Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston profile,

Jennifer Joanna Aniston, (born February 11, 1969) is an American actress. She gained worldwide recognition in the 1990s for portraying the role of Rachel Green in the television sitcom Friends, which earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Aniston has also enjoyed a successful film career after appearing in several Hollywood productions. She gained critical acclaim for her performances in the independent films She's the One (1996), Office Space (1999) and The Good Girl (2002). Her most commercially successful big screen projects have been in the comedies Bruce Almighty (2003) and Marley & Me (2008) as well as romantic comedies that include Along Came Polly (2004), The Break-Up (2006), He's Just Not That into You (2009), and The Bounty Hunter (2010 film)

Aniston's romantic relationships, notably her five-year marriage to actor Brad Pitt, have gained widespread coverage from the entertainment media. In 2010, Aniston ranked #8 in Forbes' annual World's Most Powerful Celebrities list, earning $25 million.

Early life

Jennifer Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, California, and grew up in New York City.[4] She is the daughter of actor John Aniston and actress Nancy Dow. Aniston's Greek American father was born Yannis Anastassakis on the island of Crete, Greece, while her mother is of Scottish-Italian descent and was born in New York City.Her father has appeared in the soap operas Days of our Lives, Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow.Aniston has two half-brothers, John Melick (older) and Alex Aniston (younger).Aniston's godfather was the actor Telly Savalas, her father's best friend. She lived in Greece for one year as a child with her family, and they later relocated to New York City.Aniston attended the New York Rudolf Steiner School and graduated from Manhattan's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.She worked in Off Broadway productions such as For Dear Life and Dancing on Checker's Grave. She supported herself with several part-time jobs, including working as a telemarketer, waitress, and bike messenger. In 1989, she moved to Los Angeles, California.

Career

Television

Aniston moved to Hollywood and was cast in her first television role in 1990, starring as a regular on the short-lived series Molloy and in the TV movie Camp Cucamonga. She also co-starred in Ferris Bueller, a television adaptation of the 1986 hit movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The series, however, was quickly canceled. Aniston then appeared in two more failed television comedy shows, The Edge and Muddling Through, and guest-starred on Quantum Leap, Herman's Head, and Burke's Law. After the string of canceled shows, along with her appearance in the critically derided 1992 horror film, Leprechaun,Aniston considered giving up acting.Aniston's plans changed, however, after auditioning for Friends, a sitcom that was set to debut on NBC's 1994–1995 fall line-up. The producers of the show originally wanted Aniston to audition for the role of Monica Geller,but Courteney Cox was considered to be better suited to the role. Thus, Aniston was cast as Rachel Green. She played the character of Rachel from 1994 until the show ended in 2004.

The program was successful and Aniston, along with her co-stars, gained wide renown among television viewers. Her hairstyle at the time, which became known as the "Rachel", was widely copied. Aniston received a salary of one million dollars per episode for the last two seasons of Friends, as well as five Emmy nominations (two for Supporting Actress, three for Lead Actress), including a win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. According to the Guinness World Book of Records (2005), Aniston (along with her female costars) became the highest paid TV actress of all time with her $1 million-per-episode paycheck for the tenth season of Friends.

In 2007, Aniston guest starred in an episode of Courteney Cox Arquette's series Dirt, playing Arquette's rival, Tina Harrod. Aniston appeared in the third episode of Season 3 of NBC's 30 Rock playing Liz Lemon's old college roommate who stalks Jack Donaghy. On July 16, 2009, Aniston received an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on 30 Rock.

Film

While she appeared on Friends, Aniston also started segueing into film roles. She made her film debut in 1992's Leprechaun which was negatively reviewed by critics at the time, but was commercially successful and gained a cult following. She stayed away from cinema for nearly 4 years before starring in two 1996 independent films: She's the One alongside Edward Burns and Amanda Peet, and Dream for an Insomniac. Her first starring vehicle was Picture Perfect (1997) opposite Kevin Bacon and Jay Mohr, and while the film received mixed reviews, most critics suggested she possessed film star quality. During the second half of the 1990s she starred in several films such as the ensemble romantic film Til There Was You (1997) with Dylan McDermott and Sarah Jessica Parker, The Thin Pink Line (1998), the animated feature The Iron Giant (1999), and the critically acclaimed comedy Office Space (1999). She gained critical acclaim for her performances in The Object of My Affection (1998), a comedy-drama about a woman who falls for a gay man (played by Paul Rudd, and in the low-budget 2002 film, The Good Girl, directed by Miguel Arteta, playing an unglamorous cashier in a small town. The latter film opened in relatively few theaters—under 700 in total—taking $14M in the U.S. box office.

Aniston, with Steve Zahn, at the premiere of Management (2008).

Aniston's biggest box office success to date was her appearance in 2003's Bruce Almighty, in which she played the live-in girlfriend of Jim Carrey's title character. Aniston then starred in the 2004 film, Along Came Polly opposite Ben Stiller.In late 2005, Aniston appeared in two major studio films, Derailed and Rumor Has It.

