Lisa Kudrow Reflects on the Challenges of Playing Phoebe on Friends

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The show’s success wasn’t just due to its funny writing and characters people could connect with—the genuine chemistry between the actors was a huge part of it. Remarkably, the cast remains close friends even after thirty years.

The actors have often talked about how much fun they had filming together, thanks to their close friendships, but it wasn’t always easy. In a recent interview, Lisa Kudrow revealed that playing Phoebe was surprisingly demanding, requiring a lot of effort because the character was so unlike herself.

It was a really enjoyable experience,” Kudrow shared with Parker Posey, star of *The White Lotus*. “That’s because the cast had a great time throughout the entire process,”

You know, playing Phoebe was really challenging for me. She was such a different person than I am, so I had to really work at understanding her motivations. I constantly had to ask myself *why* she’d say or do something, and convince myself it felt genuine *to her*. It wasn’t just about saying the lines; it was about making it feel real, and that took a lot of mental effort.

The actress explained that playing her character became easier over time. She recalled a moment during seasons two or three when she realized she was overthinking her performance. Matt LeBlanc noticed and pointed out that she didn’t need to try so hard, as she was naturally embodying the character.

Honestly, it broke my heart to hear her say she just wanted to be a good student, and that’s what really bothered her. She was willing to put in the effort, but it was the desire to succeed that was causing her the most pain.

Lisa Kudrow Addressed the Possibility of Joining The White Lotus Season 4

Since its debut in 2021 as a limited series, *The White Lotus* has gained a lot of popularity. The show is officially coming back for a fourth season, and there’s talk that Courteney Cox might be joining the cast, although no official announcements have been made yet.

During a Variety interview, Parker Posey asked Lisa Kudrow if she’d ever consider joining the show. Kudrow enthusiastically responded, “I would work with Mike White in a heartbeat! I really love him and we’ve even spent time together at a party.”

She added that he was a very social person, and she especially loved the movie “Brad’s Status” that year. She even emailed him to tell him how much she enjoyed it, saying she felt compelled to because it was so good – something she rarely does.

Regarding the chance of appearing in Season 4, the actor said they might not be the right fit for the creator’s vision, and that’s okay. They generally prefer roles that aren’t too dark, although they admitted some scenes—like those involving decapitation—required venturing into darker territory, even if it was all acting.

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2025-10-07 17:13