31 years on, and Friends is still a TV talking point. Six friends came together to give audiences a comforting sitcom, and they’ve remained in many a living room ever since. Everything seemed to fall into place for the series. It became apparent that the show was going to be a success early on. So much so that director James Burrows sent them on a trip to Las Vegas to enjoy their last days of anonymity before Friends took off. The behind-the-scenes anecdotes have revealed a lot about the series coming together and what it took to find everything needed to make it the success it became. But what if things hadn’t turned out the way they did?
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that numerous other actors auditioned to be a part of the new hit show: Hank Azaria, who went on to be one of Phoebe’s boyfriends, David, had auditioned to play Joey, Mitchell Whitfield, who became known as Rachel’s ex-fiancé Barry, almost made it as Ross, and Jon Favreau, who went on to be Monica’s boyfriend, Pete, was close to being Chandler. The list goes on. Dedicated fans can’t picture a cast of other actors. Not one of them left space for viewers to say “they were good, but another actor might’ve been better.” Part of the show’s charm is in the genuine bond that continued off-screen, confirmed by the 2021 reunion. Who knows what might’ve happened to the chemistry between characters if another actor had been part of the six? Would it still have been one of the best comedy series of the ’90s? Adding to that, how different would Friends had been if the lead actors were actually given one of the other roles? What fans may not know is that the actors who were the final cast of the show didn’t all audition for the role they landed on. The show came close to having one of the actors playing a different part.
Courtney Cox was Lined Up to Play Rachel
Now that the series is part of the ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia, it’s hard to imagine the Friends characters with different faces. Each of the six main actors are known by their character names as much as their real ones, a testament to their plausible acting. Going back to the days when Joey, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Rachel were just characters in a script, Courtney Cox didn’t audition to play Monica. She tried out for Rachel. Something didn’t feel right for Cox, who quickly realized she connected way better with Monica. Stylist reported that Cox felt she was “…very similar to her. I’m not as clean as Monica, but I’m neat. And I’m not as competitive, even though some people, my partner Johnny McDaid, would say I am.”
She went on to talk about how she knew from the pilot episode that they were on to something special. Everything came together, and it was evident the casting was perfect, which certainly translated well on screen. The six fictional young friends had a life-like connection. Viewers were (and still are) engrossed in their daily lives, even when little more than an immature argument between Chandler and Joey occurs. In fact, it’s often the most basic plots that are the easiest to relate to. As well as the casting almost taking a different direction, Today explained that the storyline wasn’t always going to be what fans have now come to know. Chandler and Monica were one of the big relationships on the show, but there was a time when Monica was going to end up with Joey. The change came when the series was cast, and the creators noticed that the energy wasn’t right between them. Viewers will remember that a connection was hinted at during season 3’s “The One With the Flashback.” When Joey became Chandler’s roommate and was a new face among the group, he and Monica hit it off straight away. They both liked each other before Joey took Monica’s kindness the wrong way and ended up naked in her apartment. Seemingly, not much else came from being attracted to one another, and they developed a strong, platonic friendship.
Other Names Were Considered to Play Rachel
Cox wasn’t the only actor to be considered to play Rachel. Plenty of others had their shot at portraying the loving fashionista. According to E! News, the first choice to play the role was Téa Leoni. She ultimately declined, opting to star in The Naked Truth, which aired for three seasons. Saved by the Bell’s Tiffani Thiessen screen tested but was too young. Jane Krakowski from 30 Rock admitted she didn’t get very far with the process, unsure that she even received a call-back. Despite being one of the funniest scripts she’d read, Lisa Whelchel from Facts of Life was put off by her religious beliefs. She had a feeling there would be a lot of situations regarding sex, and she didn’t want to be involved. As accomplished as these performers are, Jennifer Aniston really is Rachel Green.
With one of the best character arcs in Friends, Rachel was an eye-catching vision who first stepped foot in the Central Perk café, wearing a white wedding dress. Reconnecting with her old school friend Monica, she had a long way to go before understanding what it meant to stand on her own two feet away from the endless financial support of her father. With the right close-knit friends around her, Rachel found what it meant to be independent, and go after what she wanted from life. Aniston found the characteristics to portray a young woman finding her way while also having so much love to give to her closest people. The warmth in Rachel is a trait that Aniston depicted in the character’s friendships, love life and work life. Like her fellow performers, there was no gray area in Aniston’s portrayal; it’s easy to understand her from the off. Even though the flashback episode showed Rachel to be quite self-centered, it wasn’t so much so that viewers couldn’t stand her. Rachel is one-sixth of an ensemble cast that all had their place in the sitcom.
Cox Was the Right Choice to Play Monica
It goes without saying that every main actor was the perfect choice for their character, and Cox’s decision to push to play Monica proved to be the right thing to do. Monica was written as the organized friend, like a magnet that held everyone together. The contrast between her and Rachel (which is plain to see from the moment Rachel bursts on the scene) is the friendship equivalent of “opposites attract.” They balance each other out, and, at their core, they both have the same good hearts that their friends all benefit from. Cox was able to convey Monica’s focus and ambitious attitude that secured her impressive career. She was funny in her own way, sometimes just by being blunt. In her most important relationship on the show, Monica had incredible chemistry with Chandler. Had it been a different actor to play the part, then the romance might’ve been off. Audiences believed in them and wanted to stay tuned for their whole journey. What’s more, Cox also paid attention to the sibling relationship Monica had with Ross. They had their moments of rivalry, but their unbreakable bond was the overriding thing that made them a great brother and sister to watch amongst the main friendship group.
Hindsight can make it possible to see what should’ve been done in the past or how something might’ve been done better. In this case, hindsight confirms that the best opportunities were taken, namely by Cox choosing Monica over Rachel. If Cox had played the latter, then everything that audiences know about the characters would’ve been completely different, which doesn’t need to be considered. The sitcom has rolled on through the generations, even though the last episode aired in 2004. Somehow, the show has remained relevant, with general life scenarios that audiences are able to look at and recognize in their own lives. Cox took ownership of her role. She captured the essence of Monica’s personality and fed it through every part of her acting. Obviously, it can’t be said for certain how the show would’ve turned out if Cox played Rachel. After all, she’s a fantastic actor. However, when a performer truly makes a character their own, it’s hard to imagine them elsewhere on the series.
