How Paul Rudd remains looking impossibly youthful remains one of life’s unanswerable questions, along with “is there life on Mars?” and “did the chicken or the egg come first?”.
The 52-year-old – who appeared alongside Jen in Friends as Phoebe’s husband Mike – was named People magazine’s top hottie in their annual honour earlier this week, taking the title from 2020 winner Michael B Jordan.
Jennifer, who also starred opposite Paul in 1998 film The Object Of My Affection and 2011′s Wanderlust, was delighted to see him bag the title.
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In a post on her Instagram Story, she wrote: “This makes me so happy. We’ve ALWAYS known this, but Paul Rudd is officially @people’s Sexiest Man Alive!”
She then shared a snap of them from The Object Of My Affection, writing: “You don’t age, which is weird. But we still love you.”
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Jennifer posted this on her Instagram Stories after Paul’s Sexiest Man Alive win
Paul previously revealed his wife had an equally sweet reaction to his win.
He said Julie Yaeger, who he has been married to since 2003, was “stupefied” by his new title.
He told People: “But you know she was very sweet about it. After some giggling and shock, she said ‘Oh, they got it right.’ And that was very sweet.
“She was probably not telling the truth, but what’s she going to say?”
Paul and Jennifer pictured in 1998
Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images
He also said he’s fully expecting his circle of friends to give him “so much grief” following his win.
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“As they should. I would,” he told the magazine. “I mean I’m going to lean into it hard. I’m going to own this. I’m not going to try to be like ‘Oh, I’m so modest.’”
“I’m getting business cards made,” he joked. “But all of my friends will destroy me and I expect them to. And that’s why they’re my friends.”
Matthew Perry has reportedly signed a seven-figure deal to pen his autobiography.
The Friends star will write an “unflinchingly honest”account of his addiction issues in the as-yet-untitled book, which is set to be published in the autumn of 2022.
The actor, who played Chandler Bing on the US comedy, will take readers “behind-the-scenes” of Friends and will also explore the substance abuse and alcohol issues that have dogged his career, publisher Flatiron Books said.
According to reports in the US, the deal was in the “mid-seven figure range”.
Paul Zimmerman via Getty ImagesMatthew Perry
The memoir is “the book that Friends fans have been waiting for but will also shed a powerful light for anyone who is in their own battle for themselves or a loved one”, Flatiron, a division of Macmillan, said.
Megan Lynch, publisher of Flatiron Books, said: “We need humour, we need catharsis, and we need to agree on something – and Matthew’s extraordinary story, told in his inimitable voice, is that thing.
“Matthew’s book has unrivalled potential to bring people together, which feels especially galvanising right now, a time of isolation and division.”
The 52-year-old was one of the best-known and best-paid television stars during the 10-year run of Friends from 1994 but he struggled to overcome addiction.
In 2016, Matthew told the BBC his drug use was so bad he cannot remember roughly three years of his time on Friends, from seasons three to six.
Perry joined his former co-stars for the highly awaited Friends reunion special in May.
The former Friends star, who split from ex-husband Justin Theroux in 2017 and was previously married to Brad Pitt between 2000 and 2005, has revealed she is ready to resume dating.
And the 52-year-old knows exactly what she is – and isn’t – looking for.
“No-one of importance has hit my radar yet but I think it’s time,” Jen said on the Lunch With Bruce podcast. “I think I’m ready to share myself with another.”
Mario Anzuoni via ReutersJennifer Aniston
The actor said she had been in relationships for the best part of 30 years and had enjoyed time on her own in recent years.
“I didn’t want to for a long time and I loved really being my own woman without being a part of a couple,” she said.
“I’ve been part of a couple since I was 20 so there was something really nice about taking the time.”
However, you won’t be seeing Jen pop up on any dating apps anytime soon, because she’s “an old school girl”.
“No Tinders and no Rayas please,” she told said.
“People don’t come up to people anymore,” she added. “People don’t do that. It’s weird.”
Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty ImagesJennifer was previously married to Brad Pitt from 2000-2005
And if you fancy your chances with one of the most famous women on the planet, Jennifer has given potential partners some tips on what she looks for in a significant other, including a quality first kiss. “It’s pretty important,” she said.
“That, and also the ease at which the conversation flows the first time. That’s kind of a good indicator. Confidence, but not a cockiness. Humour, please I beg of you, beg of you. Generous. Kind to people.”
Oh, and couch potatoes move to the back.
“Fitness is important and not just about like how you look,” she noted. “I want to be around here for a long time and not be in a wheelchair when I’m 80.”
Jennifer Aniston has been famous for decades, but even she has trouble with some of the gossip, rumours and attention that comes with being in the public eye.
The Friends star has spoken out about what’s helped her cope over the years, telling People magazine that “self-awareness is key” and opening up about therapy in a cover story for the US outlet.
“I’ve really gotten a lot out of therapy. Just being a public person, there’s a lot of amazing things that come with that,” the actor told the magazine.
“But there’s also a lot of tough stuff, because we’re only human, and we tend to walk around with bullseyes on our heads.”
“It’s like, ‘Oh, good gosh, when and how many years will it take for you to ignore that silliness?’”
When Jennifer reunited with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, for an unexpectedly flirty table read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High for charity last September, it sent fans into a spiral and reignited relationship rumours.
“There’s no oddness at all except for everyone that probably watched it and wanted there to be. We had fun and [the table read] was for a great cause.”
Steve Granitz via Getty ImagesAniston attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards on in January 2020.
“David was great [but] we were in relationships. It was always never the right time, and it wouldn’t have worked,” she told the host, who refused to believe the two hadn’t “consummated” the relationship.
“The beauty of that was, whatever feelings we had, we just literally channelled everything into Ross and Rachel. I think maybe that’s why it resonated.”
“I would proudly say I banged Schwimmer if that happened,” she added with a laugh. “He reminded me of my high school boyfriend, to be quite honest.”
The actor, who played Central Perk manager Gunther in the hit sitcom, was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago, but it has now advanced.
James, 59, opened up about living with the disease during an interview with the Today show in the US on Monday.
NBC via Getty ImagesJames Michael Tyler as Gunther in Friends
“In September 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones,” he said.
“I’ve been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years.”
He continued: “It’s stage 4 (now). Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it’s gonna probably get me.”
Actor James Michael Tyler (@slate_michael) played Gunther on “Friends” for 10 years, but he was unable to attend the recent cast reunion in person because he’s been battling a serious health issue. Now he’s sharing his news for the first time with @craigmelvin. pic.twitter.com/272tg4Sbvc
Speaking about his original diagnosis that came during a routine check up, James said: “I was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen. That came back at an extraordinarily high number… So I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there.
‘Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said ‘Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate.’”
James initially underwent hormone therapy to help treat the disease and said he felt “fine” with no symptoms.
However, during the pandemic, his cancer mutated and he is now unable to walk after it further spread to his bones and spine.
Jason Kempin via Getty ImagesJames pictured on a replica of the Central Perk set in 2015
“I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing,” he said. “So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it’s progressed.”
James also said his illness meant he was not able to appear in person during the recent Friends reunion, appearing via video call instead.
“It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t wanna bring a downer on it, you know? … I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer,’” he said.
James added that he wishes he’d gone to get checked out by his doctor earlier, and urged others to do the same.
“My goal this past year was to see my 59th birthday, he said. “My goal now is to help save at least one life.”
Speaking to the New York Post, Lisa said of the Baby singer: “I was like, ‘Wait, that’s Justin Bieber, right? Would he be here? Is he here? He’s really here – that’s Justin Bieber!’
“That was kind of exciting. I’m throwing in a ‘kind of’ so that I seem a little cooler. It was exciting. I don’t get excited about meeting people – but Justin Bieber, he’s exciting.”
As well as celebrity guests, the reunion will see the main cast joined by some supporting actors from the series, including James Michael Tyler and Maggie Wheeler – better known as Gunther and Janice.
