The cast ofFriendsalmost looked very similar, yet rather different, from the one we know today.TheFriendscastgave us a lot of memorable moments from 1994 to 2004, and it is impossible to imagine the show with a different cast. While the sitcom’s premise was simple, following six pals in their late twenties and early thirties living in New York,Friendslaunched the main cast’s careers into stardom.
One member of the cast who had already made a name for herself before this was Courteney Cox, who portrayed Monica Geller inall 10 seasons ofFriends. FollowingCourteney Cox’s role inSeinfeld, the actress was cast in a brand-new sitcom:Friends. However, Cox turned down another role inFriendsbefore she stepped onto the set as the eccentric chef, and I’m so glad that she did.
Courteney Cox Was Originally Offered The Role Of Rachel In Friends
Friends Could’ve Been Very Different With This Small Cast Change
Originally, Cox was offered the role of Rachel, but she turned it down.It’s strange to imagine a world in which anyone else played the uptight, neat-freak Monica,but it’s even weirder to imagine Cox as Rachel. Especially in the earlier seasons, when the character was still a spoiled little girl with little understanding of the real world.Monica and Chandler’s relationship inFriendswasn’t part of the original plan, but if Cox had taken the role of Rachel, it’s even more unlikely this pairing would’ve ever happened.
Thankfully, Cox did turn down the role. Because of this one decision, not only did the actress become a signature part of one ofthe best sitcoms of all time, but she unknowingly ensured she was playing the right character to cement the show’s incredible success.
Courteney Cox Related More To Monica Than To Rachel While Reading The Script
Monica Geller Was A Better Fit For The Actress
In past interviews, Cox explained the events that led her to play Monica Geller. In an installment of Sam Jones’ podcast (viaOff Camera With Sam Jones),Coxstated that she chose to play Monica because she “Related more”to herthan Rachel. The actress claimed she wasn’t “As clean as Monica,” but that she considered herself neat. There were other factors about Monica that Cox initially didn’t notice within herself, too. She explained that her partner Johnny McDaid, whom she has been with since 2013, had pointed out that she was just as competitive as herFriendscharacter.
Scream 4(2011),Scream VI(2023),Scream 7(2026)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective(1994)
Melissa Robinson
While reading the script, Cox was able to envision herself as Monica. Of course, what was written on the page compared to what happened in front of the camera could’ve been very different. However, even just from pure text,Cox knew Monica was the character for her.This feeling was cemented when they filmed the pilot, and she said she “Could tell it just worked.” What’s surprising, though, was that Nancy McKeon wasalmost cast inFriendsas Monica. However, Marta Kauffman and David Crane chose Cox instead (viaVanity Fair).
The Right Actors Playing The Right Characters Is Essential For A TV Show’s Success
While she could turn her hand to many different roles,Cox’s decision to speak up and voice the fact that she thought she was a better fit for Monica than Rachel unknowingly changed her fatefor the better. We’ll never know ifFriendswould’ve flopped without this cast change, but it’s clear that Cox was the right choice as Monica. Others could’ve given a decent enough performance, but it felt like Cox was born to play Monica. Weirdly,the firstFriendsepisode caused a fight over Monicabecause David Crane believed the character would be unlikeable, but Cox’s performance proved otherwise.
Jennifer Aniston provided a fantastic portrayal of Rachel, and the way she translated her character development to the screen was stellar. It would’ve been strange to see Cox in that role, but most importantly, if whoever played Monica instead wasn’t right for the character, it would’ve impacted Monica and Rachel’s on-screen rapport massively. The final version of theFriendscast was absolutely perfect, and it’s difficult to picture those characters being played by anyone else, honestly.
