Jennifer Aniston Reveals Her Parents Tried To Shield Her From Hollywood

Jennifer Aniston is one of Hollywood's biggest actresses, and for very good reason- she was one of the main characters in the insanely popular television series "Friends." Also, she has featured in several popular movies such as "Murder Mystery" and "Horrible Bosses."

Before she became the successful Aniston that we all know, she featured in some small TV shows and took on minor roles to grow her acting skills and prepare herself for primary roles.

Now, at 52, her growth and success are nowhere near their end, and Aniston's star glows brighter every day. Yet, she revealed that when she decided to get into the industry, she didn't have the support of her parents, who are successful actors themselves. Instead, they wanted her to become a doctor.

It's difficult for fans to imagine Aniston doing anything other than being amazing onscreen, so why did her parents try to shield her from Hollywood, and how did it go when she decided to ignore the advice? Read on to find out.

Aniston was born in 1969 to John Aniston and Nancy Dow, both of whom are veterans in Hollywood. John is an actor who began appearing on TV in the 60s and became famous for his long-time role in the TV show "Days of Our Lives." He was also featured in shows like "Gilmore Girls" and "Love of Life."

Aniston's mother, Nancy, was not as famous as John but still had a successful career with roles in several shows like "The Wild Wild West" and "The Beverly Hillbillies." However, during her childhood, Aniston was never really exposed to Hollywood and pop culture.

In a 2015 interview with Collider, Aniston revealed that she barely watched TV as a child. She said, "I was going to a Waldorf school, which didn't allow television, but I was allowed to go to the theater sometimes." She also said that she was only allowed to watch TV at the boarding school when she was homesick and needed to see her dad acting on his shows.

In another interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Aniston shared that she had always liked the idea of being an actress and wanted to pursue that path, but her parents were against the idea, and it took a while for them to accept it.

She also noted that her dad tried to change her mind and consider a different career path for a long time. She said, "My Dad's advice has always been: Don't do it. Become a doctor, Become a lawyer."

She explained that he didn't want her in Hollywood because he knew how tough the industry was.

However, it only made her want it more and work harder for her opportunities and successes. She said, "Do what keeps you happy, and don't ever let people box you in."

Despite what many would think, Aniston's relationship with her parents isn't so cheery. Her parents had a very toxic relationship, and eventually, her father walked out on her and her mother. They had a strained relationship until they reconciled in 2016, after her mother's death.

When asked what helps her stay buoyant and steadfast in the face of troubles in an interview with fellow actress Sandra Bullock for Interview magazine, Aniston said, "I think it comes from growing up in a household that was destabilized and felt unsafe, watching adults being unkind to each other, and witnessing certain things about human behaviour."

She said all these things made her think: "I don't want to do that. I don't want to be that. I don't want to experience this feeling I'm having in my body right now. I don't want anyone else that I ever come in contact with ever to feel that. So I guess I have my parents to thank."

Her mother was also very critical of her. She shared in several interviews that she wasn't the model child her mother wanted, and it made her mom criticize little things about her and things she did, which affected their relationship until her mom's demise.

It's a good thing that Aniston ignored her father's advice; otherwise, who else could have embodied so many of her roles so well? Who would have played Rachel Green from Friends, if not Aniston? Many of her fans would argue that no one could have done it better.

Her roles in "Bruce Almighty," "Horrible Bosses," "Murder Mystery," and many others are also iconic performances that only Aniston could have delivered.

Through these performances, she has won Golden Globe awards, MTV awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, and many others that demonstrate how appreciated her talents are in the industry.

She is also widely considered one of the most beautiful women globally and has millions of fans and followers on her social media. It is clear that despite the initial hurdles and the struggle to make it big, Aniston has kept her flame for the entertainment business alive and well-fed.