FRESH START WITH JENNIFER
The A-list actress talks honestly and positively about the times when she has made changes in her life…
Ialways wanted to be an actress and worked hard to get my career going,” Jennifer recalls.
“I got work in a number of stage productions, which was great, although not quite Broadway and then I landed a role in the TV series Molloy.
“I thought I had made it and I got several other par ts but nothing ver y big. Then along came what was going to be called Friends Like These, and I was asked to audition to play Monica. It wasn’t me so I turned it down.
“Most people who knew me thought I must be crazy to turn something down but then I was of fered another audition, for the par t of Rachel Green. That worked and I became Rachel.
“It was a huge success – people used to ask for a ‘Rachel’ at their hairdressers and they used to stop me in the street and call me Rachel! Sometimes they still do.
“It is funny how your life changes so much when you became a regular face on TV. You kind of have a fresh star t forced on you. People’s attitude towards you changes, unless they are really close friends.”
Jennifer’s career soared after that, with many more roles falling into her lap. Her private life, however, has not always been so successful.
“I would like a steady home life but it hasn’t worked out so far,” she confesses.
“I have been in love, and it is a great feeling, but it can be all the more painful when it doesn’t work out. It is difficult to think that you are in a relationship that is going to last forever, even if you want it to. Things are never easy – you have to work at it.” Jennifer has had more than one fresh star t, but there has been a constant in her life when she has gone home from each day’s work on the
film set.
“Men come and go, although [each time] you think and hope you have found the one that will last for ever. The constant I have had in my life is a ver y special friend.
“There really is no relationship like the one you have with a dog,” Jennifer declares. “It is a pity that dogs don’t live as long as they should. You have to say goodbye way too soon. It makes me so sad.
“But the love of a dog is unconditional and I really love that. You always have a friend when you have a dog.
“I think you need a positive attitude all the time and that is ver y difficult when you feel bad about yourself and your life. I am at my happiest when there is plenty going on and I seem to be pretty busy all the time with TV series and some new movies – things like The Fixer, The Morning Show and Murder Myster y with Adam Sandler and so on.
“You need friends – that’s not a joke – friends who will suppor t you with a new diet, a new job, a new relationship, anything really. Human friends are great but it is nice that when they go home you still have a canine friend.
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“The hardest thing when you are low is to change your mindset. You star t to blame yourself for ever ything and you only make yourself feel lower still.
“You have to do something – even taking a shower – that will make you think fresh and star t your fightback. You owe it to yourself to make things happen that will get you on the road to happiness. It takes courage, but if you are determined it gets easier.
“Do something – even just take a shower – to start your fightback”
“Looking back at Friends, the various characters were all tr ying to get a fresh star t from time to time and they had each other to help. It was comedy but there was a serious side. I think a lot of people related to it because they recognised something of themselves in the characters.
“We all arrive at that point when we need to change something – even if it is just to get into a new dress. One you have accepted the need to do something about it, you are already on your way to making something happen. You have already made your fresh star t really. I have often said that once you figure out who you are and what you love about yourself, it all kinda falls into place.
“Yes, I have had a few fresh star ts in life and maybe there will be a few more yet. I hope not too many but I’m ready for whatever happens.”