Jennifer Aniston has always been America’s Sweetheart. With her down-to-earth personality and girl-next-door looks, she has won the hearts of fans everywhere. But what is Jennifer Aniston like behind the scenes?
There is no actress quite as iconic as Jennifer Aniston. She rose to fame in the hit TV show Friends and has since starred in dozens of movies. She is America’s sweetheart, and her fans adore her.
Background
Jennifer Aniston is an American actress, producer, and businesswoman. She is the daughter of actor John Aniston and actress Nancy Dow. Her first television role was as a regular cast member on the short-lived series Molloy (1990). After guest roles on television, she won a recurring role in the NBC sitcom Friends (1994–2004), playing Rachel Green. Aniston has since starred in numerous films, including Bruce Almighty (2003), The Break-Up (2006), Marley & Me (2008), Just Go with It (2011), Horrible Bosses (2011), and We’re the Millers (2013). She has also ventured into production, creating and starring in the television series 30 Rock (2006–2013) and The Comeback (2005).
Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, California in 1969, to actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow. Her father is Greek, and her mother is of English ancestry. One of her maternal great-grandfathers was an Italian immigrant, and her other maternal great-grandfather was a Welsh coal miner. Aniston has two half-brothers, John Melick, from her father’s first marriage, and Alex Aniston, from her mother’s previous marriage.
Aniston attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts before transferring to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied drama. She left before completing her degree to pursue a career in acting.
Career
Aniston began her acting career as a regular on the short-lived series Molloy (1990). After guest roles on television, she won a recurring role in the NBC sitcom Friends (1994–2004), playing Rachel Green. Aniston has since starred in numerous films including Bruce Almighty (2003), The Break-Up (2006), Marley & Me (2008), Just Go with It (2011), Horrible Bosses 2 (2014), and We’re the Millers (2013). She has also ventured into production, creating and starring in the television series 30 Rock (2006–2013) and The Comeback (2005).
In 2002, Aniston starred in the independent comedy-drama The Good Girl as Justine Last, a retail clerk who cheated on her husband. The following year, she played Rachel in the romantic comedy Bruce Almighty opposite Jim Carrey. She reprised the role of Rachel in the 2004 sequel film, along with reprising her role as Justine Last in the 2005 independent black comedy-crime drama Cake.
In 2006, Aniston co-starred with Vince Vaughn in the break-up comedy The Break-Up, as Brooke Meyers. The film was her biggest live-action commercial success since Bruce Almighty. That same year, she starred opposite actress Tilda Swinton in the independent drama Friends with Money.
In 2008, Aniston appeared as Kayla in the Marley & Me alongside Owen Wilson and Eric Dane. The film was a box office success, grossing over $242 million worldwide. She next co-starred in the 2009 romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You based on the book of the same name.
In 2011, Aniston starred in two films: Horrible Bosses with Jason Bateman and Charlie Day, and Just Go with It with Adam Sandler. She reprised her role as Dr. Julia Harris in the 2014 sequel, Horrible Bosses
In 2013, Aniston starred in the ensemble comedy We’re the Millers opposite Jason Sudeikis and Emma Roberts. The film was a box office success grossing over $269 million worldwide.
In 2015, Aniston starred in the comedy-drama Cake as Claire Simmons. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but Aniston’s performance was praised. She next co-starred opposite Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson in the action thriller Now You See Me: The Second Act.
Personal life
Aniston has been married to actor Justin Theroux since 2015. They first met in 2007 while working on the film Tropic Thunder, and began dating in 2011. On August 28, 2012, it was announced that Aniston and Theroux had become engaged. The couple wed on August 15, 2015, at their Bel-Air estate.
Aniston has been a spokesperson and advocates for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since she became a patron in 2004. She has appeared in public service announcements, fundraising events, and print advertisements on behalf of the hospital. In 2008, Aniston was presented with the first-ever “St. Jude Smile Award” by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the United States.
Aniston is also a supporter of the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that predominantly affects girls. In 2012, she was presented with the “Rising Star Award” by the trust in recognition of her work. She has also been involved with various other charities throughout her career.
Aniston has been included in magazines’ lists of the world’s most beautiful women. People magazine named her “America’s Sweetheart” in 2004 and Men’s Health magazine voted her the “Sexiest Woman of All Time” in 2011. In 2012, she was ranked as the Most Powerful Celebrity by Forbes with earnings of $25 million and ranked sixth in FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World” list. She was also ranked number one on People magazine’s list of “100 Most Beautiful People” in 2016.
Aniston has been a Hollywood A-lister for over two decades now. She first rose to fame as Rachel Green on the NBC sitcom “Friends”, a role which earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Since then, she has gone on to star in numerous hit films such as “Bruce Almighty”, “Marley & Me”, “We’re the Millers”, and “Horrible Bosses”. She has also been nominated for several Academy Awards and has won a Golden Globe Award for her role in the film “Cake”.
Awards and Recognition
She has received numerous honors, including a Critics’ Choice nomination, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and several more awards. She has grown into one of the highest-paid actresses in the world since her career took off in the 1990s.
Aniston’s public persona has also been the subject of significant media attention throughout her career. In 2000, she and Brad Pitt were named “the most beautiful couple in the world” by People magazine. She was also voted “Sexiest Woman of All Time” by Men’s Health in 2011 and was ranked as the Most Powerful Celebrity by Forbes in 2012. In 2016, she was again named “the most beautiful woman in the world” by People magazine.
Despite all her success, Aniston has remained down-to-earth and relatable to her fans. She is often considered to be America’s Sweetheart and continues to win the hearts of people all over the world.
