Most fans can’t possibly imagine the feisty, fiercely competitive Monica being played by anyone other than Courteney Cox.
Likewise, Jennifer Aniston embodied fashionista Rachel with panache. But if the “Friends” creators had it their way, the show would have turned out very differently. Producers were intent on casting Cox as Rachel, but the actor was averse to the idea, having fallen for Monica. Likewise, the showrunners couldn’t envisage Cox as Monica. “She had this cheery, upbeat energy. We thought, well, that’s not how we envisioned Monica,” the show’s co-creator Marta Kauffman told NBC News. “And then she came in and did it, and we went, huh!”
Despite protestations from the series’ creators, Cox turned down the role, insistent that she would be more adept at playing Monica. During an appearance on “Off Camera with Sam Jones,” she elaborated on why she was disinterested in portraying Rachel. “I related more to Monica,” the actor explained, though she reassured Jones that she’s nowhere near as competitive as the high maintenance chef.
Speaking with Rolling Stone in 1995, Cox conceded that though she was curious about potentially playing Rachel, her personal characteristics did not align with the character’s idiosyncrasies. “I’m not a quirky person,” she admitted, “although I’d like to be, because it looks like fun. I’m working toward being a kook.” We can’t help but wonder how the show would have panned out with Cox as Rachel. Well, maybe we don’t need to know. Wait, wait, we said maybe!
In addition to acting, Courteney Cox has a passion for renovating houses, a hobby she’s pursued since the ’80s. Per People, Cox had bought four houses by 1995 and renovated all of them. Accordingly, she was able to make a pretty profit on the properties when she went on to sell them in tip top condition, thanks to her decorating skills.
During an appearance on “The Delta Flyers Podcast” (via The Mirror), actor Robert Duncan McNeill, Cox’s co-star in ’80s flick “Masters of the Universe,” recounted an instance in which the “Friends” star bought a house, which she then reimagined and sold, during the making of the film. “She loved doing those remodels and renovation. … We’ve lost touch, but I heard that even in those ‘Friends’ days that … she loved to flip houses. She loved to remodel, renovate, and then flip it out,” he revealed.
Cox is serious about her love of property makeovers. Subsequently, she wants to make “house-care” as prevalent as self-care. Per Allure, she launched her brand Homecourt, which specializes in scented candles, cleaning remedies, and soaps, to encourage people to nurture their homes. “We take such good care of our bodies, so why not do the same thing with the products that we use in our house?” Cox asked. With a whopping net worth of $150 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, there’s no doubt that Cox’s property renovations and home care line have added handsomely to her bank balance.
