Lisa Kudrow Got Candid About Her Body Insecurity on “Friends” and How She Learned to Accept Herself Over Time

We’ve all got a special place for the Friends cast in our hearts. Lisa Kudrow played Phoebe Buffay, a fan-favorite character because of her free spirit, eccentric personality, and appropriate wardrobe. But almost 2 decades after the show ended, the actress opened up about how seeing herself on-screen next to her co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox made her feel like a “mountain of a woman.” The bonus at the end will tell you how to improve your body image.

Before finding fame as Phoebe Buffay, Lisa Kudrow was studying for a degree in psychobiology and intended to devote her life to science. Almost a year after graduating from Vassar College, early fame caught up with the aspiring actress. But like always, with fame came challenges that she wasn’t prepared for.

Almost 2 decades after the show ended, Lisa Kudrow has opened up about the constant body insecurities she experienced while filming the sitcom: “It wasn’t until Friends that I realized, ’Oh, I don’t look like I thought I looked.’”

“You see yourself on TV and it’s that, ’Oh, my God, I’m just a mountain of a girl. I’m already bigger than Courteney and Jennifer — like my bones feel bigger.’ I just felt like this mountain of a woman next to them,” the actress confesses in a candid interview on Marc Maron’s podcast.

“I had body dysmorphia in the way of like, ‘I’m a stick, just like my sister, just like my dad,’ and I wasn’t... I thought I was just really skinny and I could just do whatever,” says Kudrow, reflecting on her youth. In other words, her positive upbringing allowed her not to notice the way her body was presented among others around her.

In 1997, Kudrow was considered one of top 50 the most beautiful people in the world. But even this fact didn’t affect her confidence.

“It was just seeing myself on the show and seeing myself in clothes and seeing Courteney and Jennifer in clothes...” Seeing her co-stars on-screen was the reason for her insecurity. She added how she leaned on Aniston and Cox and asked them to accompany her to various fittings to help ease her nerves.

Later, Kudrow realized that her problem wasn’t just about tailoring. She added, “I’m not trying to say I was overweight either. I was not. I just had no idea of the actual shape of my body.”

The Emmy award winner recalled that she finally began to accept her body upon reaching her 40s, telling herself: “Not ’til my late 30s I just realized, ‘Oh no, it’s OK. This is just what I look like. That’s OK.’ I mean, do what you need to do to be healthy, but this is your body. It’s ok.’”

Bonus: A psychologist reveals simple tips for improving your body image:

• Stop dieting. Start eating normally. Just try to eat when you’re hungry and stop when you feel full.
• Focus on the total person. Instead of focusing on specific physical characteristics, keep in mind that you are a unique person with a range of talents.
• Enjoy your body. Be thankful every day for all of the wonderful things you can do in your body like dance, run, play, and give hugs.
• Practice positive thinking. Practice by complimenting yourself each day. Concentrate on your accomplishments, skills, and lifestyle choices.
• Respect others. Think positively about yourself, and remember to think positively about others, regardless of their size.

How does this story inspire you? Why do you think so many people suffer from insecurities about their appearance? Please tell us your stories in the comments.