An Intimate Industrious Tale
In a recent drama actress roundtable hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, Jennifer Aniston opened up about some uncomfortable aspects of her career. During the discussion, she and fellow actresses touched on various challenging situations they’ve faced during auditions.
Breaking Away from Iconic Roles
Oh my God, yes. You just exhaust yourself. I mean, I could not get Rachel Green off of my back for the life of me. I could not escape ‘Rachel from Friends,’ and it’s on all the time and you’re like, ‘Stop playing that f–king show!’
, Aniston joked about her struggles with typecasting. Her candidness provided insight into how difficult it was to move beyond her iconic role in ‘Friends’.
Chemistry Tests Gone Awry
Aniston also recalled the absurdity of certain audition practices, echoing sentiments shared by Anne Hathaway in an earlier interview with V Magazine: Back in the 2000s—and this did happen to me—it was considered normal to ask an actor to make out with other actors to test for chemistry…
A Universal Challenge
Aniston was not alone in her discomfort. Nicole Kidman admitted during the same roundtable that relying solely on chemistry in auditions is lazy:There’s a way you can shoot things. I think just relying on chemistry is lazy.
Mental Blocks in Auditions
The conversation underscored how demanding and intrusively pressuring these tests could be. Naomi Watts recalled feeling rattled after an unpleasant experience:I waitressed forever before I could finally get something… So, if you’re a nervous auditioner to begin with, to then say, ‘Now let’s have you make out with a complete stranger,’ it’s very uncomfortable.
Evolving the Audition Process
Anne Hathaway shared how the industry has shifted over time:I thought it sounded gross…
. In her new film ‘The Idea of You’, instead of encouraging unnecessary intimacy during auditions, she opted for music-driven improvs to foster more natural connections.
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