Lisa Kudrow Opens Up About Feeling ‘The Sixth Friend’
Lisa Kudrow has candidly acknowledged she didn’t always feel like a central figure during her time on the iconic sitcom, “Friends.” The actress, known for her beloved portrayal of Phoebe Buffay alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry, recently shared her experiences with the Independent.
“Nobody cared about me,” Kudrow revealed. “There were certain parts of [my talent agency] that just referred to me as ‘the sixth Friend.’” Despite winning an Emmy Award in 1998 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as the endearingly quirky Phoebe, Kudrow felt a lack of belief in her long-term potential in Hollywood.
Early Doubts and the Power of ‘Friends’
“There was no vision for me, and no expectations about the kind of career I could have,” she recalled. “There was just, like, ‘boy is she lucky she got on that show.’” “Friends” captivated audiences for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Kudrow’s role was integral to the show’s success, yet she faced internal and external perceptions that underestimated her capabilities.
Becoming Phoebe: A Journey of Understanding
In a recent Q&A with Lily Tomlin for Interview magazine, Kudrow discussed the evolution of her connection to Phoebe. She emphasized the initial distance between herself and the character. “At first, Phoebe was very, very far from me,” she shared. “It took a lot of work to justify the things she would say and do. Not in an irritating way — it was fun.”
Over the decade-long run of the series, Kudrow found herself subtly influenced by Phoebe. “Over the course of 10 years, a little bit of her came into me,” she continued, “I lightened up a little more and read some books on spirituality and things, just to try to understand her.”
Challenging Perceptions of Phoebe
Kudrow also addressed the common misconception that Phoebe was simply a “ditzy” character. “At the time, it was like, “She’s such a ditz. How is it that you only play ditzes?” And I thought, Is she a ditz? To me, she wasn’t.” She explained that the perception of “ditziness” in 1994 was different. “Someone who wasn’t towing the line.”
Embracing Aging in Hollywood
Currently promoting the third and final season of “The Comeback,” Kudrow has also been open about the pressures of aging in Hollywood. She recently told the Hollywood Reporter that she didn’t try Botox until she was 60, but is now “probably done with it.”
“I am scared of having to see myself looking like my grandmother one day, but I’m excited to play older roles,” she explained. Kudrow’s honesty and willingness to discuss these topics resonate with audiences and offer a refreshing perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing women in the entertainment industry. You can find more about Lisa Kudrow’s career on IMDb.
