Friends was the big push the main cast needed in their careers, and it’s now hard to imagine any other actors playing the roles or even the same ones playing another character, which was almost the case with Courteney Cox, who was originally going to play Rachel. Friends made its debut on NBC in 1994 and came to an end in 2004 after ten seasons and a lot of ups and downs in the lives of the main group. The series followed six friends (Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey, and Ross) living in New York City and navigating through adulthood as best as they could.
Friends is regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, and many elements from it have become part of pop culture, such as Central Perk, a bunch of one-liners, and the main characters, of which some even became fashion icons, like Rachel Greene (Jennifer Aniston). Each friend had its own quirks and traits, which made them quite relatable, especially Monica, who was obsessed with order and cleanliness, and had a difficult relationship with her mother. Monica was also the eternal host, with her apartment being the place everyone went to (when they weren’t drinking coffee at Central Perk, of course).
Monica was a very important character in the series from the very beginning, as she welcomed Rachel into her home and made her part of the group, and was the one who dealt with many topics and situations that weren’t featured on TV at the time and were even considered taboo. Monica was played by Courteney Cox, but that wasn’t the initial plan, as she was originally brought in to play a very different character: Rachel.
Why Courteney Cox Chose To Play Monica Instead Of Rachel
Courteney Cox wasn’t a complete stranger before Friends happened. She was mostly known for her appearance in the music video for Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” and appeared in a couple of TV shows and films. The producers of Friends wanted her to play the part of Rachel, but Courteney requested the role of Monica as she was more drawn to it and her strong personality. Prior to that, the creator’s choice for the role was Janeane Garofalo, and Maggie Wheeler also auditioned for the part but ended up playing another character: the unforgettable Janice.
As for Rachel, the first choice was Téa Leoni, who declined in favor of starring in the sitcom The Naked Truth (which lasted only three seasons). Jennifer Aniston auditioned for the role after turning down an offer to join Saturday Night Live, and was temporarily at risk of being recast as she was also involved with another sitcom, Muddling Through, which was ultimately cancelled. Courteney Cox’s portrayal of Monica ended up impacting the character and the series more than the producers could have anticipated, with her being credited for disproving stigmas of beauty and comedic performances, as well as the character addressing several topics that were rarely discussed in prime time television, such as safe sex, infertility, and age disparity in relationships. Monica’s legacy probably wouldn’t have been the same had Courteney Cox not played her, though it’s interesting to imagine what she would have brought to the character of Rachel.