Whatever happened to…

THREE WOMEN FROM VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, MADE FAMOUS IN THEIR EQUALLY DIFFERENT CHOSEN CAREERS, AND THE STORE CHAIN THAT DELIVERED BARGAIN BASEMENT PRODUCTS BUT FAILED TO GET ITSELF PROPERLY REGISTERED FOR BUSINESS

Words: JILL ECKERSLEY

Jennifer Aniston

Once described as “sexy, funny and unmistakably real,” Jennifer Aniston was the best-known actress on TV in the 1990s as Rachel in the smash hit series Friends which aired from 1994 to 2004.

Born in California, ‘Jen’ is of Greek heritage – her godfather was Kojak himself, Telly Savalas. As a child in New York, she began acting in school plays before attending college and beginning her career in off-Broadway shows. Then came Friends, which is reputed to have made her the best-paid TV actress of all time. It also made her private life a source of endless fascination. She was married to Brad Pitt for five years and Justin Theroux for two years, with, it seemed, constant press speculation about whether ‘Jen’ would ever find lasting love or start a family. She took a 15-year break from TV after Friends and starred in a series of comedies on the big screen, as well as being co-founder of Echo Films.

In 2021 she took part in a TV special, Friends –The Reunion. She was also honest about her failed attempts at IVF but insists that “Women are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child!” making her just as popular with women viewers as she is with men.

Jennifer lives in a mansion in California, practises yoga and meditation, and is a supporter of many charities including the Red Cross and Medicins Sans Frontieres.