Reese Witherspoon Recalls Jennifer Aniston’s ‘Kindness’

Reese Witherspoon proves she can do it all, from blockbuster roles to raising kids, and she revealed her secret weapon is having her friend Jennifer Aniston by her side.

The “Morning Show” co-stars’ bond dates back to their friendship, which began when Witherspoon guest-starred on the hit sitcom “Friends” as Aniston’s younger sister. 

As Witherspoon’s career took off at a young age, she has now openly reflected on the challenges of juggling early marriage, motherhood, and life in Hollywood.

In a recent interview, the co-founder of Hello Sunshine divulged all about her thriving career and the challenges that came with it.

The 49-year-old admitted she didn’t realize how tough it would be but said her youthful innocence had pushed her to go in, believing she could balance motherhood and her profession despite warnings that it might hurt her future.

“There were roles I couldn’t take. I had to have this immediate balance of family and career, being a mom and being a working actress,” Witherspoon candidly shared with The New York Times.

Looking back at the massive success of “Legally Blonde,” Witherspoon noted that it scarily shifted her perspective, as she was no longer begging for parts but had roles coming to her, and it became a challenge of picking which to take.

When asked whether it was different being in a different stage of life from her peers, Witherspoon recalled how the industry often discouraged her from playing motherly roles.

 “I was always being told by people in the industry: ‘Don’t play a mom. It’ll make you seem old.’ And I was like, ‘But, I am a mom,’” she revealed. “There was so much about our business that desexualized you, so you couldn’t be a movie star if you played a mom.”

However, she is relieved that this mindset is finally fading. Still, she remembers how normal it was when she was in her 20s and 30s that being a mother on screen was considered undesirable and unmarketable.

For the “Cruel Intentions” actress, achieving a balance between work and parenting was no easy feat, and when asked if she had a support system, Witherspoon quickly credited Aniston. 

The “Little Fires Everywhere” co-producer revealed that Aniston was “really helpful for navigating personal life and tabloid curiosity and also shutting out all the noise.”

She recalled the moment when the “Murder Mystery” star met her baby Ava on the set of “Friends,” and Aniston’s warm approach was the beginning of a lasting bond. 

Witherspoon said, “That kindness opened a door for me to ask Jennifer a lot of questions when I went through breakups or a really public divorce, and she was just always very generous with advice and care.”

While Witherspoon and Aniston have been such close pals for over two decades, there’s still one thing Aniston did not know about her co-star, and that’s her real name. 

Per E! Online, during an interview, the “Big Little Lies” alum introduced herself, saying, “I’m Laura Jean. That’s my real name,” to which Aniston hilariously replied, “Who the hell’s Laura?”

Witherspoon then explained that she never technically changed her name, as Reese is her middle name, taken from her mother’s maiden name.

“It’s my middle name,” she clarified. “I’m Laura Jean Reese.” Things got funnier when Witherspoon also expressed shock on finding out Aniston’s middle name is Joanna. 

Beyond their careers and close friendship, Witherspoon and Aniston share a surprising common interest: hypnotism.

Just last week, The Blast reported that the “Election” actress has turned to hypnotherapy to manage severe anxiety, especially when other methods like medication and meditation didn’t help.

The news comes as Aniston is reportedly romantically involved with hypnotist Jim Curtis. Sources confirm that the pair bonded deeply over their shared passion for hypnotism, with Curtis using his expertise to help Aniston work through past trauma.