While she had credits on her resume before that, Jennifer Aniston became a household name when Friends made its debut back in the mid-’90s. And since then, she’s rarely been out of the spotlight. It seems like only yesterday, Rachel Green was running into Central Perk in her wedding dress, but in reality, Aniston has been a major player for over 27 years. We’ve rounded up one picture from each year she’s been famous to see just how far she’s come. These photos can’t sum up all the reasons we love Jennifer Aniston, but we tried.
Aniston in 1994
In 1994, Friends premiered on NBC, with Jennifer playing rich girl Rachel Green, who runs out of her wedding and into New York City to start her life over. Prior to that, her biggest credit was 1993’s Leprechaun.
Aniston in 1995
Friends concluded its first season in the spring of 1995 as a certified hit. That year, Aniston also guest starred on The Larry Sanders Show and appeared with the rest of her Friends cast mates in the video for the show’s theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” by the Rembrandts.
Aniston in 1996
In 1996, Jennifer played Renee in the Edward Burns rom-com She’s the One (above). She also dropped by the sitcom Partners, which starred then-boyfriend Tate Donovan (who’d also play Rachel’s crush Joshua on Friends a couple years later.)
Aniston in 1997
Already a red carpet staple (here she is at the Good Will Hunting premiere), Aniston starred in the rom-com Picture Perfect, opposite Jay Mohr.
1998
Continuing to rule along with her roommates on the small screen, Aniston’s biggest movie of 1998 was The Object of My Affection, in which she played a straight woman who falls in love with her gay best friend (Paul Rudd).
1999
Yes, 1999 was also the year of the timeless workplace comedy Office Space, but Aniston fans remember it best as the year she and Brad Pitt got together, making their public debut at that Emmys.
2000
Aniston and the rest of the Friends cast were nominated for tons of awards during the show’s run. Here she is at the 2000 SAG Awards with Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer. They lost the comedy ensemble award, but Kudrow won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.
2001
In 2001, Aniston layered on the body glitter to play Mark Wahlberg’s aspiring frontman character’s girlfriend in Rock Star.
2002
In 2002, Aniston won her first (and to date, only) Emmy: a Lead Actress in a Comedy Series trophy for Friends. She also earned impressive reviews for the indie dark comedy The Good Girl.
2003
Aniston more than held her own with comedy whirlwind Jim Carrey in the comedy Bruce Almighty.
2004
It had to happen eventually. Friends came to an end in 2004 after 10 seasons on the air. Easing some of fans’ pain, Aniston teamed up with Ben Stiller for the rom-com Along Came Polly.
2005
Aniston had two big movies in 2005: Derailed, a thriller costarring Clive Owen, and Rumor Has It (above), a comedy about a woman who starts to suspect that The Graduate is based on her family.
2006
This was the year that Aniston starred in The Break-Up with her real-life boyfriend at the time, Vince Vaughn, playing one half of a couple who stubbornly tries to cohabitate after splitting up. She also had a role in the indie movie Friends With Money and made her directorial debut with the short film Room 10.
2007
Aniston took a bit of a break in 2007, though she did drop by for a guest appearance on Courteney Cox’s show Dirt. She also attended the People’s Choice Awards to pick up her Favorite Female Movie Star trophy and was honored with the Vanguard Award at that year’s GLAAD ceremony.
2008
The actor’s 2008 movies include the weeper Marley & Me and the rom-com Management. This was also the year that she co-founded the production company Echo Films.
2009
As a part of its huge ensemble cast, Aniston appeared in the overlapping rom-com He’s Just Not That Into You.
2010
Aniston split with Pitt in 2005 and dated Vaughn through 2006, before having flings with British model Paul Sculfor, John Mayer, and Bradley Cooper.
2011
In 2011, the year Horrible Bosses and Just Go With It came out, Aniston was the star of her own handprints ceremony at Graumen’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
2012
Another year, another Hollywood honor.
2013
One of Aniston’s 2013 films, Life of Crime, premiered at that year’s Toronto International Film Festival (above).
2014
2014 was a busy year for Aniston—She’s Funny That Way, Cake, and Horrible Bosses 2 all premiered.
2015
Though she lost to Julianne Moore in Still Alice, Aniston was nominated for a 2015 Critics’ Choice Award for her role in Cake.
2016
This year, Aniston appeared in Mother’s Day, another big, ensemble rom-com, as well Office Christmas Party.
2017
Aniston’s sole 2017 credit was the war drama The Yellow Birds—a departure for her.
2018
Aniston took part in two big Netflix projects in 2018: the Adam Sandler comedy Murder Mystery and the inspirational comedy Dumplin’
2019
In 2019, Aniston returned to TV in a big way—producing and also playing an anchor on the Apple TV hit drama The Morning Show.
2020
Aniston won the SAG Award for her Morning Show role and was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe as well.
2021
In early 2021, Aniston returned to work. She shared this mirror selfie with her hairstylist Chris McMillan on the set of The Morning Show Season 2.
