Why is Jennifer Aniston from F.R.I.E.N.D.S is popular now and not the others?
Fame isn't easy, but 'Friends' fans have a theory as to why Jennifer Aniston blew up bigger than her co-stars.
Of all the 'Friends' cast, Jennifer Aniston is arguably the most recognizable. Even though all six of the friends wound up with astronomically higher salaries by the show's end than they earned for the first season, none went on to be as successful as Jennifer.
But fans have a theory that explains exactly why Aniston became Hollywood's sweetheart while her co-stars seemed to struggle to round out their resumes.
Why Is Jennifer Aniston More Famous Than Her 'Friends'?
Viewers of the show already know that Rachel and Ross were basically the main attraction. Though each 'Friend' had nearly equal screen time, Ross and Rachel are the topic that everyone obsesses over to this day.
But even Ross (David Schwimmer) didn't take off as much as Rachel. And why was that, pondered one fan?
Redditors put their heads together to figure this one out, and they have a pretty good theory about why Jennifer's acting career blew up post-'Friends.'
Jennifer Aniston Grew Her Solo Career On Purpose
The ultimate conclusion of the Reddit discussion? Jennifer chose fame and fortune, and that's why she blew up.
Redditors say that she fully embraced becoming Rachel, both on and off the set, because that's what viewers loved. One fan highlighted that, "Besides having a huge talent in comedic/dramatic acting, Jennifer's image and title of 'America's Sweetheart' was most profitable and durable for her."
She worked at building her image in that way, leaned toward roles as 'the girl next door,' and built her fortune through such gigs. The media flurry over her marriage and divorce from Brad Pitt helped boost her ratings, too.
It's also clear that Jen accepts opportunities that are pretty different from her former co-stars. She's the face of many brands, including Aveeno and Smart Water, and now that she's joined social media, that's just adding to Aniston's income streams (and popularity).
Why Didn't The Rest Of The 'Friends' Cast Become As Famous As Jennifer Aniston?
And as for why the rest of the cast didn't grow as famous as Jen?
This theory argues that none of the actors wanted fame to begin with. Some of the cast already had marriages and children, others (like David Schwimmer) wanted to return to the stage, and still others pursued writing and producing instead of acting.
Plus, as one fan noted, "Talent doesn't equal opportunity." Just because each of the main six actors is hugely talented doesn't mean people fell at their feet with million-dollar offers.
At the same time, Jennifer put in the work (and publicity) to generate a following based on her Rachel persona, and it happened to work out. The winning combination was some amount of talent plus some savvy PR, a loyal fan base, and a willingness to mold herself into the Jennifer fans wanted to see.
