Rachel Karen Green[1][2][3] is a fictional character, one of the six main characters who appeared in the American sitcom Friends. Portrayed by Jennifer Aniston, the character was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and appeared in all of the show's 236 episodes during its decade-long run, from its premiere on September 22, 1994, to its finale on May 6, 2004. Introduced in the show's pilot as a naïve runaway bride who reunites with her childhood best friend Monica Geller and relocates to New York City, Rachel gradually evolves from a spoiled, inexperienced "daddy's girl" into a successful businesswoman. During the show's second season, the character becomes romantically involved with Monica's brother, Ross, with whom she maintains a complicated on-off relationship throughout the series. Together, Ross and Rachel have a daughter, Emma.
The role of Rachel was originally offered to Téa Leoni, the producer's first choice, and Courteney Cox, both of whom declined, Leoni in favor of starring in the sitcom The Naked Truth, and Cox in favor of playing Rachel's best friend Monica in Friends.[4] A virtually unknown actress at the time, who had previously starred in five short-lived sitcoms, Aniston auditioned for the role of Rachel after turning down an offer as a cast member on the sketch comedy showSaturday Night Live. After acquiring the role and before Friends aired, Aniston was temporarily at risk of being recast because she had also been involved with another sitcom, Muddling Through, at the time, which was ultimately cancelled and allowed Aniston to remain on Friends.
Critical reception towards Rachel has remained consistently positive throughout Friends' decade-long run, with The A.V. Clubattributing much of the show's early success to the character. However, some of her storylines have been criticized, specifically her romantic relationship with her friend Joey Tribbiani during season 10. Rachel's popularity established her as the show's breakout character, who has since been named one of the greatest television characters of all time, while the character's second season haircut spawned an international phenomenon of its own. Named the "Rachel" after her, the character's shag continues to be imitated by millions of women around the world and remains one of the most popular hairstyles in history, in spite of Aniston personally disliking it. Rachel is also regarded as a style icon due to her influence on womenswear during the 1990s. Meanwhile, the character's relationship with Ross is often cited among television's most beloved.
Rachel Green is introduced in the pilot episode of Friends as a runaway bride who leaves her fiancé, Barry Farber, at the altar, and seeks refuge with her childhood friend Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) in New York City. Moving in with Monica, she meets Monica's friends Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), and Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), while reacquainting with Monica's brother Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), who has harbored romantic feelings for her since high school. Previously reliant on her parents’ wealth, Rachel begins her journey toward independence by working as a waitress at Central Perk, despite being notably unskilled at the job.[5]
Rachel's relationship with Ross is a central focus throughout the series. After learning Ross is in love with her at the end of the first season, she reciprocates but he has already begun dating someone else,[6][7] initiating their on-again, off-again relationship that spans the entire show. Their relationship includes notable landmarks such as Ross choosing Rachel over his girlfriend at the time,[8] Ross' frustration with Rachel's busy work schedule and companionship with a male coworker,[9] their breakup over a disagreement while they were on a "break" from dating each other,[10] and several moments of both hostility towards each other and reconciliation. Ross marries his boss' niece Emily (Helen Baxendale) despite accidentally saying Rachel's name during their wedding vows,[11] but divorces Emily once she demands he stops being friends with Rachel.[12] They drunkenly marry in Las Vegas during season five,[13] eventually divorce after failing to have their marriage annulled, and later co-parent their daughter Emma, born in season eight following a one-night stand.[14][15] In season nine, Rachel briefly dates Joey,[16] but they end their relationship in season ten after realizing they are better as friends.[17] Despite receiving a job offer in France, Rachel ultimately decides to stay in New York and rekindle her relationship with Ross in the series finale, de-boarding her flight at the last minute.[18]
By the series' conclusion, Rachel achieves significant personal and professional growth. Her decision to reunite with Ross in the final episode brings her story full circle, solidifying her evolution from a dependent individual into a self-assured and independent woman. Post-series material, such as the spin-off Joey, suggests that she and Ross eventually remarry.
Development
Conception and writing
After their short-lived television series Family Album was canceled,[19] television writers David Crane and Marta Kauffman pitched Friends to then-NBC president Warren Littlefield as a sitcom about "that special time in your life when your friends are your family,"[20] basing the show on their own experiences as young people living in New York;[21] the main characters themselves were inspired by their own friends.[22] Conceived as a young woman who is unprepared for adulthood,[23] the character Rachel Green (occasionally spelled Greene[24]) was originally named Rachel Robbins in the pilot.[25][26] Although critics and audiences initially perceived Monica as the show's main character when Friends premiered,[27][28][29] the writers had actually given Rachel the pilot's most prominent storyline.[30] Before deciding that Rachel and Ross would be an item for the entire series, the writers had originally intended for the show's defining couple to be Joey and Monica.[19] However, after the success of the pilot, in which Rachel and Ross' developing romance is first hinted at,[20] and witnessing Aniston and co-star David Schwimmer's on-screen chemistry for the first time,[31] Crane and Kauffman determined that the entire series relied on "finding all the wonderful roadblocks for them to be with each other".[20]
Audiences began rooting for Rachel and Ross' union from the very beginning of Friends, openly voicing their frustration with Rachel's obliviousness to Ross' feelings for her.[32] The episode that would ultimately transform the friends' relationship for the remainder of the series was the first-season finale "The One Where Rachel Finds Out", in which Rachel finally learns of Ross' true feelings for her, at the same time discovering she actually feels the same. However, the episode nearly went unwritten because, at the time, few Friends writers were expecting the couple's relationship to morph into the phenomenon that it ultimately became.[33] The episode was first suggested by director James Burrows; the writers felt that it was time to alter the couple's dynamic in order to avoid the repetitive "he's pining, she's oblivious" pattern, using the work of author Jane Austen as inspiration on how to finally shift the pining arc from Ross to Rachel. Because stakes for the episode were unprecedentedly high, "The One Where Rachel Finds Out" became Friends' most reworked episode.[33] The couple's first kiss at the end of season two's "The One Where Ross Finds Out" was met with deafening applause from the studio audience.[32] Crane admitted that keeping viewers interested in their relationship for ten years was challenging.[20] Jonathan Bernstein of The Daily Telegraph believes that they accomplished this by "dangl[ing] the possibility of a Ross and Rachel recoupling through several cliffhangers without ever putting them back together".[32] According to Encyclopedia of Television author Horace Newcomb, Ross and Rachel's ever-changing relationship "converted the traditional amnesic plotlines of the situation comedy into ones akin to episodic drama".[34] Meanwhile, writing for The New York Review of Books, Elaine Blair agreed that Friends created "a sense of chemistry between two characters while also putting obstacles in their way, setting us up for a long-deferred union".[35]
