David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston stole hearts as Ross Geller and Rachel Green, respectively, during their 10 seasons on Friends — but the duo had a bond outside of the series as well.
The pair dropped a bombshell on fans during the May 2021 Friends reunion when they revealed that they both had feelings for one another at the start of the NBC comedy, which premiered in 1994.
“The first season, I had a major crush on Jen,” Schwimmer shared during HBOMax’s reunion special.
Aniston added: “It was reciprocated.”
While the cast members never explored a romance, their feelings for one another weren’t a secret. “It was a very hot topic on the set because the electricity between them in the scenes was like, ‘Oh, my God, they can’t be acting that, there’s got to be something!’ Everybody was suspicious that something was going on,” producer Kevin S. Bright told The Hollywood Reporter about the twosome in May 2021.
He continued: “People made up their own rumors at a certain point. But we all thought something might have been going on because they were just so good together. We were so invested in Ross and Rachel, like the rest of you. There was something about them. But like the show, in a certain way, you had to wait a long time and then it never happened. The happy ending is in the show.”
Scroll down for a glimpse at some of the sweetest things Schwimmer and Aniston have said about each other:
A Reunion for the Ages
The duo had a sweet moment together during a 2024 Super Bowl commercial for UberEats — even though Aniston playfully forgot who Schwimmer was.
“Well, you know what they say: in order to remember something, you’ve gotta forget something else, make a little room,” Aniston said in the clip. When Schwimmer appeared to say hi, she asked: “Have we met? Give me a hint.”
He replied, “We worked together for 10 years.”
Aniston lied that he was “great” while it was obvious that she still didn’t remember. “Like I’d forget 10 years of my life,” she quipped.
“I hate this town,” he added, while the UberEats slogan read: “Whatever you forget, remember UberEats gets anything.”
Kissing On Screen
“It was quite enjoyable, actually,” Aniston said during a Live With Kelly and Mark segment in March 2023. “We did [have a crush on each other]. We just let it play out on TV. Sure enough, the first time we kissed was in that coffee shop. So, we just channeled all of our love and adoration for each other into Ross and Rachel.”
Seriously Special
Aniston reflected on the “bizarre” speculation that she and Schwimmer were dating four months after the duo revealed their past crushes on each other. “I could not believe that, actually. Like, really? That’s my brother,” she told Entertainment Tonight in September 2021. “I understand it, though. It just shows you how hopeful people are for fantasies, for dreams to come true.”
Something to Brag About
“I would proudly say I banged Schwimmer if that happened, but no,” Aniston told Howard Stern during a June 2021 episode of his SiriusXM show. “The beauty of that was that whatever feelings we had we just literally channeled everything into Ross and Rachel. I think that’s maybe why it resonated the way it did.”
On Their Past
“I thought back on the very first year or two, you know, when we had breaks from rehearsal, there were moments we would cuddle on the couch,” Schwimmer said during the HBOMax reunion about a close moment between him and his costar.
Aniston added: “We would spoon and fall asleep.”
Always Connected
“I haven’t seen David Schwimmer in a while, but we will be bonded forever,” Aniston told Myself Magazine in September 2011 about her relationship with Schwimmer.
So Selfless
“Jen, she amazes me. Also, [a] very generous, warm, warm person. Just always puts the other person first and I think it’s a gift,” the American Crime Story alum mentioned during a finale special for the hit show in 2003.
Plenty of ‘History’
“Schwimmy Schwimmster. We have a lot of history. He’s alright,” the Wanderlust star joked during a finale special in 2003. “No, again, really smart and helps me figure out things that I don’t understand. … I can be really honest with David and speak my mind, and I really appreciate you letting me do that.”
