Buried Truths and Forbidden Photos: Jennifer Aniston Breaks Down in Shocking Interview Revealing Her Darkest Secret, Sleepless Nights, and a Regret That Still Haunts Her

Jennifer Aniston was just 25 years old when she became a household name playing Rachel Green on Friends.

After its September 22, 1994, premiere, viewers quickly fell in love with the stunning and funny star, and before she knew it, she was crowned America’s Sweetheart. With great fanfare came the not-so-great glare of the spotlight as her love life frequently made headlines around the globe, and both of her high-profile marriages — to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 and Justin Theroux from 2015 to 2018 — ended in divorce.

For a time, Aniston felt typecast as the girl next door, but she shook off the label with a dramatic and Golden Globe-nominated turn in 2014’s Cake, where she portrayed a grieving addict, and more recently in Apple TV+’s hit The Morning Show, for which she won a 2021 SAG Award and earned two Emmy nods. Through all the ups and downs, the actress remained remarkably grounded, navigating personal and professional highs and lows with gratitude and grace.

At 55, Aniston continues to reinvent herself. She launched her bestselling haircare line, LolaVie, in 2021, and her first children’s book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life (inspired by her beloved Schnauzer mix), hit shelves on October 1. She’s at the top of her game career-wise but is happiest at home in her airy $21 million L.A. mansion surrounded by her dogs and a tight circle of loved ones, including her Friends costars, who’ve been with her since the beginning of her incredible ride.

Here, sources close to Aniston reveal her winning formula for living her best life.

Master the Fame Game

Being one of the most famous women in the world came at a price for Aniston. Since the mid-’90s, the public has been fascinated by her — her hair, her body, her family, her romantic interests, her most personal decisions. She said “years and years” of speculation about whether she wanted children was especially hurtful, telling Allure in 2022: “I was trying to get pregnant … It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it…. [There was the] narrative that I was just selfish. I just cared about my career…. And the reason my husband left me, why we broke up and ended our marriage, was because I wouldn’t give him a kid.”

All these years later, the Aniston obsession has barely waned, but a source says the actress has gotten better at tuning out the noise and doing what she has to to protect her privacy and peace. “Jen is thankful for the projects she’s been able to work on and charities she’s been able to shine a light on, but she isn’t a fan of the spotlight, and she doesn’t love being famous. She lives her life as low-key as anyone in her position can.” Adds a second source: “Jen’s relationship with the spotlight has evolved. She’s more pragmatic about it. She’s learned over the years who she can trust.”

Build a Support System

Aniston’s tight-knit group of friends is small but solid. “Friendships are central to Jen’s life and provide her with emotional support,” says the second source, noting that her crew “includes folks in and out of Hollywood.” The first source points out that most of Aniston’s relationships go way back. “She’s kept her circle very small for many years and hasn’t added too many people to her close confidants.”

She and the remaining Friends cast members (Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc) “still feel like they’re a family,” says the first source, adding that they stay in touch in a text thread in which they often reminisce about their late costar, Matthew Perry, who passed away last year from the acute effects of ketamine. “They are strong proponents of keeping his memory alive.” The show’s 30th anniversary in September “prompted a lot of reflection” for Aniston, says the first source, “especially given Matthew’s death.”

Take Care of Your Body

The gorgeous A-lister has always been a fan of exercise, but in recent years, she’s ditched long, grueling treadmill workouts and replaced them with Pvolve, a functional fitness method that utilizes bands and light weights to target specific muscles (she announced her partnership with the buzzy brand in 2023).

“I had to retrain my brain,” she explained. “It used to be pounding, pounding, pounding; you had to get 45 minutes to an hour of cardio; otherwise, you weren’t getting a workout.”

Her current sweat sessions last as little as 10 to 20 minutes. “[Pvolve is] good on my body; it’s good to my body.” Says the first source: “When Jen looks her best, she feels her best. She embraces aging positively and is feeling more confident than ever.”

…And Your Mind

Her mental well-being is just as important as her physical health. She meditates every morning (“Sometimes I’ll follow a meditation on an app,” she’s said), limits her screen time — especially before bedtime — and loves a good hot bath. The second source says the beach-loving California girl also enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her dogs. “We don’t allow ourselves the time to do the things we need to [for] self-care because we’re so on the go, go, go, go, go,” she said in 2023. “[Take 20 minutes] to turn everything off and just quiet your mind. It’s not easy, but it does help.”

Don’t Hold Grudges

Aniston remains on friendly terms with former husbands Pitt (they split after five years in 2005) and Theroux (they broke up in 2018 after nearly three years of marriage). Pitt called Aniston “a good friend” in a 2020 red carpet interview and cheered her on backstage at the 2021 SAG Awards when she won for The Morning Show. Theroux — who got engaged to actress Nicole Brydon Bloom in September — attended Aniston’s 2019 Thanksgiving gathering at her L.A. home and called her “Auntie Jen” in an October 2 Instagram video showing his dog, Kuma, and a gifted copy of Aniston’s new book. As far as she’s concerned, life’s too short to hold on to negativity. “It doesn’t feel good to harbor anger and resentment,” she’s said. Adds the second source, “Jen’s moved on from her past relationships without hard feelings. She doesn’t burn bridges.”

Keep Growing

For years, Aniston struggled to break free from the character she made famous on Friends. “I could not get Rachel Green off of my back for the life of me. I could not escape [her],” she recalled. Then came Cake (“That’s been the project she’s most proud of,” says the first source) and The Morning Show, where she plays fiery anchor Alex Levy. “Jen experienced frustration proving herself beyond [Friends],” says the second source. “But she never considered giving up.”

She’s branched out with LolaVie and producing (she and her The Morning Show costar Reese Witherspoon are exec producers on the series). “Jen feels very fulfilled in her career,” says the first source. Adds the second: “She wants to continue to produce and possibly direct. She’s very grateful for the continued success she’s had in her 50s.”

Stay Open

Aniston doesn’t see herself walking down the aisle again. “Never say never, but I don’t have any interest,” she said in 2022, revealing that she hasn’t shut the door completely. “I’d love a relationship. Who knows? There are moments I want to just crawl up in a ball and say, ‘I need support.’ It would be wonderful to come home and fall into somebody’s arms and say, ‘That was a tough day.’ ” The first source says she is dating but hasn’t found anything with long-term potential. “Jen is looking for someone she can trust, who makes her laugh — humor is a huge part of what she’s looking for. And, of course, they must love dogs!”