After Rachel and Ross drunkenly get married while on vacation in Las Vegas during season five, Schwimmer had initially objected to the idea of having Ross divorce her– his third divorce– because he felt that it was taking it "too far".[36] The actor explained that "The whole arc of the relationship was weird then ... because for [Ross] to be able to move on enough to marry someone else and then go back to being in love with Rachel later just went a bit too far."[36] Rachel and Joey's romantic storyline was conceived because the writers wanted to delay Ross and Rachel's reunion further.[36] Crane felt that pairing Rachel and Joey during season ten "was for the greater good" because "it was inappropriate".[20] However, the cast initially protested the idea, fearing that Rachel, Joey, and Ross would ultimately become unlikeable characters and audiences would either "resent Joey for going after a pregnant woman, or resent Rachel for rejecting him, or resent Ross for standing between the two of them".[37] Meanwhile, the writers also approached the concept of Rachel's pregnancy and baby tentatively, worrying about how they would include it in the show because they did not want Friends "to become a show about a baby" while "On the other hand, we don't want to pretend that there isn't one."[37] According to Robert Bianco of USA Today, the critical success and popularity of Rachel's pregnancy is ultimately responsible for "propel[ling] the show to the top of the ratings".[38] When it finally came time to write the series finale, "The only thing [Crane and Kauffman] absolutely knew from very early on was that we had to get Ross and Rachel together," deciding, "We had dicked the audience around for 10 years with their 'will they or won't they,' and we didn't see any advantage in frustrating them" any longer.[39] However, at one point the writers had deliberated ending the series with Ross and Rachel in "a gray area of where they aren't together, but we hint there's a sense that they might be down the road".[40] Ultimately, Crane and Kauffman relented in favor of giving the audience what they wanted.[40]
Casting
The final character to be cast,[31] Rachel is portrayed by actress Jennifer Aniston, who auditioned for the role shortly after declining a position as a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live.[41] Her decision was initially ridiculed by both her friends as well as actor Adam Sandler, a Saturday Night Livealum.[42] Actress Téa Leoni, who at the time was being referred to by the media as "the next Lucille Ball",[43] was offered the role of Rachel as the studio's first choice,[21] but she declined in favor of starring in the sitcom The Naked Truth.[44] Actress Elizabeth Berkley also auditioned for the role.[45] Other actresses who auditioned for Rachel include Denise Richards, Melissa Rivers, Nicollette Sheridan, Parker Posey, and Jami Gertz.[30] Originally, the producers wanted to cast actress Courteney Cox as Rachel,[46] who Crane and Kauffman were particularly drawn to because of her "cheery, upbeat energy".[19] Additionally, Cox was the most famous cast member at the time amidst an ensemble of relatively unknown actors.[21][30][47][48] However, the actress lobbied for the role of Rachel's best friend Monica, as whom she was ultimately cast,[19] because she felt that she was not "quirky" enough to play Rachel.[49] At the same time, although unbeknownst to each other,[50] Aniston was being considered for the role of Monica,[51] but fought to play Rachel because she felt that the character suited her better.[52][53] At one point, Cox had begun to regret her decision to play Monica until her own character's storylines started improving.[30]
Upon being cast as Rachel in Friends– her sixth sitcom effort– actress Jennifer Aniston was nearly recast due to her involvement with another developing sitcom, Muddling Through, at the time. The producers had originally wanted Aniston to audition for the role of Monica.
Friends was Aniston's sixth sitcom;[54] each of her previous ventures had been canceled prematurely.[55] Feeling vulnerable, Aniston had begun to doubt herself as an actress[56] and personally approached Littlefield for reassurance on her career, who encouraged her to audition for Friends,[57] which was being referred to as Friends Like These at the time.[58] Crane and Kauffman had worked with Aniston prior to this.[20] However, casting her as Rachel posed a challenge for the network because, at the time, Aniston was simultaneously starring in a developing CBS sitcom called Muddling Through,[59] in which she plays a young woman whose mother is returning home from jail after two years.[60] CBS was initially reluctant to release Aniston from her contract,[30] which required the actress to balance both roles simultaneously,[61] traveling back-and-forth between Muddling Through and Friends for two weeks.[62] Meanwhile, NBC risked having to recast the role of Rachel, replace Aniston, and reshoot several episodes if CBS' series proved successful, which would have potentially cost the network millions of dollars.[20] However, Littlefield remained confident that Muddling Through would fail.[63] Essentially, the producers of Friends hoped that Muddling Through would be canceled before Friends premiered,[64] while Aniston feared that Muddling Through would be the more successful of the two sitcoms in spite of her preference for Friends.[30][65] During this time of uncertainty, Aniston was forced not to participate in several Friends-related promotions and photo shoots;[66] the network excluded her from these in case she would be replaced.[67] Aniston explained, "When we were shooting the first grouping of cast photos ... I was asked to step out of a bunch because they didn't know if I was going to be still playing Rachel."[67] Director James Burrows admitted that Aniston had been cast in second position.[68][69] The producers had already begun auditioning other actresses for the part,[70] while Aniston also received phone calls from her own friends warning her, "I'm auditioning for your part in Friends."[71] Ultimately, Muddling Through was canceled after only three months and 10 episodes,[72][73] two weeks before the pilot of Friends aired,[74] thus allowing Aniston to keep her role on the show,[75] becoming its second youngest cast member at the age of 25.[3][30] Crane appreciated Aniston's interpretation of Rachel because "in the wrong hands Rachel is kind of annoying and spoiled and unlikable," commending the actress for "breathing life into a difficult character".[30]
