Jen Aniston not 1st choice for Rachel in Friends – but guest star turned it down

Jennifer Aniston shot to fame after the success of her role as Rachel Green in American sitcom Friends.

But it turns out that 51-year-old actress Jen wasn’t the producers first casting choice for the iconic part that won the hearts of viewers everywhere.

Jane Sibbett, who played Ross’ ex-wife Carol Willick for 15 episodes, was initially offered to play the part of one of the main six characters but she was forced to turn it down – a decision which would have changed the show entirely.

Speaking to news.com.au Jane revealed: “It was actually Rachel but I usually don’t tell people that because Jen… There’s no one who could’ve done it like Jen.”

She asked her agents whether they had told the producers that she was pregnant at the time, but they said they’d tell them at a later date.

It was only because Jane pushed the agents to come clean about her pregnancy that the role was passed to Jennifer.

Jane added: “I have no regrets, my goodness, there’s no way anybody could have come close to what Jennifer Aniston did with Rachel. She was so perfect.”

Since she’d already read the script, she knew she’d be perfect to play the role of Carol Ross’ ex-wife who realises she’s a lesbian once she falls pregnant with Ross’ baby.

At first Carol was played by actress Anita Barone, but after she abruptly quit she was replaced by Jane who played her part for the rest of the show.

The day she gave birth to her son she got a phone call from producers who told her Carol was being replaced and she could work the next day.

Two days after delivering, her son joined her on set, and what was supposed to be a two-week job turned into a “milky haze” according to Jane.

The show kicks off with Ross in the middle of his divorce with Carol after she met Susan Bunch – Jessica Hecht – at the gym and fallen in love.

Soon after, she leaves Ross only to discover she’s pregnant with their future son, Ben.

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