Jennifer Aniston: The Uncrowned Queen of Comedy

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston. The name needs no introduction as there is hardly anyone who isn’t acquainted with it. Don’t we all say ”Looking for a comedy flick to watch? Jennifer Aniston is the name you should look for in the cast and it will definitely be worth your time”.

Jennifer Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, California, to actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow. Aniston attended the Rudolph Steiner School as a child, she was interested in many forms of art and proved to be a talented painter, eventually having one of her pieces displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Acting also appealed to her, and became her primary focus after graduating from New York’s prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in 1987.

She took roles in off-Broadway productions such as For Dear Life and Dancing on Checker’s Grave before she began honing her skills in television acting with appearances on shows like Quantum Leap and Herman’s Head. Before long, Aniston’s film and television résumé had grown into a laundry list of one-time appearances, short-lived series, and B-level movies.

By 1994, the handful of bit parts and failed shows on Aniston’s résumé had established her as a working actress. She initially auditioned for the role of Monica Gellar in a pilot for a sitcom at that point titled “Friends Like These,” that would prove to be quite auspicious in future. The role in question would eventually be filled by Courtney Cox, as Aniston changed her mind and opted to try out for Rachel Green, a young suburbanite living on her own for the first time and working as a coffee-shop waitress in New York City.

The rest, as they say, is history — “Friends Like These” would become Friends, the hugest sitcom in years, quickly making Aniston America’s sweetheart. The Rachel of Friends, Jennifer Aniston makes a good case for proving that acting talent can be absorbed by osmosis. From her father John Aniston’s stardom on Days of Our Lives to her godfather Telly Savalas, the actress was surrounded by plenty of inspiration from an early age.

Jennifer Aniston
The famous shag cut

One interesting thing originating from her role as Rachel Green on Friends. Her signature hairstyle. The shag cut known as “The Rachel” could be seen on heads all over America .Even as the fad fell out of popularity in the salons, Aniston’s star continued to rise. Establishing her feet in the industry firmly as the gaudy Rachel, Aniston has given a lot to comedy that makes her the unparalleled queen of the genre. Be it Vince Vaughn, Jason Sudeikis , Jason Bateman, Mark Ruffalo , Steve Zahn, Adam Sandler ,Gerard Butler, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Jake Gyllenhal ,  Kevin Bacon , Mark Wahlberg, Jim Carrey, Ben Affleck, Gary Cole, Jennifer has worked with almost all the famous and auspicious names in the world of comedy and film in general.

Still adored on one of the most popular television shows in history, she moved to the big screen in romantic comedies and has beautifully explored genres other than that as well proving her ability to adapt to her roles. Some of her work includes

Leprechaun (1993) AS: Tory Reding

She’s the One (1996) AS: Renee

Picture Perfect (1997) AS: Kate

The Object of My Affection (1998) AS: Nina Borowski

Office Space (1999) AS: Joanna

The Iron Giant (1999) AS: Annie Hughes

Rock Star (2001) AS: Emily Poule

The Good Girl (2002) AS: Justin Last

Bruce Almighty (2003) AS:  Grace Connelly

Along Came Polly (2004) AS: Polly Prince

Derailed (2005) AS: Lucinda Harris

Rumor Has It… (2005) AS: Sarah Huttinger

The Break-Up (2006) AS: Brooke Meyers

Marley & Me (2008) AS: Jenny

He’s Just Not That into You (2009) AS: Beth

The Bounty Hunter (2010) AS: Nicole Hurley

The Switch (2010) AS: Kassie Larson

Just Go with It (2011) AS:  Katherine

Horrible Bosses (2011) AS: Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S

Wanderlust (2012) AS: Linda Gergenblatt

We’re the Millers (2013) AS: Rose O’Reilly

Life of Crime (2014) AS: Mickey Dawson

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) AS:  Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S

Cake (2014) AS: Claire Bennett

She’s Funny That Way (2014) AS: Jane Claremont

She has been nominated for 3 Golden Globes, 6 Primetime Emmys and 10 SAGs of which she has won one of each. Her outstanding performance in her movie “Cake” has led to speculation of her also being an Oscar nominee this time around.