In 2006, Aniston appeared in the low-budget drama, Friends with Money, which was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival, received a limited release. Aniston's next film, The Break-Up opposite Vince Vaughn, which was released on June 2, grossed approximately $39.17 million during its opening weekend, despite lukewarm reviews. In 2006, Aniston directed a hospital emergency room-set short film called Room 10, starring Robin Wright Penn and Kris Kristofferson.Aniston has noted that she was inspired to direct by actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who also directed a short film in 2006.

On December 25, 2008, Marley & Me, in which Aniston starred alongside Owen Wilson, was released. It set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales. It earned a total of $51.7 million over the four-day weekend and placed #1 at the box office, a position it maintained for two weeks. The total worldwide gross was $242,717,113. Her next film in wide release, He's Just Not That into You, where she starred opposite Ben Affleck, opened in February 2009. The movie made $27.5 million, ranking #1 at the box office in its opening weekend. While the film received mixed reviews, Aniston, along with Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Jennifer Connelly, are often praised by critics as being the stand-outs in the film.

In March 2010, Aniston released The Bounty Hunter, which costarred Gerard Butler. While the film received scathing reviews from critics, it was a modest box office success. She also has The Switch with Jason Bateman set for release in August 2010.

Aniston's movies have grossed more than $990,344,238 in the United States and over $1,508,048,564 worldwide.

She is currently filming Just Go With It with Adam Sandler, which is set for release in February 2011.

Other work

Aniston has appeared in various commercials and music videos. In 1996, she was in Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers music video for "Walls". In 2001, Aniston was in Melissa Etheridge's music video for "I Want To Be In Love". She was cast in a Heineken commercial which was later banned due to branding issues. Aniston has also been in commercials for L'Oreal hair products. In 1994, Microsoft invited Aniston, along with Friends co-star Matthew Perry, to shoot a 30-minute promotional advertisement for their new operating system, Windows 95.

In the media

Forbes listed Aniston as the 10th richest woman in the entertainment industry for the year 2007. She was behind such powerhouses as Oprah Winfrey, J. K. Rowling, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez and is ahead of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and the Olsen twins. Aniston's net worth is approximately $110 million. Aniston was also included in the annual Star Salary Top 10 of trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter for 2006. According to Forbes, in October 2007, Aniston was the top-selling celebrity face of the entertainment industry. In 2008, Aniston landed the seventeenth spot on Forbes Celebrity 100 list based on "earnings and fame." Forbes listed Aniston's earnings as $27 million.

Aniston appeared nude in a series of photographs that are published on the cover and inside pages of the January 2009 issue of GQ. She told the magazine that she felt more comfortable at 40 than she did in her twenties or thirties. "I'm healthier. I'm more at peace in my mind and with my body and soul, I feel like a kid again," Aniston says. She also appears nude in The Break Up.

Philanthropy

Aniston supports many charity foundations. She is a supporter of Friends of El Faro, a grassroots non-profit organization that helps raise money for Casa Hogar Sion, an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. She has appeared in many TV commercials for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, which she supports. She made a guest appearance on "Oprah's Big Give" to support the cause. Aniston hosted September 2008's Stand Up to Cancer show. In the "It Can't Wait" campaign to free Burma, Aniston directed and starred in a video. On April 14, 2007, Aniston received GLAAD's Vanguard Award for her contributions to increased visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. On Earth day 2010, Aniston joined Courtney Cox, Woody Harrelson, Ben Stiller and other Hollywood stars in "The Cove PSA: My Friend is... " an effort to stop the slaughter of dolphins and protect the Japanese population from the toxic levels of mercury found in dolphin meat.

Personal life

Aniston at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

After dating her Ferris Bueller TV costar Charlie Schlatter in 1990, she began a relationship with Daniel MacDonald in 1991, which continued until 1994 shortly before she was cast in Friends.She briefly dated musician Adam Duritz in 1995 and from 1995 to 1998, she was romantically involved with actor Tate Donovan and the couple were reportedly engaged.

In March 1998, she began dating actor Brad Pitt, they married on July 29, 2000, in a lavish Malibu wedding. For a few years, their marriage was considered the rare Hollywood success. However, the couple announced their separation on January 6, 2005. Pitt and Aniston were seen together publicly after announcing their separation, even at a dinner party for Aniston's 36th birthday, and friends of the couple had declared they were reconciling. Aniston, however, filed for divorce on March 25, 2005.It was finalized on October 2, 2005.

Aniston revealed that her divorce prompted her to reach out to her mother, Nancy, from whom she was estranged for nearly a decade. They initially became estranged when Nancy talked about her daughter on a television show and later wrote a book entitled, From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir (1999).Aniston has also stated she was devastated by the death of her longtime therapist, whose work helped make her separation from Pitt easier.Aniston said her relationship with Pitt, which she does not regret, was "seven very intense years together" and that "it was a beautiful, complicated relationship."

Following her divorce, Aniston began a relationship with actor Vince Vaughn, with whom she costarred in The Break Up, but relationship troubles were reported in September 2006, followed by a confirmed split in December of that year.She dated model Paul Sculfor for a few months in 2007. In February 2008, she began dating singer John Mayer.The couple broke up in August, but they resumed the relationship in October before splitting again in March 2009.

