Jann Carl Interview 

Entertainment Tonight: Fun, adorable movie -- and I'm pretty picky! I know you must get so many offers to do different things. What was it about this? 

Jennifer Aniston: This was an opportunity that came by and I loved it. I thought it was a very sweet story. I wanted to do an animated film and see what that was like. I'll tell you, it ain't easy. It was fun. It's really hard and fun at the same time. 

ET: What part wasn't easy? 

Jennifer: It's weird to not act with anybody. That's the hardest part. And the director had a very clear idea of her voice, so there's not a lot of movement to play around. You almost feel like you're doing line readings. It's just not as free as you would have imagined it to be. But they do animate it to you -- to your  voice. It was hard, though. It was tedious. 

ET: Did your voice come before the character was created? 

Jennifer: No, they had her. 

ET: Was she completely done, or did they tweak her? 

Jennifer: They did tweak her a little bit. She was always in skirts and I think they put her in pedal pushers. 

ET: I saw that. Did you see any of yourself in her when you watched
the movie? 

Jennifer: No, nothing. Not even a little bit. It was actually very weird to hear the voice. It's sort of like, "Oh, God! You're acting with nobody!" Because I could tell. I was in the room and it didn't sound like I was reacting to any of the other people. It was weird. It was definitely weird. It took awhile, but then I really got swept into the
movie. 

ET: If I hadn't known and I had just closed my eyes, I wouldn't have known it was you. When I saw the Draco in 'Dragonheart,' I knew it was Sean Connery! 

Jennifer: Well, that's a tough one! 

ET: I guess for you it was harder just being a voice than when you get to be a voice and a body and everything else. 

Jennifer: I kind of loved it. It was cool. 

ET: No make-up! 

Jennifer: I could roll right in there and roll right out. 

ET: You didn't even have to shower! 

Jennifer: You don't. And there were days that I didn't. 

ET: I've got to tell, being a mom, you didn't even ground him when he was out of his bedroom in the middle of the night! You were pretty soft... 

Jennifer: Yeah, well I didn't write it. But he learned his lesson! 

ET: I know you've talked about it before -- you've said you want to be a mom one day. After playing the mom in this, did you say, "Yeah, this will be fun one day?" 

Jennifer: Well, sure. I love the idea of doing an animated movie and knowing how much I watched them as a kid. I was so mesmerized and taken into the fantasy. Eventually when there are kids, that will be one
for them to sort of get lost in as well. To be a part of it, that's pretty cool. 

ET: I think it's really cool. Did you have a favorite animated movie growing up? 

Jennifer: 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and 'Cinderella.' Those were the two main ones. 

ET: The difference is now they can watch them over and over and over... until you can do the words with them. Then you know you've seen the movie too many times. 

Jennifer: That's true. This is also neat, because it kind of is a throw-back. You don't know that's the approach they're taking until you see the movie. I felt like I was watching an old animated movie. There weren't a lot of stunts and special effects. It was all just sort of classic. BRAD [BIRD, the director] did a really wonderful job on all of
those levels. 

ET: I liked that, too. Because it was set in the '50s, I think they tried to stay true to that. So would you do animation again? 

Jennifer: Possibly. I might. 

ET: Although, I think the female characters have got to have a bigger waist! 

Jennifer: Don't you think? I mean, how realistic is that? We're already plastering unrealistic images all over the world. Why make it worse? 

ET: I know. And the waitress thing. Did it send you back to those days? 

Jennifer: No, not really. 

ET: Did you ever do it in real life? 

Jennifer: Oh, yeah! That was one of my favorite jobs in the world, being a waitress. 

ET: You got great tips, didn't you? 

Jennifer: I got good tips, I liked meeting the people. It was just fun! And I worked at a fun place, too. It was a very casual burger joint. 

ET: That makes the difference. I've got to ask you about "Friends." Have you started yet? 

Jennifer: We start back in a week. 

