Lisa Kudrow has admitted she had body image issues after seeing herself onscreen with Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox.
The 59-year-old actress, who played Phoebe Buffay on all 10 seasons of the hit sitcom from 1994 to 2004, said her perception of her body changed after landing her breakthrough role.
“I had body dysmorphia like, ‘Oh, I’m a stick.’ Just like my sister, just like my dad. And I wasn’t. At all!’ The Comeback star said on Wednesday’s episode of the Popcrushed podcast.
Embarrassed: Lisa Kudrow admitted she had body image issues after seeing herself onscreen with Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox. Seen in March 2022
She continued: “I didn’t see it. I had no height. I didn’t see it at all. I thought I was really skinny and could do anything.
The Emmy Award winner added, “And I was looking at pictures and I was like, ‘Wow, pictures really distort reality.’
“And it wasn’t until Friends that I realized I didn’t really look like I thought I looked.
Self-image: The 59-year-old actress, who played Phoebe Buffay on all ten seasons of the hit sitcom from 1994 to 2004, says her perception of her body changed after landing her breakthrough role
“I had body dysmorphia like, ‘Oh, I’m a stick.’ Just like my sister, just like my dad. And I wasn’t. At all!’ The Comeback star said on Wednesday’s episode of the Popcrushed podcast Pictured 1994
“And that’s what was so shocking and that’s when I was like, ‘I really have to lose weight? I have to go on a diet? PULL.
When the hosts asked her if it was the media coverage or certain headlines that caused her to change her perceptions, Lisa explained, “It was just seeing me on the show and seeing me in clothes and seeing Courteney and Jennifer in clothes.
‘At first I was like, ‘Oh, they know tailoring, so they can talk to the costumer about where exactly to take something from.’
“And it wasn’t until Friends that I realized I didn’t really look like I thought,” Lisa said. “And that’s what was so shocking and that’s when I was like, ‘I really have to lose weight? I have to go on a diet? PULL “
Comparisons: When the hosts asked her if it was the media coverage or certain headlines that caused her to change her perceptions, Lisa explained: “It was just seeing me on the show and seeing me in clothes and see Courteney and Jennifer in clothes.’
The Los Angeles native said she asked Courteney, 58, who played Monica Gellar, and Jennifer, 53, who played Rachel Green, to accompany her to her fittings to share their tips, which she said they did because they were “like sisters”. ‘
“And that’s when I saw, oh, it’s not just about sewing,” Lisa said.
“I’m also not trying to say I was overweight,” she clarified. ‘I was not. I just had no idea what my actual body shape was.
The mother of one recalled accepting his body after reaching her 40s.
‘Its good. This is exactly what I look like,” the actress said. ‘Its good. Do what you need to do to be healthy, but it’s your body and that’s okay.
‘At first I was like, ‘Oh, they know tailoring, so they can talk to the costumer about where exactly to take something from”
Lisa also noted that she would remember that she didn’t aspire to have the look of a typical Hollywood leading woman.
‘You just wanted to be a character actress. You don’t go for romantic comedies, the romantic lead – you don’t do that,’ she said.
“It’s not a fun role for you anyway, so stop it.” It’s okay, you can look good the way you are.
The Booksmart singer added that her husband of 26 years, Michel Stern, “always loved me as I was” and “wanted me to be healthy”.
When Popcrushed co-host Penn Badgley shared his thoughts on the pressure actors feel to constantly compare themselves to more famous stars, Lisa said, “It’s all in your head, you do this to yourself. “
Friends on and off screen: The Los Angeles native said she asked Courteney, 58, who played Monica Gellar, and Jennifer, 53, who played Rachel Green, to accompany her to her fittings for share their advice, which she said she did because they were “like sisters”
“Nobody needs you to be Tom Cruise or as famous as Tom Cruise,” she added.
“For me, at the time, it was Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan. Nobody demands that of me.
Lisa previously revealed the body image struggles she experienced while starring in Friends during a 2019 appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
She admitted to the comedian that she sometimes felt like a “mountain” compared to Jennifer and Courteney.
The Easy A star said she often compared herself to her female co-stars, both of whose characters sported more preppy styles than Lisa’s character, Phoebe.
Phoebe was the most daring hairdresser of the group, often wearing quirky and outlandish outfits.
Acceptance: Mother-of-one recalled accepting her body after reaching 40
Discussing the topic of body image, the actress said, “Unfortunately for a woman, if you’re underweight, you look good.” And that’s all I ever had.
“And when I was too skinny, I was sick all the time. A cold, a sinus infection, some kind of flu. I was still sick,” she added.
When Marc asked her if she was “skinny on purpose”, she responded by saying, “Yes, of course”.
She added that working alongside Jennifer and Courteney often made her feel self-conscious about her own body.
“You see yourself on TV and it’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’m just a mountain of a girl.’ I’m already fatter than Courteney and Jennifer – fatter, like my bones look bigger “, she explained.
“I just felt like this mountain of woman next to them,” she added.
Friends Forever: Last week, Jennifer and Courteney celebrated Lisa’s 59th birthday with heartwarming tributes on Instagram; seen in 2003 at the People’s Choice Awards
However, the trio of actresses have remained close friends over the years since the iconic show ended.
Last week, Jennifer and Courteney celebrated Lisa’s 59th birthday with heartwarming tributes on Instagram.
“Happy birthday @lisakudrow,” Jennifer wrote in a photo of the two women taken at the 29th People’s Choice Awards in 2003, which she shared on her Instagram Stories.
All Together: The cast of Friends reunited for HBO Max’s reunion special last May; Aniston pictured with Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Kudrow
“I love you,” she added on the next slide, which featured a GIF of them jumping up and down as Rachel and Phoebe.
In another photo, Aniston showed her affection for Lisa, giving her a kiss on the temple as the blonde star pulled a face at the camera.
The actress added a red heart emoji, a birthday cake emoji and a kissing face to the snap.
Courteney added her own birthday greeting to her friend, sharing a video to her Instagram Stories of the two of them sitting on a sofa and laughing.
The Homecourt founder wrote ‘Happy birthday booty! You make everything better! And funnier!’
The cast of Friends — including Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc — reunited for HBO Max’s reunion special last May, when Kudrow told PEOPLE how much she shares a deep connection with her friends. co-stars.
“I feel like we can pick up where we left off, and no time has passed. We’re connected no matter what,” she said.
