JENNIFER Aniston related to her “vulnerable” character on The Morning Show who is dealing with “trauma and turmoil in her private life.”
The former Friends actress plays Alex Levy, the anchor of a morning news show, in the Apple TV+ series.
Alex has to fight to keep her job against rival Bradley Jackson, played by Reese Witherspoon.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Jennifer opened up about her portrayal of Alex, saying: “I wanted to feel vulnerable. I wanted to show the raw, the messy, the unflattering. This is a woman holding it together.
“One of the challenges for [my] character is the trauma and turmoil going on in her private life, and the toll that that takes on her emotionally, physically, mentally, versus the character that she is when she has to get up, put on a face and smile to America.”
That feeling is certainly something the 50-year-old, whose had every relationship or career choice analysed by the media for more than 25 years, can relate to.
She continued: “I can relate to that. Of course there are times when you don’t want anyone to see you, or you don’t want to be photographed or even go out of the house.”
The Morning Show marks Jennifer’s return to TV for the first time since she signed off as Rachel Green in Friends 15 years ago.
Speaking to Variety recently about the difference between making the two shows, Jennifer said: “Most of them were [shot out of order].
“We’d shoot this and then we’d say, ‘Well, we’ll throw in some of Episode 104.’
“And while we’re adding a scene from 107, you have to go, ‘Where was I and where will I have gone by then?’
“Friends was like going to see a play for three or four hours. And it was just laughing and wonderful fun. “And this is fun. It’s just a lot harder. My bandwidth had to expand so that I could take in all the information.”
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As for the hit sitcom, Jennifer admitted she was stunned how it was still as popular as ever, thanks to it streaming on Netflix to a whole new generation.
She added she likes to catch the odd episode herself, saying: “It makes you happy. Even when I stumble on it, it makes me happy.
“I love it and I’ve also forgotten most of it, so it’s really fun for me to rediscover.”