Joining them will be Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles (who played Monica and Ross’ parents, Jack and Judy Geller), Reese Witherspoon (who co-starred as Rachel’s sister in two episodes of the sitcom) and Tom Selleck (who played Monica’s love interest, Richard).
Kevin Mazur/AMA2020 via Getty ImagesLisa admitted she was starstruck by Justin Bieber
The reunion marks the first time since the show wrapped in 2004 that all six of the main cast have been in the same room together in front of the cameras.
Lisa said that she felt “every emotion” while filming the episode.
“It was a lot of laughing and then real blubbering — which, I don’t know if that will be in there, but the puffy eyes are in there, so that’s good. It was an emotionally exhausting and great few days,” she told the New York Post.
HBO MaxThe cast of Friends in a promo shot for the reunion
It’s been 17 years since we last saw our favourite Friends characters on screen together, and with the cast set to reunite on an upcoming TV retrospective, we’ve been dying to find out what the actors think their fictional counterparts would be up to now.
The actors spilled the beans in a new interview with People magazine, previewing the upcoming reunion, which is set to debut in the US on 27 May.
Here’s what they had to say…
NBC via Getty ImagesThe cast of Friends pictured in 1996
Rachel Green
Jennifer Aniston says she would to see Rachel still working in fashion, having now started her own clothing line.
“It’s sort of a small franchise, like a Nili Lotan. And I live in New York City on the Upper East Side,” Jen imagines.
NBC via Getty ImagesJennifer Aniston as Rachel Green
Monica Geller
Courteney Cox believes Monica’s competitiveness wouldn’t have mellowed in middle age and that she would be “doing something competitively with other mothers and trying to outdo them”.
“Whether it’s the bake sale at school or something,” she says. “I mean, she’d be so annoying. She’d be at the head of the PTA or something.”
NBC via Getty ImagesCourteney Cox as Monica Geller
Phoebe Buffay
Lisa Kudrow reckons Phoebe would still be married to Mike Hannigan (Paul Rudd) and they would have moved away from New York, to settle in Connecticut with their children.
“She’s in charge of the arts program for the school,” Lisa says. “And the advocate for her kids because they’re different like she was.”
NBC via Getty ImagesLisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay
Chandler Bing
Matthew Perry believes Chandler would be “a wonderful father”, having had twins with Monica at the end of the series.
He also believes the character would have had another change of career, and would now be “a wonderful comedy writer”.
NBC via Getty ImagesMatthew Perry as Chandler Bing
Joey Tribbiani
While we got a glimpse of post-Friends life for Joey in the ill-fated spin-off series Joey, which saw him try and make it as an actor in LA, Matt reckons his character has had a humbler life since.
He says Joey “would have opened a chain of sandwich shops”, to which Matthew Perry adds: “And eaten all the sandwiches.”
NBC via Getty ImagesMatt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani
Ross Geller
David Schwimmer is convinced Ross is still “playing with the bones” and working as a palaeontologist, but that he also would have invested in Joey’s sandwich shop and “lost a lot of his savings for his kids”.
NBC via Getty ImagesDavid Schwimmer as Ross Geller
People magazine have also obtained the first official images from the unscripted special, one of which shows the gang playing the epic trivia game from season four, which saw Joey and Chandler win Monica and Rachel’s apartment.
Another image shows them sat down to do a table read of part of The One with The Jellyfish episode.
Last week, it was announced that the cast will be joined by a host of special guests, including James Michael Tyler and Maggie Wheeler – better known as Gunther and Janice.
Joining them will be Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles (who played Monica and Ross’ parents, Jack and Judy Geller), Reese Witherspoon (who co-starred as Rachel’s sister in two episodes of the sitcom) and Tom Selleck (who played Monica’s love interest, Richard).
The Friends reunion will be available to stream on HBO Max in the US from 27 May, exactly a year after it was supposed to launch, before the pandemic scuppered plans to begin production.
