Jennifer Aniston Reveals the Roles That Broke Her Sitcom Stereotype

Jennifer Aniston is once again in the spotlight as fans and critics revisit her remarkable career transformation. With The Morning Show gearing up for its fourth season and Aniston continuing to lead both on screen and behind the scenes, her path looks nothing like the sitcom mold she was once known for.

Breaking Free from the Sitcom Mold

In a recent feature for ELLE’s Women in Hollywood, Aniston highlighted two films that marked a turning point in her career: The Good Girl and Cake. These projects, she explained, allowed her to step outside the narrow expectations the industry had set for her.

Those projects just remind me that I’m capable of more than what the industry saw me as, and typecast me as, so I was grateful for those jobs because enough times you’re not invited to those kinds of tables, you start to think, Oh, maybe they think I can’t do it. Maybe I can’t.

She shared that these roles proved she could do much more than what Hollywood had boxed her into, adding:

But then those jobs come along and it’s just nice to remind yourself, challenge yourself, and also show yourself that you’re capable of more than a good tagline.

Even as FRIENDS remains a global comfort show, Aniston’s later work continues to show that her career didn’t stall after Rachel Green—it grew in new directions.

How the FRIENDS Cast Reinvented Themselves

Escaping the shadow of such a massive cultural phenomenon as FRIENDS was never going to be easy. Each actor became so closely linked to their character that early roles after the sitcom often came with built-in expectations. Over time, though, the cast proved they could handle much more than just sitcom laughs.

Courteney Cox found lasting success with the Scream movies and later moved into directing, making her mark in both horror and episodic TV. Lisa Kudrow took on quirky, character-driven projects like The Comeback and Web Therapy, earning critical acclaim and showing off her range. David Schwimmer explored dramatic territory in The People v. O.J. Simpson and built a steady directing career in TV and theater.

Matt LeBlanc reinvented himself with Episodes, playing a tongue-in-cheek version of himself—a role that won him a Golden Globe and introduced him to a new audience. The late Matthew Perry also delivered powerful dramatic work in The Ron Clark Story, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nods for his performance.

Aniston’s New Chapter with The Morning Show

Aniston’s return in The Morning Show’s fourth season marks another milestone in her ongoing journey through prestige television. The new season debuted September 17, 2025, on Apple TV+, with Aniston once again leading the cast and serving as executive producer.

Filming wrapped in late 2024, setting up a ten-episode run that will air weekly through November 2025, drawing steady attention from viewers and industry insiders alike. This season brings a mix of familiar faces and new talent, with Billy Crudup and Jon Hamm returning, and Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons joining the ensemble. Their arrival signals Apple’s commitment to making the series a flagship drama, with Aniston at the center, shaping the show’s direction and tone.

Aniston has stressed the show’s focus on telling more complex stories, far from the lighthearted sitcom world where she started. Her continued leadership on The Morning Show cements her place as a major force in today’s television landscape, showing that her career has long since moved past her most famous role.

FRIENDS is available to stream on HBO Max, and The Morning Show is on Apple TV+.