Real Reason Jennifer Aniston Had a 15-Year Falling Out With Her Mom Parallels Her Friends Character Arc as Rachel

Jennifer Aniston, who rose to fame for her role in FRIENDS, surprisingly shared a lot of similarities with Rachel Green, her onscreen character.

Jennifer Aniston made a name for herself as Rachel Green in FRIENDS, and while they share many characteristics, there’s one that the actress would undoubtedly find hard to admit. Aniston and her onscreen character had issues with their parents, and it was a tough journey for both of them.

Fans remember that the actress had a falling out with her mother for 15 years where they did not speak to each other. Apparently, it stemmed from an experience that Aniston witnessed during her childhood. Similarly, her TV role mirrored this in the form of Rachel struggling to deal with her father.

How Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Green shared the same issues with their parents

Family issues are always a complicated topic, and as much as possible, we hate talking about them. For Jennifer Aniston, it was something she had shared with the public—well, how can she hide it? Both her parents were Hollywood figures.

John Aniston and Nancy Dow were veteran actors who became the biggest influences in Aniston’s life and career. The actress fondly recalled a great time in her childhood when they moved to New York due to her dad’s work. But as fate would have it, this did not last long.

When her parents got divorced, her mother’s issues slowly seeped through Aniston, and they slowly became distanced. The actress gained a role in FRIENDS, which catapulted her to international stardom, also did not help mend their relationship. For 15 years, they went on separate lives without speaking to each other.

Perhaps this was the reason why Aniston was able to seamlessly portray Rachel Green’s issues with her father. Throughout the show, the beloved character didn’t have the courage to stand up to her dad. Interestingly, she also got caught in the crossfire between Ross and her father’s dilemma, which was definitely reminiscent of the time Aniston tried to bring back the joy in her family amid the growing tension between her parents.

It must have been a challenge for her to play a role that deals with problems so similar to what she has encountered in real life, not to mention something as delicate and personal as family matters. Good thing, the mother and daughter reconciled after Aniston faced her own divorce from Brad Pitt.

Jennifer Aniston’s bitter experiences informed her decisions in life

In her interview with Elle Magazine, Aniston confessed she had a rough childhood and that leaving her parents’ house for the first time felt like the happiest day of her life. Moreover, she told the outlet that the choices she’s made were shaped by the experiences she endured in the past. “I have chosen to use what I grew up with as an example of what I do not want to be or live in,” she revealed.

Aniston has been asked many times why she does not have children of her own—a question she refuses to answer. It’s her own right not to respond to these types of queries, and fans have to learn to respect that.