Driving Force

Navigating a career and personal life in the public eye, JENNIFER ANISTON continues to take the high road

- Molly Mcnearney​

I met Jen (don’t roll your eyes at me—that’s what we call her) in my kitchen about six years ago when my husband, Jimmy [Kimmel], and I invited our friend Justin [Theroux] over for pizza with his new girlfriend. At first I was a bit starstruck that Rachel Green was standing near my bananas. She was wearing black jeans, a black tank top and wedge sandals, and she smelled like a holiday. But my nerves faded as soon as she hugged me, pulled a lime off our tree for her vodka rocks, and dissected The Bachelor. I was expecting pretension (that’s on me). I got authenticity and real connection. She was immediately warm, like an old friend. She’s magnetic like that. At 49, she knows who she is. That means no boundaries, no bullshit, and a lot of laughing.

MOLLY MCNEARNEY: I want to start this interview off light. When are you getting back together with Brad? Did Justin ever wear your jeans? And when are the twins due?

JENNIFER ANISTON: [Laughs] You’re the only person who could start an interview like that and actually send me into hysterics and not hives.

MM: Well, I admire your ability to remain poised and balanced even while others desperately try to tell your story for you. How do you do it?

JA: 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.

MM: What is the biggest misconception about you?