ET: Back to work! Everybody's talking about how you guys have signed up for a sixth season. And everybody's talking about are they going to sign up for season seven. What I want to know is, when did you normally sign? Is it not a big deal that you haven't signed up for season
seven yet? 

Jennifer: I truthfully don't know how it's supposed to go. I don't know how all of the other shows do it. You certainly don't talk about it to other people, because it's their own business. 

ET: In the past, did you guys usually sign up a year ahead of time, a year and a half ahead of time, or six months ahead of time? 

Jennifer: I don't know. I've never been on a show that's lasted more than thirteen episodes, so this is all a first for me. 

ET: Originally, how many years had you signed up for? 

Jennifer: Five originally and then we renegotiated. And everybody gave us a lot of bad time then when we renegotiated for a sixth year. That's where it's stayed, at six. That's where we are right now. We're done
after six and we'll see what happens. 

ET: So now it's all about whether there will be a seventh. Well, of course there will be! It's not just your fans, but the critics went nuts over the show last season. 

Jennifer: You can sit and drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what that's all about. I mean, the show never fell off and became awful. It's always tried to maintain this level of commitment to what the show is
about, which is good writing and committing to what the shows were. We just continued to do that year after year, and I think there was that weird backlash period where they gave us all a hard time. They 
thought, aren't we bratty little spoiled actors to go in and do whatever it is that we did? We wanted to be paid the same because we thought that was fair because we were putting in the same amount of work. It
was kind of something we believed in, not something harmful at all. Who knows why that all shifts now? I mean, we're glad. We're thankful. It means that we're doing what we're supposed to be doing. 

ET: Right. So basically it's renegotiation time, but nothing has been done yet. Your fans are just going to have to keep their fingers crossed. Personally, would you love to do it some more? 

Jennifer: Well, yeah. It's a great job! It's absolutely the fun and the people are the dreamiest people that you could ever imagine getting to work with every day.

Stephen Schaefer interview

Jennifer: "It's very bizarre to be in this position. You almost feel like you haven't earned this yet. It's a hard thing to pat yourself on the back."

Question: Wasn't it about this time last year ago that your hair was what everyone was talking about?

Jennifer: Yeah, it was a big trend.

Question: So did you consciously change your hair? Now it's parted and hanging loose below your shoulders.

Jennifer: I think it might have been a little bit conscious. But I was also just bored. It's very flattering to have people talk about your hair, though. And I was somebody who never loved my hair--I had curly hair and wished it were straight. I had bad hair days with the humidity. So it was sort of ironic to all of a sudden to have this hair be a fad.

Question: Did you get lots of mail from young women sending pictures of their hair like yours?

Jennifer: Yeah. It was wild--and so flattering, I must say.

Question: In terms of your impact on young women: what about your character in Picture Perfect, who jumps into bed with the wrong guy? Your director said the studio was much more concerned with the character's carnality, while you had no qualms. He said, "She knew what this was."

Jennifer: I knew, because it's not like this doesn't exist. It's like dirty words or seeing somebody naked--we all know what it is. We can pretend it's not there and show this perfect, politically correct image. Or we can show something real, which happens to people. I'm not saying that it's the right thing to do--God knows Kate learns that wasn't right, and that's what she gains from that experience. I think she made a big mistake but it wasn't her fault--she was thrown into this situation [of having a fake fiancé] by chance. I felt she was apologizing for it. [Director] Glenn [Gordon Caron] and I talked about that. Because she could come across as mean and manipulative and a bitch and I didn't want that. I wanted people to have compassion and relate to her and get it. That's a hard thing to do, to ride that line.

Question: We, in the audience, realize that Mohr is the right guy very quickly. He's kind and considerate. Does this movie imply that nice guys are treated like doormats?

Jennifer: Yeah. And [women should] stop going for the bad guys. Stop looking so far when the good ones are right there.

Question: I wondered as I watched this movie--though Jay Mohr is terrific--did you ever think of going to the studio, and saying, "Here's a tape of my boyfriend, Tate Donovan. What about his playing opposite me?"

