In a heartfelt interview with Today.com, Lisa Kudrow opened up about her transformative experience on the hit NBC sitcom Friends, describing her time on the show as "heaven" and expressing deep affection for her fellow cast members.
"We loved each other," said Kudrow, who played the eccentric Phoebe Buffay for 10 seasons alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. The 61-year-old actress revealed that the cast's genuine chemistry extended beyond the camera, creating an exceptional workplace environment that felt "too good to be true."
The Emmy-winning actress, who received the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1998, considers her role on Friends as a career-defining moment. "I won a lottery being on Friends," Kudrow shared, noting that everything that followed was "icing."
The beloved sitcom, which ran from 1994 to 2004, garnered six Primetime Emmy Awards and continues to captivate new audiences through reruns and streaming platforms. For Kudrow, the show's success surpassed her initial career aspirations. "All I ever wanted to do was be able to support myself as an actor. That was the goal," she explained.
The actress credits Friends for opening doors to creative opportunities, including her own projects like Web Therapy, The Comeback, and Who Do You Think You Are? "Because I was on Friends, I got to create my own shows that didn't have to be as big as Friends," Kudrow reflected, describing these ventures as "really fulfilling."
Looking back on her career, Kudrow characterizes her journey as "lucky," "privileged," and "fortunate," emphasizing how the show exceeded her expectations and allowed her to work with people she genuinely adored.