The One Thing Lisa Kudrow Used To Channel Phoebe In Friends
The sitcom "Friends" is a global phenomenon. With "Friends: The Reunion" hitting HBO Max, casual fans and die-hard devotees alike have been reflecting on their love for the show. Most people have a character from "Friends" to whom they relate the most. For people who are Type-A, it's probably Monica Geller (Courteney Cox). Viewers who are very sarcastic to hide their emotions probably relate to Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry). And for those who've always marched to the beat of their own drums, it's probably Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow).
For 10 years, fans loved watching the quirky and earnest Phoebe live life unconventionally. She's certainly an inspiration to all of us who are tired of going by the book and want to follow our passions. Whether she was singing at Central Perk, working as a massage therapist, or being a surrogate for her brother's babies, Phoebe always lived out loud, never minding what others think. It's hard to imagine any actor other than Lisa Kudrow playing the iconic role. While a character as bold as Phoebe might be challenging for some performers, Kudrow shared how she was able to embody the most eccentric member of the "Friends" gang.
Phoebe's pilot monologue gave Lisa Kudrow everything she needed
In an interview with Emmy TV Legends (as transcribed by The Things), Lisa Kudrow shared how she channeled Phoebe Buffay. "I remember reading a monologue and I don't even remember the character description because, to me, everything I needed to know was in that monologue," Kudrow explained. "The monologue was all information about ... 'My mother killed herself. And my step-father was in prison and that's how I ended up in New York.'"
Phoebe's matter-of-fact approach to the traumas in her life was always a source of humor on "Friends." Kudrow explained how much that appealed to her as an actor, saying, "[She] doesn't feel sorry for herself at all and it's very funny if she also thinks, 'As is the case with everybody. Living in a car. With a drug addict. Who overdosed.' You know? So, I just thought that would also be funny if she thought, 'I'm normal, just like everybody else. I have the same experiences like everybody else has. Mother commits suicide. Dad's in jail.' You know, and then it's all not a big deal."