In a candid interview, Jennifer Aniston has revealed how her own parents’ divorce impacted how she approached relationships, admitting that she always found them “a little bit difficult.”
The 54-year-old actress, who has been in several high-profile relationships throughout her career shared the intimate insights in an interview with Wall Street Journal.
“I think, because I really was kind of alone. I don’t know. My parents, watching my family’s relationship, didn’t make me kind of go, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to do that'” she told the publication, before explaining the dynamic between her parents, Nancy Dow and John Aniston.
“I didn’t like the idea of sacrificing who you were or what you needed, so I didn’t really know how to do that. So it was almost easier to just be kind of solo. So I didn’t have any real training in that give-and-take.”
In a previous interview with Interview Magazine in 2020, Jennifer touched on the impact her parent’s divorce had on her childhood, telling the publication that the experience taught her resilience.
“I guess I have my parents to thank for that. You can be angry or a martyr, or you can say, ‘You’ve got lemons? Let’s create some lemonade.'”
The Friends actress, who last year opened up about her struggles with infertility and IVF is currently single following her divorce from Justin Theroux in 2018.
In her interview with Wall Street Journal, Jennifer admitted relationships could be a challenge, telling the publication; “It’s just about not being afraid to say what you need and what you want. And it’s still a challenge for me in a relationship.”
“I’m really good at every other job I have,” she continued, “and that’s sort of the one area that’s a little….”
Who has Jennifer Aniston dated?
Justin Theroux (2010-2018)
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux began dating in 2010 and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at their Bel Air, California home in August 2015.
“In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation,” the couple said in a statement. “This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.”
They continued, “Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly. … Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.”
John Mayer (2008-2009)
John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston dated on and off for around a year after meeting at an Iscars party in 2008.
“They had some disagreements and decided to not continue to see each other,” a source told PEOPLE at the time. “Jen is moving on with her life like she always does. She seems happy.”
In 2010, John said of their split, “I’ve never really gotten over it. It was one of the worst times of my life.”
Vince Vaughn (2005-2006)
While filming The Break-Up in Chicago, co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn began dating.
“She’s awesome,” Vince told PEOPLE at the time. “She has just a wonderful warmth and likability about her.”
“I call Vince my defibrillator,” she told the publication. “He literally brought me back to life. My first gasp of air was a big laugh! It was great. I love him. He’s a bull in a china shop. He was lovely and fun and perfect for the time we had together. And I needed that. And it sort of ran its course.”
Brad Pitt (1998-2005)
After being introduced to each other through their managers, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt began dating in 1998, before announcing their engagement the following year.
The couple tied the knot in front of 200 guests in 2000 at a private estate in Malibu.
Aniston and Brad Pitt’s managers introduced the pair in 1994, but it wasn’t until 1998 that they went on their first date. The following year, they made their red carpet-debut at the 51st Emmy Awards. They announced their engagement in November at a Sting concert, where they showed off Aniston’s ring on stage.
In 2004 rumours began to circulate about Brad and his Mr. & Mrs. Smith costar, Angeline Jolie, and Jennifer and Brad announced they were separating in 2005 after almost five years of marriage.
Watch Below: Brad Pitt watches Jennifer Aniston’s acceptance speech at the SAG Awards 2020
“We would like to announce that after seven years together we have decided to formally separate,” they told PEOPLE in a statement. “For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media.”
“This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another. We ask in advance for your kindness and sensitivity in the coming months.”
In 2020, the exes reunited at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards, but clarified they are just friends.
Tate Donovan (1995-1998)
Jennifer Aniston and Tate Donovan began dating in 1995, shortly after the actor ended his relationship with Sandra Bullock.
Tate was cast as Rachel Green’s love interest on Friends, just as their off-screen romance ended.
“He seems to have a type,” Jennifer joked with Sandra Bullock in 2020, discussing their former mutual boyfriend.
Adam Duritz (1995)
Jennifer Aniston briefly dated Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritx after meeting at The Viper Room in 1995.
“A bunch of my friends lied to me and told me she had a crush on me,” Duritz recalled in 2021. “And those same friends lied to her and told her I had a crush on her. I honestly had no idea who she was.”
“She was nice, really funny, really pretty. Those are pretty good requirements for me and also she liked me. It didn’t last very long, but she’s a nice girl.”
Daniel McDonald (1990-1995)
Jennifer dated actor Daniel McDonald for five years in the early ’90s.
“He was my first love — five years we were together,” she told The New York Times in 2015. “He would have been the one. But I was 25, and I was stupid. He must have sent me Justin [Theroux] to make up for it all.”
In 2007 the actor died from brain cancer.
Charlie Schlatter (1990)
In 1990 Jennifer Aniston and Charlie Schlatter co-starred in NBC’s Ferris Bueller, a sitcom inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
In 2014, GQ’s Editor-in-Chief Jim Nelson wrote about his time as a Hollywood assistant and revealed Jennifer and Charlie had a “brief” off-screen relationship, which he witnessed while working as a writer’s assistant on the project.
“GQ can exclusively report that everyone on set thought she was hot, including Schlatter, with whom she had a brief, torrid romance — while playing, it must be said, his older sister,” he wrote.
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