‘Friends’: This 1 Famous Co-Star Was Super Nervous to Appear on the Series — ‘I Remember Losing Sleep’
The cast of Friends wasn’t just close on set — they were friends in real life. Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), David Schwimmer (Ross Geller), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing), Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani), and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay) operated as a unit when it came to everything from getting lunch to salary negotiations. They never had to pretend to get along.
This environment was perfect for the six main Friends characters who spent all 10 seasons together. However, their camaraderie made it difficult for guest stars to feel like they fit in. As the Friends castmates became more famous, guests became more and more intimidated to come on the show.
One actor even said they were “losing sleep” because of anxiety over appearing on the show.
‘Friends’ featured dozens of guest star cameos
Even the most avid Friends fans might forget some of the big-name celebrities who made appearances on the series. Brad Pitt, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Winona Ryder, Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon, Tom Selleck, Danny DeVito, and Sean Penn are just a few of the big names who appeared on the hit NBC sitcom.
As Friends became more and more popular, they didn’t need A-list celebs to draw an audience anymore. However, stars still liked coming onto the show to play bit parts. Even if it was a little intimidating.
Kristin Davis was so nervous to appear on ‘Friends’
Sex and the City alum Kristin Davis has a long history of acting. But her professional experience did not prepare her for the reality of going on Friends. She played Erin, a love interest for Joey who Rachel and Phoebe advocate for even though he’s not that interested.
“I remember losing sleep,” Davis told Today of getting cast in the role. “Sex and the City was in production, but I was nervous to be the tiny character of Erin, losing sleep, partly because of the live audience, but partly because you’re in this world that has been created that is so alive and so specific and you’re trying to make sure you’re fitting yourself in there properly.”
She continued: “And I remember, like, ‘Will I set that joke up OK? Will Matt (LeBlanc) be happy? Will I just go blank?’ Things go through your head when you’re in those situations that are heightened like that. Obviously, it was the highest of the high at that point.”
Davis noticed how close the cast was with each other
Like so many other actors who appeared briefly on Friends, Davis immediately recognized the kinship between the six main castmates. “I think the thing I remember most was the cohesion between the cast and the fact that they were somewhat besieged by the success from the outer world and they had kind of bonded together as a group. That was really great to see, and obviously I learned a lot from that,” she told Today.
“It was a lot of fun just to be there, to sit on the couch in the coffee shop,” Davis continued. “And E.R. was right across the way and I’d also been on E.R., so we got to see them at lunch. It was just a magical feeling and it’s really strange to think that it was that long ago.”
She may have been nervous at first, but the Friends cast made Davis feel right at home and comfortable. Even if Joey didn’t want to date Erin.
