Jennifer Aniston is best known for playing Rachel in Friends, a role that propelled her fame exponentially. On the show, her character had relationships and flings with quite a few men over the course of 10 seasons. But did you know that she has dated a few of these men in real life too? There was even one co-star who had a huge crush on her, but she unfortunately did not feel the same way.
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Brad Pitt
We'll get the most obvious one out of the way first. Unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably aware that Jennifer Aniston was married to Brad Pitt, who guest-starred as Rachel's high-school nemesis, Will, in a Thanksgiving episode of the show.
Aniston was with Brad Pitt from 1998 till 2005, when the announced their separation. They wrote, at the time:
We would like to announce that after seven years together we have decided to formally separate. For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration.
Years later, they still consider each other good friends.
Paul Rudd
Now, Rachel was never with Paul Rudd's character in Friends, Mike Hannigan. He was reserved for Phoebe! However, in real life Jennifer Aniston did date the Hollywood star who is famously known for his keeping his youthful look well into his fifties.
They had a brief relationship in 1998 while acting in the movie The Object of My Affection. According to The Mirror, Aniston even admitted they together when 'we were like 12.'
Tate Donovan
There is a third co-star that Jennifer used to date, and this one may not be very well known. She was once in a relationship with Tate Donovan, who played Rachel's boyfriend Joshua. In real life, Donovan dated Jennifer for two years, and this was before he came on the show to play Joshua.
He told The Independent in an interview that dating her was like being with a 'beatle'. He explained:
Jen and I dated for two years – when we went to England together, it was like being with a Beatle. We had to say we were having reservations at one restaurant and then go to another. There were fake cars and everything, all to avoid the paparazzi.
Things were slightly awkward for them because he then came on the show after the couple split. He said they kept things professional but it wasn't easy.
Everyone was so supportive, but it was hard. It’s like going to class when you’re in high school and you’ve broken up with the girl who you sat next to and… argh, it’s tough.
He also cleared up rumours that they were engaged:
We did live together for a little while, but we were never engaged.
Did any of the six Friends actors date?
As for relationships between the main six, the stars are still keeping tight-lipped. Seeing as most of them were in long-term relationships or marriages for most of the time the series was being filmed, that's pretty understandable.
However, during one interview, Ross actor David Schwimmer let slip that there was some hooking up going on between them. As the interviewer asked if the six main stars ever had to sign a contract saying they wouldn't sleep with each other, Schwimmer responded: 'Well, that was broken.'
He also revealed during the Friends reunion show in 2021 that he and Jennifer Aniston had a huge crush on each other, but it never realised. He said:
The first season I had a major crush on Jen—we were both crushing hard on one another, but it was like two ships passing ‘cause one of us was always in a relationship and we never crossed that boundary.
Read more:
⋙ FRIENDS: Cop these 7 outfits from Rachel Green's closet
⋙ 'Friends': Ross and Rachel's baby Emma is 18—this is what she looks like now
⋙ Friends explained: Here's why we could always see Rachel’s nipples
