Jennifer Aniston has spoken candidly about the impact of her parents’ bitter breakup and the negative impact her divorce had on her own romantic relationships.
The 54-year-old actress has been married twice herself; First to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 and then to Justin Theroux from 2015 to 2018, but she admits her “difficult” childhood experiences didn’t exactly make her say “yes” necessarily.
“I think it’s always been a bit difficult for me in relationships, because I was really kind of alone,” she explained in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
‘I don’t know. “My parents, watching my family’s relationship, didn’t make me say, ‘Oh, I can’t wait,'” she said, referring to her father, John Aniston, and her mother, Nancy Dow.
John, who sadly passed away in November 2022, married Nancy in 1965 – but the couple’s relationship ended when Jennifer was just nine and they divorced in 1980.
Jennifer Aniston has opened up about her “difficult” love life in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal
The Friends star admitted that being open about what she wants and needs in a relationship is still a “challenge” for her
The 54-year-old actress (seen in a childhood photo with her parents) had a notoriously difficult relationship with her mother, Nancy Dow, and father, John Aniston
Past love: The Friends star was married to fellow actor Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005
As she opened up about the long-term impact of her tumultuous divorce on her own romantic relationships, the Friends star admitted it felt “easier” to just be alone.
“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,” she said, adding, “So it was almost easier to just be a little bit alone .” So I had no real training in this give and take.”
These days, the Along Came Polly star is focused on making sure she doesn’t sacrifice her own desires to please someone else.
“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,” Jennifer explained.
“I’m really good at every other job I have, and that’s sort of the one area that’s a little…” she added, before trailing off and joking that her dog is the one she “sleeps with.” “.
Jennifer’s comments come just weeks after it was revealed she needs the support of her ex-husband Justin as she continues to mourn the loss of her father.
The ‘Morning Show’ star was deeply saddened by the death of her father, ‘Days of Our Lives’ star John, who passed away last November aged 89.
Inside sources told that due to her long battle with grief, the actress is clinging to a tight-knit support system that includes some of her father’s former co-stars on the long-running soap opera.
Single lady: Jennifer said it feels “easier” to be alone and “just be a little bit alone”
Former couple: Jennifer was married to Justin Theroux from 2015 to 2018
Dad’s daughter: Jennifer pictured with her father, John Aniston, who sadly passed away in November 2022
Then: Jennifer’s mother, Nancy Dow, was married to John from 1965 to 1980
According to insiders, Justin was also a comfort giver as the actor called her almost every day to comfort her.
The couple tied the knot in 2015 after four years of dating, and shocked fans when they announced their split just two years later.
Despite their split, the two have indicated that they still maintain a close relationship and occasionally celebrate birthdays and holidays together.
In a rare, candid interview earlier this year, Justin himself revealed that the exes still keep in touch via texts, Facetime and phone calls.
Jennifer is also said to be on good terms with her first husband Brad, who married Angelina Jolie in 2014. The couple have six children and Angelina filed for divorce in September 2016, with the couple being legally single in April 2019.
Brad and Jennifer reunited on screen for the first time in decades in September 2020 when they attended a star-studded tabletop reading of the 1982 film Fast Times At Ridgemont High via Zoom during lockdown.
Speaking of their reunion the following year during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Howard Stern Show, Jennifer said, “It was absolutely fun.”
“You know, Brad and I are friends. “We’re friends and we talk to each other,” she added.
Flashback: Jennifer as a young girl pictured with her father John who starred in Days of our Lives
Made up: Jennifer had a strained relationship with John in the past, but they had grown closer before his death in 2022
Jennifer’s split from Brad in 2005 prompted her to get in touch with her mother, Nancy, despite being estranged from her for nearly a decade.
The mother and daughter didn’t speak a word for about six years after Nancy wrote a 1999 book about their relationship called From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir.
Previously, Jennifer had a strained relationship with her father, who left the family home when she was just nine years old.
In a 1999 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, she revealed that one day she asked her father why he left her mother, but said he was terrible at explaining what broke up their family.
“He’s not a good communicator.” Maybe my parents would have talked more. “There were indications, but knowing my dad, he probably didn’t say anything,” Jennifer said at the time.
“But my dad explained it as best he could and apologized, and that’s enough.” We made up. There are still parts that I find difficult, but I’m an adult. “I can’t blame my parents anymore,” she added.