Matthew Perry has spoken about his relationship with Julia Roberts, claiming they briefly dated around the time that she appeared in an episode of sitcom Friends with him.
The actor, 53 – best known for playing Chandler Bing on the NBC show – has written about past romances in his new memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.
It's understood to include mention of Julia, 54, who guest-starred as Chandler's childhood friend Susie Moss in 1996, in an episode that aired after the Super Bowl.
He claims that the pair dated off-screen around the time of filming, though stated that he broke up with Julia because he felt insecure about himself and the relationship with her.
As reported by the Sun, his new memoir – which is set to be released next month – is being serialised this weekend in The Times and Sunday Times, ahead of its release.
In excerpts from the book, Matthew claims Julia only agreed to appear in the second season of sitcom Friends if he would be part of her character's storyline in the episode.
He said that after attempting to "woo her" to sign up for the show, she agreed to appear in it if he explained quantum physics to her – with him then sending her a science paper.
The actor said he struck up a friendship over fax with Julia, who had already starred in Pretty Woman by then. He said that there were "hundreds" of messages between them.
Matthew recalled reading fax responses from her "three or four times a day". He said that at one point her fax "veered on romantic" and she gave him her phone number.
He said they had a five hour conversation over the phone and that they were "falling" for each other. Matthew said they later met in person and the relationship began.
The actor said they were a couple by the time they filmed together for the episode of Friends and added that they even celebrated New Year's Eve together that year.
He, however, said that he dumped Julia two months later, saying that dating her had been "too much" for him. He said he had constantly felt she would break up with him.
Do you enjoy reading about celebrities? Sign up for all the best celeb news from the Mirror here .
Discussing being plagued by his own insecurity, he said: "I could never be enough; I was broken, bent, unlovable. So instead of facing the inevitable agony of losing her, I broke up with the beautiful and brilliant Julia Roberts."
In the excerpts shared recently, the actor wrote that he couldn't begin to describe "the look of confusion" that was one her face when he ended their relationship.
The Mirror approached Julia's rep for comment.
Matthew's upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is due to be released on November 1.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
