She’s been one of the most-watched women in the world for years but despite going through a divorce, Jennifer Aniston is doing fine.
The Hollywood star graces the cover of the latest issue of InStyle and lifted the lid on her personal life with Molly McNearney, wife of funnyman Jimmy Kimmel. And from the baby shaming to life in the public eye to a possible Friends reunion, here’s what she had to say.
On her relationships and decision to not have children
“It’s pretty crazy.The misconceptions are ‘Jen can’t keep a man,’ and ‘Jen refuses to have a baby because she’s selfish and committed to her career.’ Or that I’m sad and heartbroken. First, with all due respect, I’m not heartbroken.”
“And second, those are reckless assumptions. 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?”
Jen and Justin announced their split in February 2018.
On how she deals with fame
“There are definitely moments of not being balanced and poised, but I do that all in my own personal space. For the most part I can sit back and laugh at the ridiculous headlines because they have gotten more and more absurd.”
“I guess they’re feeding into some sort of need the public has, but I focus on my work, my friends, my animals, and how we can make the world a better place. That other stuff is junk food that needs to go back in its drawer.”
WATCH: Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler read gossip about themselves in 2016.
On sexism in Hollywood and the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements
“[#MeToo and Time’s Up are] long overdue. But we also need to be better at listening to one another. That includes men. They need to be part of this conversation.”
“When everyone is mad and aggressive, people become too afraid to speak and there is no conversation. Same goes for politics. We need to include each other, to hear each other out. We can’t stoop to the anger. Michelle Obama said it best: ‘When they go low, we go high.’ We should all be living by that if we want real progress.”
“I’ve definitely had some sloppy moves made on me by other actors, and I handled it by walking away. I’ve never had anyone in a position of power make me feel uncomfortable and leverage that over me. In my personal experience I’ve been treated worse verbally and energetically by some women in this industry.”
Jen wore black to support the Time’s Up movement at the 2018 Golden Globes ceremony. Pictured with Carol Burnett.
On the pressure for women to have a certain body type
“I love that the Miss America pageant is going to get rid of the swimsuit competition altogether.”
“You know, a swimsuit body is a body in a swimsuit, no matter what that body is. It’s time to just stop thinking beauty is in the shape of a size 4 and the right butt size and the right waist size and the right measurements. It’s just old. We’ve done it. We’ve been there. Let’s move on.”
Jennifer is over the body shaming.
On living in a technological world
“I don’t have Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts. I will totally admit that I can dip into Instagram and sort of be a secret voyeur. I’m a creeper.”
“There are times when I’ll look through and think, ‘Oh my god, what a time suck!’ I’ve been with people who spend maybe an hour figuring out this one post, and you’re like, ‘That just took up an hour of your life, and it’s gone in 60 seconds.’ It feels like we are losing connection. I think we’re losing conversation. It’s hard enough being a teenager and feeling like you fit in.”
“Now we’re actively creating an environment and a platform for you to tell someone, ‘I like you’ or ‘I don’t like you.’ That seems like an unhealthy formula for already-insecure adolescents. We’re pouring fuel on a fire.”
On a potential Friends reboot
“Before that show ended, people were asking if we were coming back. Courteney [Cox] and Lisa [Kudrow] and I talk about it. I fantasize about it. It really was the greatest job I ever had. I don’t know what it would look like today, but you never know.”
“So many shows are being successfully rebooted. I know Matt LeBlanc doesn’t want to be asked that question anymore. But maybe we could talk him into it. Or we just give it some time and then Lisa, Courteney, and I could reboot The Golden Girls and spend our last years together on wicker furniture.”
Check out the full In Style interview here.
