Sandra Bullock has revealed that she and Jennifer Aniston were discouraged from being friends early in their careers, as the industry sought to pit female actors against each other. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Bullock recalled meeting Aniston about 15 years ago at a mutual friend's wedding, where they bonded over shots and notes.
“We were from that time in the business where no one wanted the ladies to be friends – it was about pitting everyone against each other,” Bullock said. “We were told we weren’t supposed to do that – meaning like and respect and honour each other.”
Both actors rose to fame in 1994, Bullock with Speed and Aniston with Friends. Their friendship has deepened over shared frightening experiences, including stalker incidents. In 2014, a stalker broke into Bullock’s Los Angeles home, forcing her to hide in a cupboard and call 911. Aniston recently had a man arrested after he drove through her gate, having harassed her for two years.
“People are out of their minds. Who wants to put that energy out there,” Aniston said, adding that her security is “a necessity”. Bullock described her home as a “fortress” due to ongoing threats. The pair now motivate each other to leave their houses.
Aniston also revealed a close friendship with Gwyneth Paltrow, despite Paltrow’s past engagement to Brad Pitt, to whom Aniston was married. “Oh, of course,” Aniston said of discussing Pitt with Paltrow. “How can we not? We’re girls.”