Crane and Kauffman strongly envisioned Friends as an ensemble comedy,[20] and Warner Bros. initially marketed the show as such by having the cast appear in their entirety for all press, interviews and photo shoots.[76] One of few sitcoms at the time to be neither a workplace comedy, family sitcom or star a famous comedian,[32] Elizabeth Kolbert of The New York Timesexplained that each of the show's main characters are "of equal importance".[48] As a writer, Crane preferred it this way because "utilizing six equal players, rather than emphasizing one or two, would allow for myriad story lines".[77] Kauffman echoed that "Friends worked best when the entire ensemble was onstage."[78] The only reason Aniston is credited first during the show's title sequence is because the cast is listed alphabetically.[30] The show's ensemble format is also believed to have prevented jealous conflicts among the cast.[32][77] Famously, the Friends cast became the first in television history to negotiate as a group for equal salaries,[76] refusing to work until their demands of $100,000 per episode were met during season three,[47] which eventually increased to $1 million per episode by seasons nine and ten–[56] approximately $25 million per year.[69] Alongside Cox and actress Lisa Kudrow, who portrays Phoebe, Aniston became the highest-paid television actress of all time.[79] By then, Aniston had surpassed Cox as the show's most famous cast member due to having launched an international hair trend with the "Rachel" and successfully transitioning into a film career,[30] combined with her high-profile relationship with her then-husband, actor Brad Pitt,[19] who had once guest starred in an episode of the show.[80] At times the producers would use the actress' popularity to boost the show's ratings, notably her character's seventh season kiss with actress Winona Ryder and pregnancy arc.[81][82] Aniston had been telling the press that the show's ninth season would be her last,[81] and was initially hesitant to return to Friends to film its tenth and final season.[19] She explained to NBC's Matt Lauer, "I wanted it to end when people still loved us and we were on a high. And then I was also feeling like, 'How much more of Rachel do I have in me?'"[47] However, the actress ultimately agreed to complete the tenth season of Friends,[47] which was reduced from 24 to 18 episodes to accommodate Aniston's busy film schedule.[83]
Characterization and themes
Rachel is the youngest of Friends six main characters.[84] She was brought up in Long Island, New York. The term "spoiled" is often used to describe the character's personality during her early appearances.[34][85][86][87]Encyclopædia Britannicadescribes Rachel as a spoiled and funny character.[88] According to Rachel's original character description, written by Crane and Kauffman themselves for the show's pilot, the character is a spoiled yet courageous young woman who "has worked for none of what she has", unlike best friend Monica, and is initially "equipped to do nothing".[86] James Endrst of the Hartford Courantidentified her as "a spoiled rich kid",[89] while the Daily News dubbed Rachel an "endearingly spoiled Daddy's girl".[90] Author Kim Etingoff wrote about Rachel in her book Jennifer Aniston: From Friends to Films that the character is "spunky and sometimes spoiled",[53] while TV Land called her "naive".[91] Citing the differences between Rachel and her two female friends, The Guardian's Ryan Gilbey observed that the character "wasn't insulated by self-regard, like Monica, or swaddled in gormlessness, like Phoebe".[92] Frequently identified as fitting the "girl next door" archetype,[93][94][95][96] Anne Bilson of The Telegraphdescribed Rachel as "funny but not too funny, pretty but not too pretty, sexy but not too sexy, scatterbrained but not too scatterbrained".[97]TalkTalk's Dominic Wills described the character as "smart but ditzy, determined but undisciplined."[82] Meanwhile, Liat Kornowski, writing for The Huffington Post, wrote that Rachel is a "beautiful, coveted, slightly neurotic, borderline egocentric" character.[98]
Observing that the show's main characters are each based on a stereotype, Jonathan Bernstein of The Daily Telegraphidentified Rachel as "the self-absorbed one who goes from riches to rags".[32] According to Reign Magazine, Rachel is "a human being full of vulnerability, humor and strength while aesthetically donning an undeniable beauty and allure".[99] Originally depicted as a character who is unprepared for "the world as an adult", Rachel's personality was gradually tailored to suit Aniston as the series progressed, becoming "more self-sufficient and sympathetic".[23] According to Shining in theShadows: Movie Stars of the 2000s author Murray Pomerance, "The more boundary collapsed between the 'real' Jennifer Aniston and Rachel, the more 'authentic' Aniston became."[23] Pomerance also noted that the character's "well-roundedness, normalcy and relatability" is similar to Aniston's, while both the character and the actress herself are very expressive, talking "with [their] hands a good deal."[23] In her book How To Write For Television, author Madeline Dimaggio wrote that although "Rachel grew within the context of the series ... she would always struggle with the spoiled, image-conscious Daddy's girl who fled from her wedding in the pilot."[100] Similarly, BuddyTV wrote that although Rachel "eventually evolves into being less absorbed in later series, she [remains] the most image-centric among the six",[101] while Vogue's Edward Barsamian opined, "She might have been self-centered and bratty, but Rachel Green was perhaps the most stylish and unabashedly fashion-obsessed character on the show."[102] TV Land summarized the character's arc and development in the website's biography of her, writing, "Rachel is a born shopper, but... she's not necessarily a born worker. In fact, before moving in with Monica, she's never had to work at all, thanks to the generosity of her parents. Luckily, Rachel is smart, resourceful and chic, so her future is bright, both as a member of the workforce and with her newfound tribe."[91] Examining the character's sexuality, Splitsider's Mike D'Avria determined that Rachel has had the third most sexual partners, 14, as well as the highest percentage of seriousmonogamous relationships at 71%. D'Avria opined, "Throughout the whole series Rachel is continually meeting men she wants to impress. Her flirtations typically fail, but she somehow winds up in a serious relationship with them."[103] Additionally, Rachel is also the only female character to admit to having had a homosexual experience (Chandler having likewise admitted to kissing a man on season 7, episode 4).[103]