It’s still not clear exactly when or how British fans will be able to watch, but HBO productions typically come to Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
Read the full cover interview with the cast of Friends in the latest issue of People magazine, available in the US on Friday, or read an excerpt here.
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On Thursday, the first trailer for the forthcoming episode was unveiled, showing all six of the original cast members walking in slow motion on the studio lot where the Friends special was filmed.
As well as the short trailer, details of the special’s guest stars have also been revealed in Variety, with James Michael Tyler and Maggie Wheeler – better known as Gunther and Janice – set to appear in the episode.
Joining them will be Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles (who played Monica and Ross’ parents, Jack and Judy Geller), Reese Witherspoon (who co-starred as Rachel’s sister in two episodes of the sitcom) and Tom Selleck (who played Monica’s love interest, Richard).
Getty Images via Getty ImagesJennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon previously shared the screen in Friends
That’s where things start to get really interesting.
Also appearing in the show will be a string of famous Friends fans, which includes James Corden, Justin Bieber and Cindy Crawford, alongside the aforementioned Gaga, Beckham and Malala.
The One With Beckham And Malala is definitely not a Friends episode we saw coming, but we’re kind of here for it.
MARLA AUFMUTH/Johnny Louis/John Shearer/GettyLady Gaga, David Beckham and Malala Yousafzai
Completing the line-up are K-Pop stars BTS, model Cara Delevingne, Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington and US actor Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon and Larry Hankin, who played minor roles in Friends.
It’s also been confirmed that the Friends reunion will be available to stream on HBO Max in the US from 27 May, exactly a year after it was supposed to launch, before the pandemic scuppered plans to begin production.
It’s still not clear exactly when or how British fans will be able to watch, but HBO productions typically come to Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
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Friends fans have been given their first look at the upcoming reunion special.
The official Instagram account for the hit series has shared a behind-the-scenes picture, amid various images from the shoot circulating on social media.
The Friends page revealed that filming has wrapped on the special episode, posting a photo of some of the set.
It was captioned: “That’s a wrap! Could we BE anymore excited!? Friends: The Reunion is coming to @hbomax.”
It comes after various photos from filming have been shared online, which revealed the cast will be gathering in front of the iconic fountain from the show’s opening titles.
Other photos of Greg’s revealed that the apartment sets have been rebuilt for the reunion.
While he has since deleted the snaps from his Instagram page, fans have been sharing them online.
Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing, also posted a now-deleted photo on Instagram, showing him sat in the make-up chair preparing for filming.
He wrote: “Seconds before eating a makeup brush. Not to mention reuniting with my Friends.”
“It is us getting together, which just doesn’t happen and has never happened in front of other people since 2004 when we stopped.”
The unscripted reunion special will debut on the streaming service HBO Max in the US, but there’s no word yet on how UK Friends fans can get in on the fun.
Friends ran for 10 series from 1994 and remains one of the most popular shows on TV after it was made available to stream on Netflix.
On Friday night, David – who played Ross Geller in the hit 90s sitcom – made an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, and lifted the lid on what we have to look forward to in the one-off special.
He told the host: “We’re going to be shooting a Friends reunion next week so I’m hopping on a plane this afternoon. I’m gonna see everyone next week for the first time in many years.”
Dave J Hogan via Getty ImagesDavid Schwimmer
David continued: “There’s nothing scripted. We’re not in character, we’re all ourselves – the real people.
“We are all ourselves, although there is one section of it that I don’t want to give away, but we all read something.”
The actor also confessed that it’s been a long time since he actually sat down and watched Friends, joking: “I should have genned up on old episodes, but I just haven’t been able to bring myself to catch up on the 236 shows.
“I guess I need to watch a lot over the next five days!”
NBC via Getty ImagesThe cast of Friends pictured ahead of the show’s last series in 2004
He explained: “Finally, I mean, we figured out a way to film it safely and there’s going to be a portion of it that we filmed outside because of, you know, for safety protocols.”
David declined to reveal who would be on hosting duties for the unscripted episode, but ruled out Ellen Degeneres and former Friends guest star Billy Crystal.