Aniston has had two septoplasties to correct her deviated septum—one which was incorrectly done in 1994 and the second in January 2007. Septoplasty is a surgical operation that helps alleviate a common condition that can lead to breathing difficulty and trouble sleeping.She is the godmother of Coco Riley Arquette, the daughter of her good friends, actors Courteney Cox and David Arquette.

Filmography

Actress

Film

Year Film Role Notes

1993 Leprechaun Tory Reding First feature film

1996 She's the One Renee Fitzpatrick

Dream for an Insomniac Allison

1997 'Til There Was You Debbie

Picture Perfect Kate Mosely

1998 The Thin Pink Line Clove

Waiting for Woody Herself Short film

The Object of My Affection Nina Borowski

1999 Office Space Joanna

The Iron Giant Annie Hughes Voice Only

2001 Rock Star Emily Poule

2002 The Good Girl Justine Last

2003 Bruce Almighty Grace Connelly

Abby Singer Herself Cameo

2004 Along Came Polly Polly Prince

2005 Derailed Lucinda Harris

Rumor Has It... Sarah Huttinger

2006 Friends with Money Olivia

The Break-Up Brooke Meyers

2008 Marley & Me Jenny Grogan

2009 He's Just Not That into You Beth Murphy

Management Sue Claussen Also producer

Love Happens Eloise Chandler

Journey to Sundance Herself Documentary

2010 The Bounty Hunter Nicole Hurly

The Switch Kassie Larson Completed

2011 Just Go With It Katherine Palmer Filming

The Goree Girls Trisha Durrant Pre-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes

1990 Molloy Courtney Main role

1990 Camp Cucamonga Ava Schector Television movie

1990-1991 Ferris Bueller' Jeannie Bueller

1992–1993 The Edge Various characters Main role

1994 Muddling Through Madeline Drego Cooper Main role

1994–2004 Friends Rachel Green 236 episodes one of the six main roles

2004 Growing Up Grizzly 2 Herself - Hostess Documentary

TV guest appearances

Year Title Role Notes

1992 Quantum Leap Kiki Wilson "Nowhere to Run" (Season 5, Episode 4)

1992—1993 Herman's Head Suzie Brooks

"Twisted Sister" (Season 1, Episode 25)

"Jay Is for Jealousy" (Season 3, Episode 8)

1994 Burke's Law Linda Campbell "Who Killed the Beauty Queen?" (Season 1, Episode 4)

1995 The Larry Sanders Show Herself "Conflict of Interest" (Season 4, Episode 10)

1998 Partners CPA Suzanne "Follow the Clams?" (Season 1, Episode 17)

Ellen Herself "Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute: Part 2" (Season 5, Episode 20)

Disney's Hercules Galatea (Voice) "Dream Date" (Season 1, Episode 27)

1999 South Park Mrs. Stevens - Choir Teacher (Voice) "Rainforest Schmainforest" (Season 3, Episode 1)

2003 Freedom: A History of Us Jessie Benton "Wake Up America " (Season 1, Episode 4)

King of the Hill Pepperoni Sue/Stephanie (Voice) "Queasy Rider" (Season 7, Episode 13)

2007 Dirt Tina Harrod "Ita Missa Est " (Season 1, Episode 13)

2008 30 Rock Claire Harper "The One with the Cast of Night Court" (Season 3, Episode 3)

Video games

Year Title Role Notes

1996 Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair Laura Voice

Director

Year Title Notes

2006 Room 10 Short Film

Producer

Year Title Notes

2008 Management Executive producer

2010 The Switch Executive producer

2011 The Goree Girls Producer

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Jennifer Aniston

Year Award Category Film or Serie Result

1996 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Friends Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Won

1999 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Friends Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2000 Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical Friends Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

TV Guide Awards Editor's Choice - Won

2001 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Friends Nominated

Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Friends Won

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer Friends Won

Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden Best Foreign TV Personality- Female Friends Won

2002 54th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Friends Won

Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Friends Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer Friends Won

Hollywood Film Festival Actress of the Year - Won

Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actress- Comedy Friends Won

Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden Best Foreign TV Personality- Female Friends Won

2003 Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy Friends Won

Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical Friends Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead The Good Girl Nominated

Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical The Good Girl Nominated

Online Film Critics Society Best Actress The Good Girl Nominated

Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actress- Drama/Action Adventure The Good Girl Won

People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer Friends Won

Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actress- Comedy Friends Won

Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden Best Foreign TV Personality- Female Friends Won

Logie Awards Most Popular Overseas TV Program Friends Won

2004 Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

Logie Awards Most Popular Overseas Star Friends Won

Most Popular Overseas TV Program Friends Won

People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer Friends Won

Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actress- Comedy Friends Won

Aftonbladet TV Prize, Sweden Best Foreign TV Personality- Female Friends Won

ShoWest Convention Awards Female Star of the Year - Won

2006 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Chemistry (shared with Vince Vaughn) The Break-Up Won

2007 People's Choice Award Favorite Female Movie Star - Won

GLAAD Media Awards Vanguard Award - Won

CineVegas International Film Festival Best Short Film Room 10 Won

2009 Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated

(source:wikipedia)