Jennifer Aniston has revealed that filming her 2006 romantic dramedy The Break Up was more than just a career move — it was a form of personal healing.
Speaking to Vanity Fair in the magazine’s Stars Rewatch YouTube series, the Friends alum said the timing of the movie, which came right after her high-profile divorce from Brad Pitt, made the experience “kind of cathartic.”
“[When making the movie], I might have just gone through a separation [that] I’m sure nobody remembers,” Aniston, 56, joked. “It was kind of cathartic to go right from that [into shooting].”
She revealed that producers initially hesitated to offer her the role, worrying it might be “insensitive” given her personal situation. But Aniston insisted it was the right choice — both emotionally and creatively. “I knew it would actually benefit me emotionally just as a human being and also serve the script and the character pretty well,” she explained.
The film, co-starring Vince Vaughn, centres on a couple’s chaotic fight over their shared apartment following a breakup. Aniston recalled that the cast spent two weeks improvising with Vaughn and the writers, leading to some of the film’s most relatable moments.
“It also allowed for a lot of real conversations that couples have, which I think is why [the movie] hit home for so many people,” she said.
Now, nearly two decades later, both stars have moved on. Aniston is dating author Jim Curtis, while Pitt is in a relationship with jewellery executive Ines de Ramon.