In an interview with theJewish Telegraph, Kauffman confirmed that Rachel is Jewish.[104] On the character's "Jewish ties", Kauffman told J. The Jewish News of Northern California that Rachel had always been Jewish "in our minds", explaining, "You can't create a character with the name 'Rachel Green' and not from the get-go make some character choices".[105] Prior to this, critics and fans had long speculated whether or not Rachel is Jewish.[104]Vulture's Lindsey Weber, who identifies herself as Jewish, observed several similarities and Jewish stereotypes she shares with the character, citing the facts that Rachel refers to her grandmother Ida Green as "Bubbe",[106]Long Island origin, and engagement to a Jewish doctor as allusions to the character's Jewish culture.[107] In her book Changed for Good: A Feminist History of the Broadway Musical, author Stacy Wolf identified Rachel as one of several popular female television characters who embodied Jewish stereotypes during the 1990s and often served as "the butt of the shows' jokes".[108] Meanwhile, JDate's Rebecca Frankel cited Rachel as one of the earliest and most prominent examples of the Jewish American Princess stereotype on screen.[109] Writing for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Alicia R. Korenman also acknowledged Rachel's initial Jewish American Princess qualities, describing her as "spoiled, dependent on her father's money and her fiance's, is horrified at the thought of working for a living and generally inept in her attempts to do so, and is eventually revealed to have had a nose job", which she eventually overcomes as they become less "evident in later seasons of the show".[110] In his article "Princesses, Schlemiels, Punishers and Overbearing Mothers", Evan Cooper described Rachel as a "de-semitized" Jew because, aside from her name, "there is never any discussion of experiences of growing up in a Jewish culture, no use of Yiddish, and few, if any, references to family members with distinctively Jewish surnames".[111] Cooper continued to write that although Rachel possesses some Jewish American Princess traits, she is more similar to the "little woman" stereotype.[111] The New York Post's Robert Rorke labeled Rachel "a rehabilitated Jewish American Princess", in contrast to her sister Amy (Christina Applegate) who remains "selfish, condescending and narcissistic".[112]
Critical reception
Critical response towards Rachel remained mostly positive throughout the show's ten-season run.[53] Writing for The A.V. Club, John Reid believes that Rachel is responsible for the success of the pilot, explaining, "The story of this group of friends must start with a stranger coming to town," describing Rachel as "the perfect stranger for this plot".[113] Reid also holds Rachel responsible for spurring character development in the show's five other main characters, calling her arrival "a catalyst for all of them to grow, because unlike the rest of them, Rachel is interested in finding meaning for her life".[113] Also writing for The A.V. Club, Sonia Saraiya enjoyed Rachel's first awkward encounter with Ross because, for the first time, "Rachel displays a moment of true empathy for another human being".[113] Saraiya went on to hail Rachel as "a model for women coming of age in the 1990s—the popular, pretty girl dissatisfied with where those illusions have taken her but also unwilling to embrace the more aggressively 'feminist' career-woman strategy".[113]The New York Times' Joseph Hanania enjoyed Rachel's telephone conversation with her father during the pilot, describing it as "hilarious".[114] TheLos Angeles Times Bob Shayne admitted his attraction towards Rachel, joking, "my feelings for Rachel, I say with some embarrassment, mirror those of Gunther".[115]Cosmopolitantouted Rachel "the best fictional gal pal we've ever had".[116] While Peoplecalled her "spoiled-but-lovable",[87]TV Guide described Rachel as "neurotic and adorable".[117] Writing for Heat, Ellen Kerry hailed Rachel's gradual transformation from waitress to businesswoman as arguably "the best thing on tv".[118]
USA Today's Robert Bianco credits Rachel's pregnancy storyline with saving Friends, observing that the arc increased the show's ratings while ultimately "reversing the show's decline in ways ... that no one watching 'The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding' could ever have imagined."[38] Bianco concluded, "Indeed, without that fortune-altering twist, Friends probably would have ended sooner".[38]BDCwire ranked "The One with the Ball", "The One with Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss", "The One With The Football", "The One with the Fake Party" and "The One In Vegas, Part One" Rachel's five strongest episodes.[119] Meanwhile, TVLine criticized Rachel for sleeping with ex-fiancé Barry in season one's "The One With the Evil Orthodontist", panning the episode as "cringeworthy".[120] TVLine similarly criticized the character's role in season four's "The One With The Fake Party".[121] At times the character would generate mild controversy, specifically the second-season episode "The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies", during which Rachel and Monica argue over who will get to use the last remaining condom in the apartment,[20] which Rachel ultimately wins via a game of rock-paper-scissors.[122][123] Additionally, fans would often approach Aniston and scold her for decisions that Rachel makes within the show that they do not particularly agree with.[124]
Within the first two seasons of Friends, the character became extremely popular among women.[51] Viewers' perpetual desire to see Rachel succeed helped her remain a fan favorite throughout all ten seasons of the show.[53] Writing for TalkTalk, Dominic Wills agreed that while Rachel established herself as "the general favourite ... No one had a bad word to say about Jennifer Aniston",[82] with whose performance audiences instantly fell in love.[125] Aniston's performance has been consistently praised since her debut in the pilot, about which Entertainment Weekly'sKen Tucker wrote that the actress portrays Rachel with "prickly intelligence".[28] Writing for The Baltimore Sun, David Zurawik cited Aniston among the show's "very strong cast",[126] while Variety's Tony Scott agreed that "All six of the principals ... appear resourceful and display sharp sitcom skills";[85] Robert Bianco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised the work of show's female cast equally.[127]TV Guide wrote that Aniston "instantly charmed audiences with her perfect looks and endearingly flawed persona",[117] while Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beastreferred to Aniston's tenure on Friends as not "a leading lady performance" but instead "the work of a brilliant character actress".[125]The Guardian's Ryan Gilbey highlighted Aniston as the cast member "least reliant on goofball caricature", observing that "Playing the only character with whom a sane viewer might reasonably identify also meant that she got the lion's share of attention".[92] Writing that the actress "quickly stole our hearts as the daddy's girl and aspiring fashionista," Andrew Collins of Radio Timeshailed Aniston as a "natural comic performer, as adept with a subtle nose wrinkle as a full-on pratfall, and fluent in quick-fire patter".[128] In 2002, Aniston won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.[129] In 2003, the actress won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series– Comedy Or Musical.[130] Dominic Willis of TalkTalk believes that Aniston won these awards because of "her brilliant comic performances in the show".[82]
Relationships
Rachel has had several romantic relationships throughout Friends decade-long run, the most famous and prominent of which remains her on-again, off-again relationship with friend Ross. Although wildly popular among audiences,[20][32] the couple has been met with mixed reviews from critics. Katherine Hassel of the Daily Express described the characters' relationship as "the heart of the show".[21]China Daily cited Ross and Rachel's reunion during the series finale "The Last One" among the episode's highlights,[131] while Gary Susman of Rolling Stone believes that audiences would not have been happy had the couple not ultimately reunited.[132] Contrastingly, The Wire's Joe Reid is of the opinion that the show's second season is "the only time Ross/Rachel was truly great".[133]Virgin Media wrote that the couple's dynamics "had grown mightily tedious" by season ten.[134]E! cable network ranked Rachel and Ross the ninth greatest Friends couple, writing that their relationship gave "Friends fans enough iconic quotes to fill a book",[135] considering Phoebe's line "See? [Ross is] her lobster!" to be among show's most iconic.[136] Ross and Rachel's season three breakup has spawned a debate among Friends fans, who continue to argue over which of the two was at fault: Rachel for suggesting that they take a break from their relationship, or Ross for sleeping with another woman immediately afterwards. Writing for E!, Jenna Mullins ruled in favor of Rachel, elaborating, "there is no excuse for Ross sleeping with someone else after his lobster suggested taking a break", concluding that Ross "blew it".[136] The Jewish community was particularly receptive to the fact that a Jewish-American couple existed on prime time television, described by Lilith magazine as "a televisual first".[137]
