Jennifer Aniston's Surprising Revelation About Her Childhood
Jennifer Aniston has left her followers completely baffled following her latest interview for Elle Magazine's Women In Hollywood December 2025/January 2026 issue. The celebrated actress, now 56, made the startling claim that her family 'had no money' during her upbringing, despite her father being a recognised actor on the popular American soap opera, Days Of Our Lives.
Fan Confusion and Family Background
The actress's comments immediately sparked confusion and debate on social media platform X. One perplexed fan questioned, 'No money? Her dad was famous on TV, I don't get it,' while another sceptically added, 'She must mean her parents were only millionaires and not billionaires.'
This conversation arose when the Emmy-winning star was asked which of her characters she most identifies with in real life. Aniston responded that she would probably say Rachel Green from Friends, but with one significant difference: 'except my family had no money growing up, and she did.' Rachel Green was famously written as a character from a privileged East Coast family.
Her father was the late John Aniston, a well-known actor who not only starred in Days Of Our Lives but also featured in other hit series like Search For Tomorrow and Love Of Life. It is reported that regular soap stars can earn around $1 million per year for their work. John Aniston passed away in 2022.
Aniston's mother, Nancy Dow, was also an actress, appearing in shows such as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Wild Wild West, and Mr. Terrific before her death in 2016. Historical photos from 1975 show the family at their home in Sherman Oaks, California, which notably included a swimming pool.
Career Reflections and Hollywood Insights
The interview also delved into Aniston's more recent work and her perspectives on being a woman in Hollywood. She expressed a desire to be more like her character, Alex Levy, from The Morning Show. 'I want to be like Alex. I love her! Not that I want to be a mean, badass b***h, but there’s something about it. It’s fun to yell and tell someone off,' the Los Angeles resident admitted.
Reflecting on her career, Aniston stated that the best part of being a woman in Hollywood is simply 'that I’m a working woman in Hollywood'. She emphasised her love for her profession and the hard work she has invested. She also takes pride in creating projects that amplify female voices and make a difference, noting it's a 'really wonderful thing that we get to do now that we’re allowed a seat at the table.'
However, she didn't shy away from discussing the industry's challenges, recalling a time when women were not welcome at that proverbial table. 'It was thought, "How adorable that you think you could be a producer or run a production company." It was a very male-dominated industry, and we still have a long way to go, but women in Hollywood make moves. We get s*** done,' she asserted.
Remembering Matthew Perry
In a poignant moment, Aniston addressed the second anniversary of the death of her former Friends co-star, Matthew Perry. She described the loss as 'so alarming and shocking, yet not shocking,' revealing that the cast had always feared receiving that tragic phone call. 'We miss him. He’s missed,' she shared.
She paid tribute to Perry's character, noting, 'He was a brilliant human being and an extraordinary talent, loved deeply, and wanted happiness more than anything. It makes me sad that he never really achieved that, because he deserved it.'
The feature, which includes photography by Zoey Grossman and an interview by Claire Stern Milch, is available now on Elle.com and will be on newsstands from December 2, 2025. Aniston is honoured alongside other industry figures, including Emily Blunt.
