Jennifer Aniston has admitted she was surprised to hear Friends co-star Matthew Perry’s candid revelations about the pressures he felt while making the show during their recent reunion.
The pair recently came together with the rest of the main cast for a much-hyped reunion special, which saw them reminiscing about their time making the award-winning sitcom.
During one segment, Matthew disclosed that he felt immense pressure while delivering his character’s lines, and the effect it would have on him if his jokes fell flat.
“I felt like I was going to die if they didn’t laugh,” Matthew explained. “I would sweat and shake… and it’s not healthy, for sure.”
“If I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get, I would freak out,” he added.
Asked about Matthew’s comments during an interview on The Today Show, Jen revealed: “I didn’t understand the level of anxiety and self-torture [that] was put on Matthew Perry, if he didn’t get that laugh, and the devastation that he felt.”
However, she added that the revelation “makes sense” in hindsight.
She wasn’t the only one to be surprised by Matthew’s comments, with Lisa Kudrow saying during the reunion that he “didn’t tell” the rest of the cast how he was feeling at the time.
Friends: The Reunion finally debuted last month, following a number of setbacks due to the pandemic.
During the special, the cast reminisced about some of their favourite memories from making Friends, and were joined by former co-stars like James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Christina Pickles and Elliot Gould.
There were also appearances from A-list Friends fans including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, David Beckham, BTS and Malala Yousafzai.
Friends: The Reunion is still available to stream on NOW.
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Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
The pair recently came together with the rest of the main cast for a much-hyped reunion special, which saw them reminiscing about their time making the award-winning sitcom.
During one segment, Matthew disclosed that he felt immense pressure while delivering his character’s lines, and the effect it would have on him if his jokes fell flat.
“I felt like I was going to die if they didn’t laugh,” Matthew explained. “I would sweat and shake… and it’s not healthy, for sure.”
“If I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get, I would freak out,” he added.
Asked about Matthew’s comments during an interview on The Today Show, Jen revealed: “I didn’t understand the level of anxiety and self-torture [that] was put on Matthew Perry, if he didn’t get that laugh, and the devastation that he felt.”
However, she added that the revelation “makes sense” in hindsight.
She wasn’t the only one to be surprised by Matthew’s comments, with Lisa Kudrow saying during the reunion that he “didn’t tell” the rest of the cast how he was feeling at the time.
Friends: The Reunion finally debuted last month, following a number of setbacks due to the pandemic.
During the special, the cast reminisced about some of their favourite memories from making Friends, and were joined by former co-stars like James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Christina Pickles and Elliot Gould.
There were also appearances from A-list Friends fans including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, David Beckham, BTS and Malala Yousafzai.
Friends: The Reunion is still available to stream on NOW.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
