Lisa Kudrow says her Friends character Phoebe ‘was so far from who I am'
The 61-year-old from Los Angeles played one of six friends featured in the hit US sitcom which also starred Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt Le Blanc and the late Matthew Perry.
Speaking to US actress Parker Posey for Variety's Actors On Actors series, she said: 'It (the series) was fun the whole time, because we had fun, the cast had fun.
'It was like a collaboration with the writers, because they were so great and nice and good.
'But me being Phoebe was so far from who I was as a human being that it was work.
'I needed to justify everything she was saying in my head so that it felt like she meant it and it was real to her. It was a lot of work.
'And I remember like season two or three, and I was just doing it, and went, 'Oh my god, I'm not doing the work. I don't know if this is going as well. I'm not doing the work'.
'I was really fretting over it. And (Matt) LeBlanc went, 'What's the matter with you?'. I said, 'I'm not doing the work that I did. I used to like really work, and he said, 'You're her. You don't have to do it anymore'.'
Alongside her role in Friends, Kudrow is known for starring in a number of TV series as well as comedy films Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and The Opposite Of Sex.
In 2023 she thanked her late co-star Perry for 'the best 10 years a person gets to have' while filming Friends in a tribute following his death at the age of 54.
During their conversation, Posey, who has starred in films including Dazed And Confused and Superman Returns, spoke about one of her more recent roles playing a southern woman called Victoria Ratliff in season three of Mike White's dark comedy, The White Lotus.
She said: 'It was such a gift to have this middle-aged woman at this time in my life, in my career, to be the southern woman.
'I was reading Tennessee Williams in junior high and high school and southern writers and all of this. So I was like, I just ate it up.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Scotsman
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle cast confirmed
Channing Tatum will be adding Hollywood star power to the upcoming Demon Slayer movie 👀 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hit anime Demon Slayer will conclude with Infinity Castle movies. A trilogy of films will wrap up the story on the big screen. But who will be in the voice cast - as additions are confirmed. A Hollywood star has been added to the cast of the upcoming Demon Slayer movie. The hit anime is set to conclude with a trilogy of big screen films and the first will arrive in the autumn. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has been a smash hit since the anime adaptation debuted back in 2018. It has already had the cinematic treatment with Mugen Train, which turned an arc from the manga into a film. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Instead of concluding with a final season, the last arc Infinity Castle will instead be adapted as a trilogy of movies. The first is due to be released in the west in the autumn and has added some Hollywood glamour to the voice cast. Channing Tatum joins Demon Slayer cast Channing Tatum is in the cast of the new Demon Slayer movie |The English dub of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle movies has added a surprising big name to its voice cast. Magic Mike and 21 Jump Street star Channing Tatum will be bringing his talents to the adaptation, Variety reports . The trade paper revealed that he will be voicing Keizo. Described as the owner of a martial arts dojo and former master of Hakuji, who went on to become the Upper Rank Three demon, he is a character introduced in the Infinity Castle arc. Variety reports that Mitchel Berger, Crunchyroll executive VP of global commerce, said: 'We are excited to welcome Channing Tatum, who discovered his love of 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' and anime through watching the series with his daughter.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Channing has previously had voice roles in movies such as The Lego Movie and its sequel. He also was in the voice cast for The Lego Batman Movie. Who is in the cast of Demon Slayer? Still from Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 | Crunchyroll Channing Tatum is not the only new addition to the English dub for the Infinity Castle movies. Rebecca Wang has also been added and she will voice Koyuki. The original English voice cast of Demon Slayer are set to return for the big screen adaptions. Among the actors returning are Zach Aguilar as Tanjiro Kamado, Abby Trott as Nezuko Kamado, Aleks Le as Zenitsu Agatsuma and Bryce Papenbrook as Inosuke Hashibira. The film will be released in both the original Japanese, with subtitles, and with the English dub. The cast for the first part of Infinity Castle includes: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tanjiro Kamado - Japanese: Natsuki Hanae, English: Zach Aguilar Nezuko Kamado - Japanese: Akari Kitō, English: Abby Trott Zenitsu Agatsuma - Japanese: Hiro Shimono, English: Aleks Le Inosuke Hashibira - Japanese: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, English: Bryce Papenbrook Kanao Tsuyuri - Japanese: Reina Ueda, English: Brianna Knickerbocker Genya Shinazugawa - Japanese: Nobuhiko Okamoto, EnglishL Zeno Robinson Giyu Tomioka - Japanese: Takahiro Sakurai, English: Johnny Yong Bosch Tengen Uzui - Japanese: Katsuyuki Konishi, English: Ray Chase Muichiro Tokito - Japanese: Kengo Kawanishi, English: Griffin Burns Shinobu Kocho - Japanese: Saori Hayami, English: Erika Harlacher Obanai Iguro - Japanese: Kenichi Suzumura, English: Erik Scott Kimerer Sanemi Shinazugawa - Japanese: Tomokazu Seki, English: Kaiji Tang Mitsuri Kanroji - Japanese: Kana Hanazawa, English: Kira Buckland Gyomei Himejima - Japanese: Tomokazu Sugita, English: Crispin Freeman Akaza / Upper Rank 3 - Japanese: Akira Ishida, English: Lucien Dodge Keizo - Japanese: Yuichi Nakamura, English: Channing Tatum Koyuki - Japanese: Lynn, English: Rebecca Wang Mitchel Berger added: 'We are thrilled to welcome back the beloved English voice cast reprising their roles for 'Infinity Castle'. Their iconic voices have greatly contributed to the admiration of the characters and popularity of the franchise. How to watch Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle? In a bold move, the final arc of Demon Slayer is set to be adapted as three movies and not as a traditional season. It is not the first time that the series has made the decision - with Mugen Train originally releasing as a film in between seasons one and two. Attack on Titan was also turned into feature length movies for the final part of its elongated last season. However, those films were released direct to streaming via Crunchyroll in the west. Demon Slayer's trilogy of movies will be getting cinematic releases. The first part was a box office smash hit in Japan earlier in the summer and it will be rolled out worldwide in September. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first movie is slated for release in the United Kingdom and United States on September 12. Big screen chains like Vue have had previous films such as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film. Surprisingly cheap way to stream Sky Atlantic, Netflix and more (aff) £ 22.00 Sky TV Buy now Buy now Sky's latest TV deals are more affordable than you might expect – with the best value arguably being the Ultimate TV package. For just £22/month, you get Netflix, Discovery+, Sky Atlantic and over 35 extra channels including Sky Max, Sky Witness, Sky Documentaries and more. There are no upfront fees, and it's a 24-month contract. If you're after the basics, Essential TV starts from £15/month with Netflix and Sky Atlantic included, while sports fans can add Sky Sports for £35/month. All three plans offer strong value for new Sky customers.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Friends star Matthew Perry's onscreen mum tried to help as he succumbed to drug addiction
Friends and co-stars speak candidly about the friend they all lost in a heart wrenching new ITV documentary, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy Matthew Perry 's on-screen mum Morgan Fairchild has revealed she tried to help him beat his addiction to drugs. In a moving documentary about the Friends star's mental health battles, Morgan and other pals speak candidly about the actor, who found global fame as joker Chandler Bing. Morgan, who played Chandler's mum Nora, says: 'I have flashbacks of that young man who would come bounding over on set like a big puppy dog, that's how I remember him. "I tried to reach out a little bit and let him know I was there for him, because I have had other people in my life who have had trouble with alcohol or drugs. I said, 'I'm here to talk if you would like to'.' Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman adds: 'I lost a friend in multiple ways. What's amazing is the outpouring from the fans who lost a friend too.' Matthew drowned in the spa bath at his Los Angeles home last October at the age of 54. After many years battling addictions to alcohol and drugs, he had fallen victim to a ketamine habit. There was an outpouring of grief from fans across the world, as well as co-stars including Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow. In documentary Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, Morgan says: 'I remember when Matthew was first starting to go public with some of his issues. I was terribly proud of him.' Morgan, 75, also known for 80s US soap Falcon Crest, adds: 'It's hard to admit you've got any problem. He also wanted to help other people who were also struggling. Even in the midst of his own pain, he tried to reach out to other people.' The show also features updates on the trials of those allegedly involved in supplying drugs to Matthew. Five people were charged, including two doctors, as well as Matthew's PA Kenneth Iwamasa, who found him dead. Other celebrity contributors, meanwhile, include Simpsons voice Hank Azaria, who says Matthew helped him through his own battle with alcohol. Hank says: 'Matthew was the first friend I made in LA. I was 21, he was 16. We did a pilot that never saw the light of day. We became really good friends. We were like brothers for a long time.' He adds: 'The night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in. The first year I was sober we went to meetings together and he was a great support. He was so caring and giving and wise and he totally helped me get sober. "Most nights spent with Matthew you were crying laughing by the end. I really loved him. A lot of us who loved him felt like we lost him to drugs and alcohol a long time ago.' Morgan says Matthew's acting touched people 'all over the world'. She says: 'His legacy will be one of hope and joy and friendship and love.' Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, Monday 18th August, ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Friends star Lisa Kudrow goes viral over resurfaced impression of far-right MAGA spokesperson
had fans in stitches after her appearance in 2020 political mockumentary resurfaced on social media in recent days. The 62-year-old Friends star went viral after a clip in which she parodies a right-wing 'non-official spokesperson' for President Donald Trump's MAGA movement started making the rounds again on social media. The clip was from the Netflix special Death To 2020, which was produced by Black Mirror creator Charlie Booker — who also wrote the film — and his regular collaborator Annabel Jones. On X (formerly Twitter), commenters — many of whom appeared to have liberal politics — were simultaneously delighted and infuriated by what they saw as similarities between Kudrow's over-the-top defenses of the first Trump administration's scandals and the real flak that Trump's current White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, deflects on a daily basis. They praised her 'perfect impersonation' of an influential MAGA figure in the replies, with many users finding major parallels between her and real-life right-wing figures over their allegedly slippery grasp of the truth. Kudrow's spokeswoman, the fictional Jeanetta Grace Susan, was seen in a clip seemingly meant to take place in Washington, DC, as she defended Trump against his multiple impeachments. 'The whole impeachment thing was baseless, OK,' Kudrow says in character. 'So the Democrats claim that Trump pressured Ukraine into digging up dirt on the Biden family and their only real "evidence" of that is the transcript of him doing it,' she adds on a particularly ridiculous note as documents referencing Trump's attempts to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election. Kudrow digs in shamelessly when the unseen British interviewer asked her to say more about the 'transcript' she had mentioned. 'What transcript?' she replies. When the interviewer reminders her that she just mentioned a transcript, she shoots back, 'Check your tape. I said no such thing.' Then Kudrow scoffs as the interviewer began reading back what she had just said about Ukraine, before doubling down and interjecting, 'There's no such place as Ukraine.' 'Yes, there is,' he replies in shock, but the spokeswoman shoots back, 'I choose to believe there is not.' Several viewers in the replies saw in Kudrow a shocking resemblance to Leavitt, both physically and in her defensive tone, though Leavitt wasn't working as the White House Press Secretary until the second Trump administration, years after the Netflix special was released. Kudrow digs in shamelessly when the unseen British interviewer asked her to say more about the 'transcript' she had mentioned. 'What transcript?' she replies, before denying she ever mentioned a transcript and then claiming that she doesn't believe in Ukraine One viewer praised the clip as 'freaking awesome' and said that Kudrow's performance as a fake PR specialist was 'probably the best thing I've seen since Tina Fey did Sarah Palin' on Saturday Night Live Other posters praised the clip as 'brilliant,' 'on point' and 'perfect' Another viewers said they had 'given up' on trying to reason with Trump's most vocal fans, which they seemed to think the clip effectively illustrated 'This is GREAT! Kudrow perfectly captured the Karoline Leavitt person — right down to the long bond hair and vapid smile,' wrote one user who felt there was a strong similarity. One viewer praised the clip as 'freaking awesome' and said that Kudrow's performance as a fake PR specialist was 'probably the best thing I've seen since Tina Fey did Sarah Palin' on Saturday Night Live. Other posters praised the clip as 'brilliant,' 'on point' and 'perfect.' One user complained that Americans were forced to 'literally listen to this everyday.' 'MAGA believe and stake their lives on memes, but call any reporting or data into question and often see document records as a compelling reason to believe the opposite of what they indicate,' they added. Another viewers said they had 'given up' on trying to reason with Trump's most vocal fans, which they seemed to think the clip effectively illustrated. 'I don't know what is up in their heads, but it is not brains or the gift of reason,' they seethed. 'I am beginning to believe that they are not just stupid and ignorant, but they just do not take in any information that is going to challenge their current mindset.'
