Jennifer Aniston Archive

Though she would spend most of her youth in New York, Jennifer Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, California, into a prominent acting family. Well connected from the beginning -- her father is veteran Days of Our Lives star John Aniston; her godfather is none other than Telly Savalas -- Aniston did not discover her own penchant for acting until attending the Rudolf Steiner School drama club at 11, where Steiner himself encouraged her to pursue a career in theater and film.

Aniston proved to be a talented painter during her stay at the Rudolf Steiner School (one of her pieces was displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art), but acting became her primary focus after graduating from New York's prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in 1987, and she held roles in off-Broadway productions such as For Dear Life and Dancing on Checker's Grave.

Though Friends launched Aniston's career as a sitcom actress, her television debut was in 1989, when she starred in 1990's short-lived series Molloy. Before long, Aniston's television resume had grown to include appearances in The Edge, a role in the ultimately unsuccessful attempt at adapting Ferris Bueller's Day Off into sitcom format, and a part in an episode of Quantum Leap. In 1991, she landed a recurring role on Herman's Head, while 1993 led her to a small part on The Ben Stiller Show.

By 1994, it looked like Aniston was destined for a life of obscure parts in doomed television sitcoms. Despite being asked to audition for the role of Monica Gellar in a pilot for a sitcom at that point titled "Friends Like These" (a role that would eventually be filled by Courtney Cox), Aniston insisted on trying out for the part of Rachel Green, a spoiled suburbanite turned spunky coffee house waitress. The rest, as they say, is history -- "Friends Like These" would become the mega-hit Friends.

Friends quickly inspired an obsessive following, as did Aniston's signature hairstyle. Just as "The Rachel" fell out of popularity in the salons, Aniston began scoring roles in a series of romantic comedies -- namely, She's the One (1996), Picture Perfect (1997), 'Til There Was You (1997), and The Object of My Affection(1998) -- and met fellow actor Brad Pitt. Gwen and Brad quickly turned to Jen and Brad, and the two young stars took their place among Hollywood's elite power couples after their marriage in 2000.In January 2005, the couple announced that after 4 1/2 years of marriage, they were to seperate. Divorce papers were filed on March 25th by Jennifer, citing irreconcilable differences with Brad. The two remain co-owners of the Plan B production company with producer Brad Grey.

Needless to say, Aniston had gained an astounding amount of notoriety since her fledgling film debut in 1993's Leprechaun, and starred in director Stephen Herek's Rock Star in 2000 after a relatively well-received supporting role in 1999's Office Space. Though Rock Star was far from a massive success, Aniston's talent for dramatic roles was finally given a proper outlet, and she went on to land the lead part in 2002's The Good Girl. In 2003, Aniston starred alongside Jim Carrey in the romantic comedy Bruce Almighty, which became the years most watched comedy, and Friends began its final season.

In January of 2004, Aniston stared in the number 1 comedy in America. Along Came Polly grossed 26.7 million dollars in its first weekend, knocking Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King out of the top spot at the box office. Along Came Polly also starred Ben Stiller, Debra Messing, Alec Baldwin, and Hank Azaria . January also marked the end of our beloved Friends. The last episode ever of the hit sitcom was taped on January 23rd and will air on May 6th..

contributions by ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

All the while Pitt's ex, Jennifer Aniston, has kept her dignified silence. Now the woman who was once half of Hollywood's golden couple is speaking out for the first time in the September issue of Vanity Fair.

Leslie Bennetts, who spent three weeks in Malibu and Chicago with Aniston, joined "Good Morning America" to talk about the article, which hits stands on Wednesday in New York and L.A. and Tuesday, Aug. 9, nationwide.

"I think it's been a terrible six or eight month for her," Bennetts said. "There has been one provocation after another."

Brad and Jen were anointed as the king and queen of Hollywood in an appropriately lavish wedding in 2000 with 50,000 flowers and a 40-member gospel choir.

For 4½ years, they made their fans believe that true love can really last between mega stars. But the fairy tale came crashing to the ground in February when the couple filed for divorce, amid swirling rumors that the marriage failed because Aniston didn't want children and Pitt had fallen for his "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" co-star, Jolie, whom Aniston met once on the set of "Friends."

Aniston was quick to put some of the rumors to rest.

"I've never in my life said I don't want to have children," she said. "I did and I do and I will!"

Aniston said Pitt "checked out of the marriage" after filming "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" with Jolie, but she still believes he did not cheat on her while they were together.

"I choose to believe my husband," Aniston said. "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised by anything, but I would much rather choose to believe him."

Nevertheless, the constant reports of Pitt and Jolie's romance continue to hurt Aniston.

"There is a sensitivity chip that's missing [from Brad]," Aniston said of Pitt's decision to pose for a sexy photo shoot with Jolie in W magazine.

During their months together, Bennett observed "sighs" and "glum" expressions from Aniston. But she also saw signs of her humor shining through.

We consider ourselves celebrity gossip connoisseurs.

But we’ve never been able to figure out the couple known as “Vaughniston.” Are they together? Are they broken up? Should we refer to them as “Vinnifer” instead? Tough questions. Few answers.

Back in Bed? In fact, just when we though that the relationship was over, this nugget comes across our desk: On the afternoon of April 21, Vince Vaughn hopped into his blue Pontiac Firebird convertible and made a familiar journey to the Hollywood Hills home of Jennifer Aniston.

Apparently the former lovebirds had lots of catching up to do… in bed!

“Vince didn’t leave until 5 p.m. the next day,” an eyewitness - who must’ve been staring at her house for 24 hours straight - tells Us Magazine.

According to friends of each actor, though, it’s okay if these two got as nude as Kristine Lefebvre together. An Aniston friend says she can trust Vince, while a Vaughn source said:

“It’s no big deal if he stayed over. They are friends and can be friends with benefits.”

Shockingly, though, L.A.-based psychologist Ava Cadell says it’s difficult for people who have been in a sexual relationship to remain friends, “so the fact that they did remain friends really shows good character and stability.”

That’s some seriously expert analysis, doctor. Are you gonna tell us next that it’s difficult for Andy Baldwin to find true love on national television?

“It all depends on what their intentions are,” says Cadell, ignoring our mockery and talking about Vince and Jen. “It’s healthy, as long as they both want to do it and it feels good.”

Hear that, readers? Go sleep with your ex, as long as you each want to and orgasms result from the hook-ups. (Somewhere, Kevin Federline is totally calling Britney right now.)

Anyway, let’s take a look back at the ups and downs of Vaughniston’s romance