There's no denying that Jennifer Aniston is a household name in Hollywood.
Her fame is due to her defining role as Rachel on Friends, her dozens of movies, high-profile relationships, philanthropy and age-defying looks. Honestly, as she turns 49 years old today you can guarantee that women all over the world are collectively saying, 'WTF is your secret?'
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While it's difficult to imagine a world without her, she questioned whether acting was for her, early on in her career.
Like many aspiring actors, the road to stardom wasn't easy.
Naturally, Aniston grew exasperated about her career; but one day, she found herself at a petrol station and the head of NBC entertainment, Warren Littlefield, was filling up his car.
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The TV big wig, who launched the likes of Seinfield and Frasier, recalled to Huffington Post what happened next: "[It's] 10:30 p.m. at night on Sunset Boulevard. I'm at the Chevron station gassing up and Jennifer is over at the other island and she comes over and she says, 'Is it ever going to happen?'
"I say, 'We believe in you, I love you, I so believe in your talent, I'm sure it will.' A few months later, we handed her the Friends script."
While she might have been feeling annoyed at her previous projects being cancelled, it's lucky that they did. She was contracted to CBS for Muddling Through, which would have made it difficult to do that and Friends; but when it was eventually dumped, it opened the door for Jen to apply for Rachel.
It's well known that studio executives were more keen on Aniston playing the neurotic chef Monica Geller, until Courtney Cox was found to be better suited for the job.
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Thankfully, she accepted the role of the fashion-forward Rachel and the rest is history.
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