Jennifer: Yeah. Tate would have been perfect for it. But when it's your first [starring] movie, there's an element of not wanting to have a relationship on-screen. That's where all the politics come into it. Eventually, we're going to do something together, because I'd love to work with him as an actor. But there's something about keeping your own identity and keeping your private stuff private. We understand that. No matter how perfect he is for that part--and he is!--that's just not the way it should go.

Question: In TV Guide's recent story on you, Tate bounds in the room as you're saying, "I don't want to discuss my relationship." It's very funny. But is it hard to keep this thing private?

Jennifer: It's a strange thing. All of a sudden on your second date, you're reading that you're engaged before you've even decided whether you want another date. It's a very weird thing, and that's why people cherish their privacy so much. Especially when they're starting a relationship. Because it's so hard to have a relationship, no matter what your career is. If you're in the public eye, that's a tough thing--especially when you don't know this person and you don't want to scare them away, because that can be very intimidating.

Question: Do you worry this machine will take you away from yourself, change you?

Jennifer: No, because we've all seen this business chew people up and spit them out. I think I've learned from my family and friends that this is something I want to do, and do well. There's so much more to learn. It's very bizarre to be in this position. You almost feel like you haven't earned this yet. I want to wait until I get to a place where I can say, "Now I deserve all this." That will happen. But you have to look at what you've done. It's a hard thing to pat yourself on the back.

Question: I've heard people who become famous feel unworthy.

Jennifer: It's something you can never understand until you feel it. You're surrounded by actors you look up to, and you wonder if you'll ever have a moment like that on the screen?

Question: You've said you watch the dailies as you make a film. But you feel you shouldn't be watching them on your current movie, The Object of My Affection?

Jennifer: It's so different, it's not a rip-roaring comedy. It's not a date movie. It's a very different story about this woman whose best friend is gay and she ends up falling in love with him. She becomes pregnant with her boyfriend, but decides to have the baby and wants to raise it with her best friend, because they have this love. They want to make up their own rules. It doesn't quite work out that way.

Question: I heard there was a lot of competition for the Object role.

Jennifer: Yup! I auditioned months before, when it had another life at another studio. Somebody else was attached. They had cast Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves--no, I don't remember who the other person was--and then it fell apart. Now I'd never gotten a letter from a director in my life, but [director Nicholas] Hytner wrote me after that audition. His letter said, "There are so many reasons why an actor is cast, and it's all political and had nothing to do with your talent. Someday, hopefully, we'll work together." It was the loveliest letter I've ever received and I thought it was so kind. There are so few kind people in the world, much less this business, who don't have some odd agenda. He's just such a wonderful man.

Question: You got this part with the supposition that you would film on your hiatus. Have you lost film roles because of the series? Would there be a way to do one during the series?

Jennifer: I did She's the One and 'Til There Was You during the series. I would shoot the show on Tuesday nights, do 'Til There Was You in Los Angeles on Wednesdays, fly to New York and shoot through the weekend and then fly back. I was thrilled! I was so psyched they could work it out and I could do movies. Wow.

Question: You say you don't have a career plan. You didn't consciously start with small roles so no one could say, "Who does she think she is, starring in this movie?"

Jennifer: No. I wish I could say I came up with that.

Question: Did you turn down leads that weren't in good scripts?

Jennifer: No! At that point I was still Jennifer who? I was kind of finding my place. I auditioned for both of those. Every movie I've done, except for Picture Perfect--which came from my dad--I've auditioned for. It's not as easy as, "Oh, you're a big star, do this."

Question: It's been reported that on Friends, Rachel and Ross are getting back together.

Jennifer: They haven't told us anything. You know why they don't tell us? Because you guys will ask, and they know we will tell you. I think they don't honestly know themselves. Well, I'm sure they do by now.

Question: But shouldn't you know if they're going to resurrect this romance? I always thought that the writers would work with the actor.

