Lisa Kudrow became a household name because of her role as Phoebe Buffay, the witty massage therapist. However, she believed she would have been a better fit for another character of ‘Friends.’
On Wednesday, Lisa Kudrow appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert through a video link.
In the video call, the Emmy award-winning actress initially audited for the Rachel Green character, which Jennifer Aniston later played.
Kudrow revealed:
“It’s funny because when I first read the script, and I was going to be auditioning for Phoebe, I saw Rachel, and I just went, ‘Oh, that’s like a Long Island JAP (Jewish-American princess) — that could be hilarious. I can identify with that more.’ But they said, ‘No, no. Phoebe.'”
Lisa Kudrow, the 57-year-old, was excellent as Phoebe Buffay.
However, her instinct about playing Rachel was confirmed when she took a quiz on BuzzFeed to find out which character of “Friends” she resembled the most.
She said:
“I thought I was answering questions that would bring me to Phoebe… Favorite color? Yellow! Or something like, ‘Who would you want to be on a date with?’ ‘SpongeBob!’ Then it just said ‘Rachel.'”
Furthermore, on the show appearance, she also gave details on the highly awaited “Friends” reunion special, which will be premiering this month.
She further told Colbert:
“(It had been) 17 years since our last show, and we haven’t all been in the same room in five or six years…And then Covid delayed this whole thing so much that it was thrilling and a little emotional.”
She further stated how the producers rebuilt all the Friend’s sets for the reunion.
She said:
“I think we were meant to be excited about seeing the set, and everyone was but me because I wanted to see the people.”
On May 27, on HBO Max, the remarkable debut of Friends: The Reunion will play.
Who was initially cast as Rachel in Friends?
The producer’s first choice for the role of Rachel was Téa Leoni, but she said no. Courteney Cox was also considered but turned it down. Leoni chose to star in The Naked Truth instead, while Cox opted to play Monica in Friends, Rachel’s best Friend.
Who was the hardest to cast in Friends?
Even with Monica sorted, finding the right Rachel was a big challenge for the Friends crew. They searched everywhere to find the perfect fit for this complex character.
Why did Jennifer Aniston leave “Friends” and was replaced by Lisa Kudrow in season eight?
Lisa Kudrow isn’t frequent in gossip magazines because her lifestyle could be more flashy. Unlike Jennifer Aniston, who had a lavish million-dollar wedding and a highly publicized marriage with Brad Pitt, Kudrow’s life is more low-key.
While Courteney Cox, another ‘Friends’ star, had a public relationship and marriage with David Arquette, including struggles with conceiving and IVF, Kudrow’s personal life remained private. She’s been married to the same person for a long time, has a son, and doesn’t seek the spotlight.
Being in the tabloids doesn’t only sometimes correlate with talent or getting roles. Jennifer Aniston, for example, has been a tabloid staple for years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she gets more acting opportunities.
‘Friends’ Cast: List of Actors and the Characters
Here is a list of the main cast of the popular TV show ‘Friends’ along with the characters they portrayed:
- Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green: Rachel is a fashion-conscious woman who starts working at Central Perk and becomes part of a group of friends.
- Courteney Cox as Monica Geller: Monica is Ross’s sister and a neat freak. She is known for her excellent cooking and eventually marries Chandler.
- Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay: Phoebe is an eccentric and quirky group member. She has a mysterious and troubled past.
- Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani: Joey is a lovable but somewhat dim-witted aspiring actor known for his catchphrase, “How you doin’?”
- Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing: Chandler is known for his sarcastic humor and eventually marries Monica. He has a complex relationship with his parents.
- David Schwimmer as Ross Geller: Ross is Monica’s brother and a paleontologist. He has a complicated love life, including an on-again, off-again relationship with Rachel.
These six actors formed the core cast of ‘Friends’ and brought the iconic characters to life in the beloved sitcom.
