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Jennifer Aniston Recalls Being Shut Down When She Wanted to Produce Projects After ‘Friends’: “I Got That Look of ‘How Cute You Are'”
Jennifer Aniston Recalls Being Shut Down When She Wanted to Produce Projects After ‘Friends’: “I Got That Look of ‘How Cute You Are'”-December 2024
Dec 13, 2025 6:59 AM

Elle celebrated some of this years leading ladies at its annual Women in Hollywood event on Monday, with Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt, Rose Byrne, Teyana Taylor, Jessie Buckley, Chase Infiniti,Renate ReinsveandSinners Hailee Steinfeld, Jayme Lawson and Wunmi Mosaku all being feted.

Among a sea of star-studded speeches and presenters, one of the biggest moments of the night came as Adam Sandler stopped by to present to Aniston, recalling how hes been friends with this spectacular genius since I was 22 years old a young, handsome, skinny boy. I can honestly say Jen is the best in so many ways and one of the most rock-steady human beings Ive met. Ive only seen her angry like two and a half times in the 40 years Ive hung out with her, he continued, while also giving a shoutout to Anistons new boyfriend Jim Curtis, who sat beside the star. Me and Jackie are so happy that you and Jim found each other and are having the love affair you two deserve. We love you, Jim, the whole world loves you Jim, Sandler said to laughs from the crowd.

Aniston took the stage and noted how much has changed since she was last honored by Elle in 2011, with how many incredible women have just kicked the door down, seriously kicked the door down. Youve been creating, youve been directing, youve been leading, youve been producing, youve been starring, youve been making human beings, which is unbelievable, and making it look so easy, which we all know it is not easy.

She went on to recall that she first said she wanted to produce in 2004, the same year that Friends ended, and the room got really, really quiet and I got that look of how cute you are and sort of a pat on the head and the air bubble above the head that says, OK lets just wait a second, lets put a pin in this for now.' Aniston added that slowly the industry began to change and I got to produce my first movie and I can confirm, I love it. And Im really good at it.

Now executive producing The Morning Show, Aniston also mused that she continues to show up for the friendships and the shared belief that storytelling still matters, that baring our souls as actors and creators still matters something that A.I. will never be able to duplicate, no matter how smart it gets.

Jennifer Aniston Recalls Being Shut Down When She Wanted to Produce Projects After ‘Friends’: “I Got That Look of ‘How Cute You Are'”1

Elle editor-in-chief Nina Garcia with honorees Jessie Buckley, Emily Blunt, Wunmi Mosaku, Teyana Taylor, Jennifer Aniston, Jayme Lawson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve and Rose Byrne pose onstage Presley Ann/Getty Images for ELLE Elsewhere in the event, Dwayne Johnson presented to his Smashing Machine co-star Blunt, Kerry Washington to Taylor, Chloe Zhao to her Hamnet star Buckley, Regina Hall to Infiniti and Sebastian Stan to Reinsve.

Melissa McCarthy was on hand to honor Byrne, as she declared that for 25 years, the If I Had Legs Id Kick You star has defied anyone to put limits on her talent. And now if theres any justice in the world, shell find herself in the one role she was always meant to play, which is an Oscar nominee.

McCarthy looked back at when they worked together on Bridesmaids and admitted she wasnt sure Byrne would be funny after a career of dramatic work. The cast went to a male strip club together on a research trip for film and at the end we all thought it would be funny to keep buying dances for other people and none of us wanted those dances, respectfully. I just remember Rose and I thought, Shes going to be just great in this; she was on a chair with a very oily man dancing over her and she just looked at me and shes like, Im worried hes going to ruin my blouse because he was so oily.

Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler were also on hand to present to Sinners actresses Steinfeld, Lawson and Mosaku (though Steinfeld missed the event due to illness).

In their speech, Lawson acknowledged, Every woman in this room knows what it feels like to crave as an artist but often times not feel full. So not only did Ryan fill our appetite, but he also gifted us each other, my sisters. When you find your sisters in this industry, you hold on tight for dear life and you do not dare let them go.

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