Jennifer: I've always asked that she change: "Can't she get a job in a boutique?" Everyone knew Rachel was eventually going to leave that coffeehouse. If I had to wear a denim skirt one more time, I was going to throw up! I just couldn't handle the aprons--I needed a wardrobe. But that was fun actually, getting to work with Bloomingdale's. All of a sudden, they're buying me suits and stuff. Everybody's changed and evolved, and all of the characters have come into their own.

Question: So you wouldn't be totally surprised to come back and have them say, "Hey we're putting you two back together"?

Jennifer: I hope they do. Only because I don't feel Ross and Rachel ended correctly. I think everybody knows that. It would be sad to see Ross and Rachel end because of some fleeting affair, because he was angry and she was angry. It was that love-hate-pride thing that separated them. As opposed to really knowing and making a conscious choice that they're just not right for each other. Which could happen too.

Question: What about Matthew Perry, who's been in rehab?

Jennifer: Matthew is doing great.

Question: I heard you were on the set of The Object of My Affection until three in the morning last night. Don't they know you're the star and you've got a full day of interviews for this?

Jennifer: Oh, it was fine--it was the weather. If we didn't have the rain, we would have been okay. But I'm so excited, I don't even get tired.

Question: You seem so nice. You say nice things about everybody; everyone says nice things about you. Is that possible--to not be neurotic and be an actress and be happy?

Jennifer: [Softly.] I'm neurotic. Of course I'm neurotic. Who did you talk to? Oh my God!

Question: Matt LeBlanc recently said that being famous is like hanging naked from a tree in the wind. Do you agree?

Jennifer: My analogy is free-falling. It's like jumping out of an airplane, hoping your parachute is going to open. Doesn't everybody get a little neurotic? I definitely get nervous with all these clothes being sent to me, and I have to pick an outfit. And if I wear this designer, I have to wear all of that designer and I can't throw in other shoes. "Can't I just wear my old shoes because they're so comfortable?" I mean, you just want to scream and say, "Take me away!" But those are fleeting moments. You know what's good? To have somebody ground you and say, "Wait, it's okay."

Question: Is that somebody your assistant? Or would that be Tate?

Jennifer: That's Tate. That's friends. Whatever. But it doesn't happen to me that often. I enjoy what's happening. You have no choice but to surrender to it.

Jennifer Aniston Interview With Matt Lauer on the Today Show

Matt: What would happen Jennifer, if you guys (David Schwimmer and herself) decided that you liked each other a little more than friends, and started to date?

Jennifer: In real life you mean?

Matt: Yeah.

Jennifer: Well, that's already happened. I'm kidding. Whoa. No, how would that affect the show? Well interestingly enough we're sort of exploring that on the show.

Matt: America has a collected crush on Jennifer Aniston, or maybe it just the hair. Ok, so I'm looking at it.

Jennifer: You're scared.

Matt: No, I'm looking at it. Don't get me wrong it's lovely, but it's a haircut.

Jennifer: What's the big deal?

Matt: Yeah.

Jennifer: I don't know. I feel like we're kidding everyone.

Matt: In malls across the country, women are saying "That's the look I want". In reality it's flattering.

Jennifer: It's faltering, you know what, there is definately a part of you that asks. "Hmm, why am I getting noticed for my hair and not my work".

Jennifer: Why do they like Rachel? Because she's innocent, and vulnerable, and genuine. Those are attractive qualities.

Matt: Courteney Cox said that Jennifer Aniston and Rachel are a bit similar because they can both be distracted.

Jennifer: I'm distracted. I go into my head. Matt always makes fun of me because I go in "the zone"

Jennifer: They've all gotten on the air except one, but they last maybe 6 episodes, 13 episodes, I think the most was 19 episodes, and then they are never heard of. And you think that's sort of sad. But there's a reason for it. Here's my reason.

Matt: Aniston says when she first walked in with her 5 new co-stars the first time, it would be different.

Jennifer: When I first met this actors you just thought "this is a good one, this is a good thing" and "this combination of people, this works really really well and I think that people will like it".

find out more interview: Jay Leno Interview and EXTRA's Interview