Rachel and Ross are considered to be among television's greatest and most beloved couples.[138][139]Ninemsn referred to them as "everyone's favourite on ... off ... on (a break!) duo,"[140] while Us Weekly and BuzzFeed ranked them the first and second best television couple, respectively.[141][142]TV Guideranked Ross and Rachel the third greatest television couple, dubbing them "the most iconic TV couple in recent memory".[143]Extra placed the couple at number eight, writing, "Never did we want two people to get together more than Ross ... and Rachel".[144]Refinery29 included Rachel and Ross in the website's "16 TV Couples We Want To Be Together Forever" list.[145] The pair is also often ranked among television's greatest "will they or won't they" couples.[146][147][148] Naming Ross and Rachel the greatest "will they, won't they" couple, Network Ten believes they defined the term,[149] while Suggest dubbed them the "quintessential will they/won't they couple".[150] According to Sarah Doran of Radio Times, the couple "became synonymous with the phrase 'we're on a break'".[151] Phoebe's line, in which she refers to the couple as each other's lobsters, has become one of the show's most popular and oft-quoted.[139][152][153] Kaitlin Reilly of Bustle magazine defined the term as "the person of whom another is meant to be with forever".[154] Tara Aquino of Complex magazine believes that "Every other person can tell you what exactly a 'Ross and Rachel' relationship means".[155] Ultimately, Rachel's season eight pregnancy arc is credited with reviving the show's ratings and reviews.[81]
During season ten, Rachel's brief romance with friend Joey drew strong criticism from both critics and fans,[136] although the contested relationship did not harm viewership.[53] Joshua Kurp of Splitsider believes that the Rachel/Joey/Ross love triangle is the main reason the show's final two seasons continued to perform well despite mediocre reviews.[156] Eric Goldman of IGN referred to the Rachel-Joey storyline as "questionable".[157]Entertainment Tonight Canada ranked "The One After Rachel and Joey Kiss" among the show's ten worst episodes at number five, with author I. P. Johnson panning it as "desperate", concluding, "Jeers for even conceiving this romantic plot; cheers for abandoning it".[158] Contrarily, E! enjoyed Rachel and Joey as a couple because they brought out positive aspects in each other's personalities and share a similar sense of humor.[159] Their relationship also spawned a debate among fans, who argued over whether making Rachel and Joey a couple was a bad idea. Jenna Mullins of E! determined that it is because "It was too far into the series to throw these two together. They didn't make sense and their romantic scenes felt forced".[136]
After Ross and Rachel's break up, there were many hints that they would eventually reunite forever, especially seasons 8–10. In the final season, Rachel wants to sleep with Ross when her father has a heart attack and wants "sympathy sex", which he turns down, not wanting to take advantage of her in the state she is in. However, Ross and Rachel do sleep together again the night before she leaves for Paris, which results in him admitting he still loves her and wants to get back together in the series finale. Rachel turns down the Paris job in order to be with Ross when she realizes she still loves him too, and the two agree "this is it", getting back together for good. Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel, confirmed that after the series finale, Ross and Rachel got remarried, happily and had at least one more child.[160]
Impact and legacy
Rachel's popularity would establish her as the show's breakout character;[99][161] she is often ranked among the greatest characters in television history. Us Weekly ranked Rachel the most beloved television character of the past two decades, citing her as "one of TV's most endearing personalities".[162]Entertainment Weeklyranked the character sixth on a similar countdown,[163] while AOL TV included Rachel among television's hundred "Greatest Women" at number 23, with author Kim Potts observing that "Rachel became one of viewers' favorite Friends because she grew from what could have been a one-note character ... into a more independent, caring pal".[164]BuddyTV ranked Rachel the 15th funniest female character in sitcom history,[165] while ChaCha collectively ranked Rachel, Monica and Phoebe 11th, 12th and 13th on the website's list of the "Top 16 Female TV Characters of All Time".[166] According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood professionals voted Rachel the 29th best female character in 2016.[167] In 2019, Harper's Bazaar ranked Rachel the third most influential "female character who changed our TV screens". Author Olivia Blair wrote that Rachel "promote ideals of female independence, unashamedly discuss sex and female pleasure, educate the men in their lives on how to treat women throughout the ten seasons."[168] Writing for Entertainmentwise, Georgina Littlejohn believes Rachel inspired the character Penny in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, noting that the characters, both waitresses, are "blonde, cute, funny, likeable girls-next-door".[95] Several baby name books and websites commonly associate the name "Rachel" with the character.[169][170][171][172]
Both Rachel and Aniston became fashion icons due to their combined influence on womenswear during the 1990s,[173][174][175] particularly among British women.[176]Vogue's Edward Barsamian credits Rachel with inspiring "the cool New York look".[102] According to Stylist, Rachel "revived [a] love of denim shirts and dungarees",[176] while Mahogany Clayton of StyleBlazer believes that the character "managed to dominate every fashion trend that passed by her radar in the most stylish ways possible".[177] Hailing her as the "Fash Queen", Heat magazine observed the character's influence on plaid skirts, denim and overalls.[118] Citing every costume the character wore during the first season of Friends, BuzzFeed determined that Rachel popularized the mullet dress.[178]TV Guide published a list of "The 17 Ways Rachel from Friends Changed '90s Fashion".[179] Rachel is often considered to be one of television's best dressed characters.[180]Elleincluded Rachel in the magazine's "50 Best Dressed Women on TV" list.[181]PopSugar ranked Friends 15th on the website's list of "50 TV Shows That Changed the Way We Dress", citing Rachel's "impressive" wardrobe.[182]InStyle ranked Friends the 36th most fashionable television show of all time, praising Rachel, Monica and Phoebe's costumes.[183]StyleCaster ranked Rachel among "The 50 Most Stylish TV Characters Of All Time" at number 28.[184]Cosmopolitan magazine compiled a list of "16 things Rachel Green wore to work that we'd totally wear today",[185] while Virgin Media ranked the character among television's sexiest.[134]Brides magazine ranked Rachel's wedding dress among "The Best TV Wedding Dresses", with contributor Jane Frankfort commending the dress with "set[ting] the tone for the following 10 years together and the many milestones our favorite friends will bring".[186]
