ‘Friends‘ without Jennifer Aniston as Rachel. Her charm, her style, even her haircut; everything about the role fit perfectly. But what if we tell you that Aniston wasn’t always destined to play Rachel?
Before Aniston was cast, Tiffani Thiessen had her shot at playing Rachel. And, even though she got close, the role ultimately went away for one reason.
How Tiffani Thiessen Became A Contender For Rachel’s Role
By the mid-’90s, Tiffani Thiessen had already made a name for herself on ‘Saved by the Bell‘. As Kelly Kapowski, she was one of the most recognizable teen stars on TV, and the role carried her through the spin-offs and even a TV movie. Soon after, Thiessen moved into primetime with guest spots on shows, and she picked up her first film role in Son in Law. So when ‘Friends‘ began casting, she was right to toss her name in for Rachel Green.
Related: How ‘Friends’ Finale Failed Rachel
When ‘Friends‘ began casting, the creators knew Rachel had to be someone funny, charming, and relatable. But also, strong enough to shine in a group of six. A number of actresses were considered, including Jane Krakowski, Nancy McKeon, and Lisa Whelchel. But none of them fit.
And then came Thiessen. Given Thiessen’s experience, youthful energy, and proven popularity, she was already a strong contender in front of Aniston. And, for a moment, it looked like she might be Rachel Green. But things didn’t fall into place.
Thiessen’s Career After Hit-and-Miss ‘Friends’ Role
Thiessen herself revealed in 2018 during an interview on Nikki Glaser’s SiriusXM show that ultimately, it came down to her age. Back then, she was just 20 when Friends was being cast, while Aniston was 25, and even she was the youngest of the six leads.
So, the producers were right to worry that Thiessen looked too young to match the rest of the group. They were meant to be playing characters in their mid-twenties, already living on their own in New York, and clearly, it wasn’t fit for a 20-year-old. As Thiessen put it, she was “a little too young compared to the rest of them.”
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However, there’s no bitterness on her end because of that for Jennifer Aniston. In fact, she openly praised Aniston, saying she thought her performance was “very, very funny” and acknowledged that the role ultimately went to the right person.
Are There Any Regrets?
Even though Thiessen didn’t land Rachel’s role, her career hardly slowed down. Almost immediately, she was cast as Valerie Malone on ‘Beverly Hills, 90210‘. Joining the show in its fifth season after Shannen Doherty’s exit, she became the new queen bee character. Valerie took over the Peach Pit, opened the Peach Pit After Dark nightclub, and kept the viewers hooked.
Still, as fans, it would have been fascinating to imagine how ‘Friends‘ might have looked if Thiessen had landed Rachel. Would audiences have embraced her in the same way they accepted Aniston? Would the Rachel and Ross romance have felt different? Probably, we will never get the answers to these ‘what-if’ questions.
Or maybe, things played out the way they needed to. Aniston became a global superstar thanks to Rachel Green, and Thiessen moved from being a teen idol to a primetime drama star to a Netflix favorite and beyond. Both actress got their success, just in different television corners!
