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6 Actresses who almost played Rachel Green on Friends

By FanSided

UNDATED PHOTO: Actors Jennifer Aniston (L) and David Schwimmer are shown in a scene from the NBC series "Friends". The series received 11 Emmy nominations, including outstanding comedy series, by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences July 18, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Warner Bros. Television/Getty Images)
UNDATED PHOTO: Actors Jennifer Aniston (L) and David Schwimmer are shown in a scene from the NBC series "Friends". The series received 11 Emmy nominations, including outstanding comedy series, by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences July 18, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Warner Bros. Television/Getty Images) /
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NBC’s Friends has been off the air since 2004, but that hasn’t stopped people from watching and rewatching the much-loved sitcom. It’s hard to imagine watching the show without the original six cast members in their iconic roles, but there was almost other actors filling up seats at Central Perk.

Jennifer Aniston wasn’t the studio’s first choice to play Rachel Green. Here is a list of six actresses who almost played everyone’s favorite waitress-turned-fashion savant.

Téa Leoni almost played Rachel Green

Tea Leoni
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 14: Actress Tea Leoni attends a sreening of “Madam Secretary” during PaleyFest New York at The Paley Center for Media on October 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) /

These days you might recognize from the CBS drama Madam Secretary, but actress Téa Leoni was one of NBC’s top choices to play Rachel, according to Screen Rant. She turned down the role to do a show called The Naked Truth that was canceled after only three seasons.

Jane Krakowski almost played Rachel Green

Jane Krakowski
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: Jane Krakowski attends the Public Theater’s 2021 annual Gala at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on September 20, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) /

Jane Krakowski is best known for roles like Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock and Jacqueline White in Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Like many actors at the time, she also auditioned for the role of Rachel Green. However, she explained to the Huffington Post that she didn’t get very far in the audition process.

Tiffani Thiessen almost played Rachel Green

Tiffani Thiessen
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Tiffani Thiessen attends The 12th Annual Television Academy Honors at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 30, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

Saved by the Bell alum Tiffani Thiessen is also on the list of actresses who almost played Rachel Green. According to Entertainment Weekly, Thiessen believes she didn’t get the role because of her age, as she explained, “I was just a little too young. I was a little too young to the pairing of the rest of them.” She would have been the youngest of the six main cast members, with Thiessen being only 20 when Friends premiered.

Lisa Whelchel almost played Rachel Green

Lisa Whelchel
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Lisa Whelchel visits SiriusXM Studios on January 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) /

The Facts of Life actress Lisa Whelchel also got a script for Friends after NBC had already shot the pilot and wanted to recast Rachel. Even though she thought the script was funny, Whelchel still turned the role down, as she explained to Oprah Winfrey in a “Where Are They Now?” segment.

Elizabeth Berkley almost played Rachel Green

Elizabeth Berkley
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 26: Actress Elizabeth Berkley attends a signing for her book “Ask Elizabeth” at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at The Grove on March 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) /

Saved by the Bell actress Elizabeth Berkley also auditioned for the role of Rachel, according to Digital Spy, but she eventually lost the role to Aniston. It’s a good thing, too, because she never would have landed her role in Showgirls!

Courteney Cox almost played Rachel Green

Courteney Cox
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 07: Courteney Cox attends American Film Institute’s 46th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to George Clooney at Dolby Theatre on June 7, 2018 in Hollywood, California. 390042 (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Turner ) /

Could fans be any more surprised? As we previously reported, the role of Rachel Green was first offered to Courteney Cox. However, Cox was more drawn to Monica’s character and despite having competition for the part, she was eventually cast in the role of her choice.

Want more Friends facts? Keep up with us at Hidden Remote!

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This article originally appeared on Floor8 and is written by Mae Harrington O’Neill.

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