Like her character, Aniston became the show's breakout star.[187] Karen Thomas of USA Today dubbed Aniston "our favorite Friend".[188] According to Turner Classic Movies, Aniston ultimately became "One of the most popular television actresses of her era".[189] According to Jennifer Aniston: From Friends to Films author Kim Etingoff, the actress' own fame "outshone" those of her co-stars,[53] becoming the first cast member to "rise to prominence";[82] the actress continues to experience the most post-Friends success.[190][191][192] Aniston's performance in Friends led to a successful film career.[193] According to The Inquisitr News, Rachel is "the role that would end up launching [Aniston's] success",[70] while Bradford Evans of Splitsider believes "that Jennifer Aniston likely wouldn't have become a major movie star without Friends".[194] While ranking Aniston the most attractive sitcom star of the 1990s, Josh Robertson of Complex magazine wrote that "With the haircut, the TV fame, and a true gift for comedy ... combined, Aniston became a big star", replacing Cox as the show's "established hottie".[195] According to Steve Charnock of Yahoo! Movies, Aniston is "the series' only main cast member to become a bona fide movie star since the end of the show".[196] While agreeing that Aniston's film career has been successful, several critics believe that the actress' filmography remains limited to playing Rachel-like roles in romantic comedies,[82][125][197] save for some exceptions.[198] Ryan Gilbey of The Guardian noted that "Consequently, many of Aniston's movie roles ... have been Rachel in all but name."[92] Andrew Collins of Radio Timesagreed, writing that Aniston "seems trapped, perpetually playing variations of Rachel".[128] According to TV Guide, Aniston is "usually called upon to play a variation of her neurotic and adorable Friends character".[117] Aniston cites Rachel as one of three roles for which she is most grateful, to whom she "owe[s] everything".[199] On being typecast in the aftermath of Rachel, Aniston admits that at times it "gives you more of a challenge, to shape people's perceptions of you".[200] as audiences struggle "to lose the Rachel tag that has made her one of the world's most recognisable faces".[201]
Named after the character,[202] the "Rachel" refers to a bouncy layered[203]shag inspired by the way in which Aniston wore her hair on Friends between 1994 and 1996, during the first and second seasons of the series.[173] The "Rachel" debuted in the show's 20th episode, "The One with the Evil Orthodontist".[204] Aniston believes that her hair stylist, Chris McMillan, created the haircut while he was under the influence of marijuana.[205] The "Rachel" immediately became popular among women, launching an international hair trend.[206] The popularity of the "Rachel" coincided with the popularity of Friends during the mid-to-late-1990s.[207]Marie Claire estimates that 11 million women donned the hairstyle throughout the decade,[208] while the Daily Express determined that the hairstyle was most popular among British women,[209] who went to hair salons "clutching magazine pictures of Aniston" and asking hairdressers to give them the look.[210]
Jennifer Aniston portraying her character while donning the famous "Rachel" haircut during the second-season episode "The One with Phoebe's Husband". The hairstyle would go on to become one of the most popular of all time.
According to Vanity Fair, the hairstyle's "widespread popularity ... in the show's very first year cemented the sitcom early on as heavily influential when it came to style".[211] The "Rachel" remains one of the most popular hairstyles in history,[21] and became the most popular hairstyle in the United States since actress Farrah Fawcett's.[173][187] Hair stylists credit its appeal and popularity to its medium length and volume, combined with its tendency to frame the face flatteringly.[173] Hairdresser Mark Woolley described it as "a cut that flatters almost everyone, designed to make women look beautiful".[128] The "Rachel" is often ranked among the greatest and most iconic hairstyles of all time,[212][213][214] with Redbook placing it at number four and Time ranking it ninth.[215][216]The Huffington Post determined that the hairstyle is one of "The Most Famous TV Hairstyles Of All Time".[217]US Weekly ranked the "Rachel" the 17th most iconic hairstyle.[218]Glamour magazine ranked the "Rachel" fourth on the magazine's list of "The 100 Best Hairstyles of All Time".[219] The magazine also cited it among "The very best hair to have graced the small screen",[220] while ranking it the most memorable hairstyle in television history.[221]The Sydney Morning Heraldranked it the second greatest television hairstyle,[210] while Metro ranked the "Rachel" the character's second-best hairstyle.[222] Ranked sixth on Entertainment Weekly's list of the "25 Fashion Moments That Changed Entertainment", the haircut was declared the most "desired" hairstyle of the Clinton era.[223]
Zahra Barnes of Self joked that Rachel's hair has always been the "true star of the show".[204] Lauding the "Rachel" as one of television's greatest hairstyles, Sarah Carrillo of Elle magazine believed that its popularity "helped make Friends the phenomenon it was".[224] Opining that Friends spawned few memorable catchphrases in comparison to its contemporaries, Tom Jicha of The Baltimore Sun attributes much of the show's legacy to the hairstyle, calling it the show's "only cultural trend".[77] Josh Robertson of Complex magazine felt that "With the haircut, the TV fame, and a true gift for comedy ... combined, Aniston became a big star", replacing Courteney Cox.[195] Hannah Lyons Powell of Glamour agreed that the hairstyle made Aniston "the definitive hair icon of the '90s and the proud owner of arguably the most infamous and influential hairstyle of all time".[220] According to Jim Vorel of Paste magazine, "'the Rachel' hairstyle became the decade's defining 'do, calling it "the definition of influence".[225] However, Rebecca Cox of Glamour is grateful that the hairstyle remained in the 1990s.[212]
In the second-season episode "The One with the Lesbian Wedding", Rachel references the popularity of her haircut when she complains that her own overbearing mother is trying to reinvent her life after hers, lamenting, "Couldn't she just copy my haircut?" Despite her association with the cut, Aniston disliked the hairstyle.[226] She found maintaining the hairstyle without McMillan's help difficult,[227] stating "I'd curse Chris every time I had to blowdry. It took three brushes—it was like doing surgery!"[228] and that she would rather shave her head than have to wear it for the rest of her life.[229] Since Aniston, several other celebrities have worn variations of the "Rachel", among them actresses Cameron Diaz,[230]Rachel McAdams,[231]Emma Watson,[232]Reese Witherspoon,[233]Julia Roberts,[234] comedian Tina Fey,[235] model Tyra Banks,[236] and singer Lily Allen.[231]
Friends is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, the show revolves around six friends in their 20s and early 30s who live in Manhattan, New York City. "The original executive producers were Kevin S. Bright, Kauffman, and David Crane."
