Lisa Kudrow shares the challenges and joys of playing Phoebe on 'Friends'

American actress Lisa Kudrow admitted that she was not always the most popular and favorite character on the hit sitcom "Friends."

In an interview with The Independent on April 4, as reported by People.com, Kudrow, 62, opened up about playing Phoebe Buffay, saying there were times she felt ignored. “Nobody cared about me,” she recalled, noting that some at her talent agency simply labeled her “the sixth Friend.”

Even after winning an Emmy in 1998 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Kudrow revealed that many still doubted she would have a lasting career in Hollywood.  “It was like, ‘boy, is she lucky she got on that show,” she explained.

According to Interview Magazine, the comedian actress discussed how the public often perceived Phoebe, recalling that in 1994 people frequently called her character “such a ditz.” For Kudrow, however, Phoebe was much more than that.

She explained that the character was initially very different from herself, and it took effort to make Phoebe’s words and actions believable. “Over the course of 10 years, a little bit of her came into me. I lightened up a little more and read some books, just to try to understand her,” she said. 

Kudrow also noted that she tends to avoid playing characters who are too evil, as she doesn’t want to inhabit that mindset. Despite the challenges, Kudrow still had kind words for the show. In 2024, she told Today that she treasured working alongside people she loved during her time on Friends.

Being part of one of television’s most celebrated sitcoms also gave her the freedom to pursue her own projects. 

She expanded her work with the mockumentary “The Comeback”, “Web Therapy,” and executive produced the genealogy documentary “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Prior to her role as Phoebe on "Friends," Kudrow also appeared as Ursula Buffay, Phoebe's twin, on the sitcom "Mad About You."