In a new interview with The Independent, the actress said her castmates — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, the late Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer — seemed to outshine her in popularity, even within her own talent agency. “Nobody cared about me,” Kudrow recalled, adding that some people at the agency even referred to her as “the sixth Friend.”
As the sitcom became a cultural phenomenon starting in its second season, several of her co-stars transitioned into major film roles. Kudrow, however, felt similar opportunities didn’t come her way. She said there was little sense of direction for her career, and the attitude seemed to be that she was simply lucky to be part of the hit series.
Despite that early frustration, Kudrow eventually built a strong career beyond Friends, including her HBO series The Comeback, which she co-created with Michael Patrick King. He expressed surprise during the interview that she wasn’t inundated with offers at the height of the show’s popularity, especially since she was the first cast member to win an Emmy, taking home Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1998.
Kudrow said things began to shift after she appeared in the 1999 comedy Analyze This alongside Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. After that, she started receiving more mainstream offers, including romantic comedies — though she admitted she didn’t think she fit the “adorable” mold typically expected for those roles.
Before that turning point, she was largely cast in smaller independent films like Clockwatchers or supporting roles such as in Albert Brooks’ Mother. Still, she said she valued working with respected actors like Parker Posey and Toni Collette, as well as Brooks.
Kudrow also suggested rumors that she led the cast’s joint salary negotiations before season three may have complicated her standing with her agency. The six stars famously negotiated equal pay, eventually earning $1 million per episode in the final seasons. Although she denied being the ringleader, she said the reports upset her team, who worried it sent the wrong message.
Ironically, the deal greatly benefited everyone involved — including agents, who typically receive a percentage of their clients’ earnings.
In another recent conversation with Lily Tomlin, Kudrow also reflected on her iconic character Phoebe Buffay, saying she initially felt very different from the role. Over time, however, she found herself embracing parts of Phoebe’s personality, even exploring spirituality to better understand the character.
Now, Kudrow is promoting the third and final season of The Comeback, which once again follows struggling actress Valerie Cherish as she attempts to revive her career. The first season debuted in 2005, with a second arriving in 2014, and the long-awaited final installment brings the story to a close years later.