Jennifer Joanna Aniston is an American actress. She rose to international fame for her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004, which earned her Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Aniston has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses, as of 2023.
Courteney Bass Cox is an American actress and filmmaker. She rose to international prominence for playing Monica Geller in the NBC sitcom Friends (1994–2004) and Gale Weathers in the horror film franchise Scream (1996–present). Her accolades include a Screen Actors Guild Award, nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"The Pilot" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American television sitcom Friends. The episode premiered on NBC on September 22, 1994. It was written by the show's creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and directed by James Burrows. The pilot introduces six twenty-something friends who live and work in New York City: Monica Geller, a single sous chef in her mid 20s who is illegally subletting her grandmother's apartment; Ross Geller, Monica's older brother, a paleontologist whose marriage recently ended after he learned his wife, Carol, is a lesbian; Rachel Green, Monica's spoiled, self-centered, high-school best friend who has just left her fiancé at the altar and is financially cut off by her father; Chandler Bing, Ross's college roommate and best friend who lives across the hall from Monica; Joey Tribbiani, a struggling Italian-American actor and Chandler's roommate; and Phoebe Buffay, a laid-back, hippie-ish masseuse, singer and guitar player.
Monica E. Geller is a fictional character, one of the six main characters who appears on the American sitcom Friends (1994–2004). Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and portrayed by actress Courteney Cox, Monica appears in all of the show's 236 episodes, from its premiere in 1994, to its finale in 2004. A chef known for her cleanliness, competitiveness and obsessive-compulsive nature, Monica is the younger sister of Ross Geller and best friend of Rachel Green, the latter of whom she invites to live with her after Rachel forsakes her own wedding. The two characters spend several years living together as roommates until Monica begins a romantic relationship with long-time neighbor and friend Chandler Bing, whom she marries. Unable to conceive children on their own, Chandler and Monica eventually adopt twins Erica and Jack and move out of their apartment into a larger house in the suburbs.
Phoebe Buffay is one of the six main characters from the American television sitcom, Friends. She was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and portrayed by actress Lisa Kudrow.
"The One with the Prom Video" is the fourteenth episode of the second season, and the 38th episode overall, of the American television situation comedy Friends, which first aired on NBC on February 1, 1996. The episode focuses on the main characters watching Monica and Rachel getting ready for their high-school prom in the titular video. A subplot sees Joey having increased income, buying roommate Chandler an unusual gift.
"The One with the Morning After" is the sixteenth episode of the third season of the American television situation comedy Friends and 64th overall, which aired on NBC on February 20, 1997. The plot, which is darker than most Friends episodes, centers on Ross dealing with the repercussions of sleeping with another woman hours after he and Rachel took a break.
"The One with the Embryos" is the twelfth episode of Friends' fourth season. It first aired on the NBC network in the United States on January 15, 1998. In the episode, Phoebe agrees to be the surrogate mother for her brother Frank Jr. and his older wife Alice Knight. Meanwhile, a display by Chandler and Joey of how well they know Monica and Rachel by guessing the items in their shopping bag leads to a large-scale bet on a quiz, for which Ross acts as the gamemaster.
"The One with Ross's Wedding" is the two-part fourth-season finale of the American television sitcom Friends, comprising the 96th and 97th episodes of the series overall. Originally broadcast by NBC on May 7, 1998, the episode features Ross, Monica, Joey, Chandler and later Rachel travelling to England to attend the wedding of Ross Geller to his fiancée Emily in London. Ross and Emily's wedding vows are ruined when Ross accidentally says "I, Ross, take thee Rachel"; as the registrar asks Emily if he should continue, the episode ends on a cliffhanger until the season 5 premiere "The One After Ross Says Rachel". The episode also introduces Chandler and Monica's romantic relationship after they impulsively have a one-night stand. Lisa Kudrow won an Emmy Award for her work in the episode.
"The Last One", also known as "The One Where They Say Goodbye", is the series finale of the American sitcom Friends. The episode serves as the seventeenth and eighteenth episode of the tenth season, and the 235th and the 236th episode overall; the episode's two parts were classified as two separate episodes. It was written by series creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and directed by executive producer Kevin S. Bright. The series finale first aired on NBC in the United States on May 6, 2004, when it was watched by 52.5 million viewers, making it the most watched entertainment telecast in six years and the fifth most watched overall television series finale in U.S. history as well as the most watched episode from any television series throughout the decade 2000s on U.S. television. In Canada, the finale aired simultaneously on May 6, 2004, on Global, and was viewed by 5.16 million viewers, becoming the second-highest viewed episode of the series.
"The One Hundredth" is the third episode of Friends' fifth season and 100th episode overall. It first aired on the NBC network in the United States on October 8, 1998. Continuing from the previous episode, the group arrive at the hospital after Phoebe goes into labor and gives birth to her half brother Frank's and his wife Alice's triplets. Meanwhile, Rachel tries to set Monica and herself up with two male nurses, which causes problems between Monica and Chandler, and Ross supports Joey as he experiences kidney stones.
"The One with All the Thanksgivings" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of Friends. It first aired on the NBC network in the United States on November 19, 1998. In the episode, the main characters spend Thanksgiving at Monica's apartment and begin telling stories about their worst Thanksgivings: Chandler learning of his parents' divorce, Phoebe losing arms in past lives and Joey having his head stuck in a turkey. Rachel reveals Monica's worst Thanksgiving—accidentally cutting off Chandler's toe after he called her "fat" in their first encounter. When Monica begs Chandler to forgive her, he accidentally reveals that he loves her.
