During an appearance on the Howard Stern Show alongside her Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, Kudrow disclosed that she had been fired from the NBC sitcom Frasier just days into filming the pilot. However, this unforeseen turn of events eventually led her to secure the role that would catapult her to stardom.
While it's now difficult to imagine Friends without Kudrow's iconic Phoebe, her original path was set to include a role in the cult classic Frasier. Kudrow revealed that her character, Roz Doyle, was intended for her in Frasier.
However, due to a mismatch in chemistry and a perception that she wasn't right for the part, she was let go from the show. Kudrow credited director James Burrows for being instrumental in her departure from Frasier.
Reflecting on her experience with Burrows, Kudrow shared, "I wasn't right for the part [or] for the chemistry of the group. So that wasn't working, but I did think, 'Oh, I am not this guy's cup of tea.'" Interestingly, Burrows, also known as 'Jimmy' in the acting fraternity, would later direct episodes of Friends and play a significant role in Kudrow's journey.
Despite the setback, Kudrow had an opportunity to audition for Burrows again, this time for the role of Phoebe in Friends. Recounting the audition process, she revealed that she was the only one among the six main cast members who had to go through an additional audition for Burrows, who would also direct episodes of Friends.
To her delight, she received no notes from Burrows after her audition, leaving her unsure of his opinion. Nonetheless, she ultimately landed the coveted role of Phoebe.
Although Kudrow successfully secured the part, she candidly shared that she initially faced some challenges in fitting in with the rest of the cast during the pilot shoot. The character of Phoebe didn't naturally mesh with the dynamics of the group, and Kudrow felt a sense of struggle. In a 2012 interview with Vanity Fair, she described feeling "terrified" during the initial weeks of filming with the renowned director.
Kudrow recounted Burrows questioning why Phoebe's character was friends with the others and expressing the need to figure out her place in the group. This made her apprehensive, thinking, "Oh, my God. Here we go again. Well, if everyone just acts like they like me…". Despite her initial concerns, Kudrow's endearing portrayal of Phoebe won over audiences worldwide, and she became an integral part of the beloved Friends ensemble.
Reflecting on her departure from Frasier, Kudrow admitted that Burrows was not wrong in his assessment and that she wasn't the right fit for the role. The character of Roz Doyle eventually went to actress Peri Gilpin.
Recently, Kudrow also shared a heartwarming moment involving her Friends co-stars Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox during a television reunion after 17 years. Their enduring camaraderie and reunion served as a joyful reminder of the lasting bond formed during their time on the iconic sitcom.
In the end, Lisa Kudrow's unexpected departure from Frasier paved the way for her to become an integral part of Friends, forever etching Phoebe Buffay into television history.
