With fame comes responsibilities, and it seems like Billy Crudup is learning that from being Jennifer Aniston's friend and co-star for the last few years. Crudup has been in the industry for years, but his talent has started to be recognized more thanks to his role as Cory Ellison on The Morning Show which he stars in with the Friends star and Reese Witherspoon.
Other than The Morning Show, he recently headlined his own Apple TV+ series Hello Tomorrow! and is now set to make his West End theatre debut in London! Ahead of that, the actor spoke to The Telegraph and the hard work Aniston puts in daily was brought up:
"It's so extraordinary what happens around her, she's juggling enormous challenges trying to manage some kind of ordinary life. Of course, she's incredibly capable, but you can't be around her and not observe how difficult things are for her."Billy Crudup, The Telegraph
It's hard to be a celebrity, let alone a high-profile one like the Friends actress. While Crudup didn't elaborate on what exactly he was talking about, I think we can get an idea. With busy and demanding schedules, people always around you, and constant media attention, it's not hard to believe that trying to maintain a "normal" life is indeed difficult in that kind of world.
During and after the success of Friends, all the stars from the hit comedy became known worldwide. Though I think it's Aniston who really was able to continue launching her career forward and maintained the name she'd built for herself. The actress threw herself into many different projects. And though she'll always be best known as the beloved Rachel Green, Aniston is still making hits.
And because of that, unfortunately there's many challenges that come with fame. Her and Brad Pitt's marriage received a lot of attention, though sadly the divorce and separation were scrutinized even more. She was also married a second time and divorced Justin Theroux, but the former couple remain close friends. The public and news outlets haven't always been kind, saying things like she "can't keep a man" or that she "refuses to have a baby because she's selfish and committed to her career."
"No one knows what's going on behind closed doors. No one considers how sensitive that might be for my partner and me. They don't know what I've been through medically or emotionally. There is a pressure on women to be mothers, and if they are not, then they're deemed damaged goods. Maybe my purpose on this planet isn't to procreate. Maybe I have other things I'm supposed to do?"Jennifer Aniston, Instyle
In speaking with Allure, what Aniston said proved to be true. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors and it's painful when someone who, like Aniston, is going through the challenging road of multiple IVF treatments and seeing those types of headlines. And that was of course hard for her, including because it didn't work.
Thankfully, the Friends star has some great pals around to support her, including Courtney Cox, Witherspoon, and Crudup. While Alex and Cory have a contentious relationship on the Apple TV+ drama, Aniston and Crudup have nothing but love for each other!
Crudup's upcoming show onstage, Harry Clarke, is a solo show about an "American trickster posing as a Londoner," per The Guardian. The Morning Show season 4 does not have a release date yet, but it probably won't be until 2025 when the new season comes out on Apple TV+.