"The One Where Rachel Smokes" is the eighteenth episode of the fifth season of Friends and 115th overall. It first aired on NBC in the United States on April 8, 1999. In the episode, Rachel starts her new job at Ralph Lauren and soon feels left out because all the decision-making takes place on smoking breaks and she does not smoke. She tries to solve the problem by taking up the habit, which proves difficult. Meanwhile, Ben auditions for a soup commercial and Joey decides to come along to try for a part as well. When each is paired with a different actor, the auditions become competitive. Elsewhere, Monica and Phoebe plan a surprise party for Rachel.
An eponymous hairstyle is a particular hairstyle that has become fashionable during a certain period of time through its association with a prominent individual.
The Rachel haircut, commonly known as simply "The Rachel", is an eponymous hairstyle popularized by American actress Jennifer Aniston. Named after Rachel Green, the character she played on the American sitcom Friends (1994–2004), Aniston debuted the haircut during the show's first season, and continued to wear it throughout its second season while the series was nearing peak popularity. Designed by Aniston's hairstylist Chris McMillan to repair her damaged hair and grow out her bangs, "The Rachel" is a voluminous shoulder-length haircut, with several distinct layers that frame and turn outwards from its wearer's face. It has been described as a variation on both the shag and bob haircuts.
"The One Where Rachel Has a Baby" is the double-length finale of the eighth season of Friends. It first aired on NBC on May 16, 2002. In the episode, Rachel spends 21 hours in labor, and watches many of her roommates, including Janice, giving birth before her. Monica and Chandler decided to have a baby, Judy wants Ross to propose to Rachel, Phoebe flirts with a patient at the hospital, and Rachel accidentally thinks Joey proposed to her.
"All Mixed Up" is the first episode of the second season of the American television sitcom Cougar Town. It originally aired on September 22, 2010, in the United States on ABC. In this episode, Jules sees a therapist named Glenn in order to relieve the stresses of her issues. Meanwhile, Bobby is troubled with the reality of Grayson's relationship with Jules, and Travis prepares for college.
American actress Jennifer Aniston made her film debut in the 1988 comic science fiction film Mac and Me in an uncredited role of a dancer. Two years later, she made her television debut in the series Molloy (1990) followed that year by a starring role in Ferris Bueller, a television adaptation of the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off; both series were cancelled in their first seasons. In 1993, she had her first major film role in the horror comedy Leprechaun. She was offered a spot as a featured player on Saturday Night Live but turned this down to accept a starring role on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994–2004).
↑ Chris Brown (writer); Kevin S. Bright (director) (May 18, 1995). "The One Where Rachel Finds Out". Friends. Season 1. Episode 24. NBC.
↑ Gregory S. Malins & Michael Curtis (writers); Terry Hughes (director) (December 12, 1996). "The One Where Rachel Quits". Friends. Season 3. Episode 10. NBC.
↑ David Crane & Marta Kauffman (writers); Mary Kay Place (director) (November 16, 1995). "The One with the List". Friends. Season 2. Episode 8. NBC.
↑ Doty Abrams (writer); Robby Benson (director) (January 16, 1997). "The One with All the Jealousy". Friends. Season 3. Episode 12. NBC.
↑ Michael Borkow (writer); James Burrows (director) (February 13, 1997). "The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break". Friends. Season 3. Episode 15. NBC.
↑ Michael Borkow, Shana Goldberg-Meehan, Scott Silveri, Jill Condon & Amy Toomin (writers); Kevin S. Bright (director) (May 7, 1998). "The One with Ross's Wedding". Friends. Season 4. Episode 23/24. NBC.
↑ Alexa Junge (writer); Gary Halvorson (director) (November 5, 1998). "The One with the Yeti". Friends. Season 5. Episode 6. NBC.
↑ Ted Cohen, Andrew Reich, Gregory S. Malins, Scott Silveri (writers); Kevin S. Bright (director) (May 20, 1999). "The One in Vegas". Friends. Season 5. Episode 23/24. NBC.
↑ Dana Klein Borkow (writer); David Schwimmer (director) (October 4, 2001). "The One with the Red Sweater". Friends. Season 8. Episode 2. NBC.
↑ Scott Silveri, Marta Kauffman & David Crane (writers); Kevin S. Bright (May 16, 2002). "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby". Friends. Season 8. Episode 23/24. NBC.
↑ Marta Kaufman & David Crane (writers); Kevin Bright (director) (May 11, 2003). "The One in Barbados: Part 2". Friends. Season 24. Episode 9. NBC.
↑ Brian Buckner (writer); Gary Halvorson (director) (October 9, 2003). "The One with Ross's Tan". Friends. Season 3. Episode 10. NBC.
↑ Marta Kauffman & David Crane (writers); Kevin S. Bright (director) (May 6, 2004). "The Last One". Friends. Season 10. Episode 17/18. NBC.
↑ Lusinski, Natalia (August 2, 2011). "Interview: Marta Kauffman". The Script Lab. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
↑ Rorke, Robert (January 23, 2011). "Role play". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2015. Today, no one would ever think Jennifer Aniston was not born to play Rachel Green, but Tea Leoni, thought at the time to be the next Lucille Ball (as if!), was the preferred actress for the part.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Willis, Dominic. "Jennifer Aniston– Biography". TalkTalk. Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015. All the Friends would gradually perfect their styles as the show went on but, at the end of the day, it was Rachel ... who became the general favourite.
1 2 "Happy Birthday, Jennifer Aniston". Reign Magazine. February 11, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015. Aniston's breakout character of Rachel Green...
1 2 "Written off but she co-created Friends". Jewish Telegraph. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015. And Marta, 54, confirmed that only Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) is Jewish according to halachic law.
↑ Frankel, Rebecca. "Reclaiming Your Inner JAP". JDate. Spark Networks USA, LLC. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
1 2 3 4 Reid, John; Saraiya, Sonia (May 30, 2013). "Friends: "The Pilot"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
↑ Shayne, Bob (June 10, 2001). "No Experience Wanted". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
↑ "Jennifer Aniston". Golden Globe Awards Official Website. HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
↑ "All About Friends". Angelfire. Archived from the original on March 7, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015. The Rachel Green role, which eventually went to Jennifer Aniston, ended up becoming the breakout character in the series.
1 2 "Rachel Haircut". Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, Inc. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2015. Dubbed the 'Rachel', after the name of her character, Rachel Green, on NBC's long-running hit sitcom Friends, the popular hairstyle helped Aniston emerge as the breakout star of the show's ensemble cast.
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