Jennifer Aniston is glad that Friends aired before the advent of social media as the show and cast would've been "ripped apart".
The actress, 55, starred in the hit comedy series from its start to finish, from 1994 to 2004 alongside Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, the late Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc.
In a new interview with Abbott Elementary actress Quinta Brunson for Variety, she admitted that she and the cast had it easy.
"It was in the ’90s and 2000s, and we had a luxury of there not being social media or the internet, so we were so isolated and protected," she explained.
"You weren’t faced with what people are commenting and ripping you apart or whatever. It was really an innocent time, where we could roam about the world a lot easier.
"But again, there weren’t phones. It’s not like hundreds of screens telling you what it is," she added.
Brunson, who also writes and produces hit comedy Abbott Elementary, said she was envious that Aniston had that experience and revealed she had a strict "no social media" policy during the first season of her show.
"That’s a beautiful boundary," Aniston said of her decision. "Because otherwise you’ll lose your original creation."The star also spoke about the 30th anniversary of Friends. "It’s so strange to even think that it’s 30 years old," she said.
"Because I remember the day that it was going to premiere on television, on NBC: Matthew Perry and I were having lunch somewhere, and we knew Lisa was getting her hair coloured.
“So we ran into the hair salon, and I snuck up – she was in the sink – and I took the nozzle from the guy that was supposed to be doing it and just started washing her hair. It definitely flew out of control, and that was unfortunate. But the excitement we had, it feels like yesterday."
Aniston also acknowledged how important the show's fans continue to be to her. "The fact that it’s had this long, wonderful life and it still means a lot to people is one of the greatest gifts I think all five of us – all six of us – we never could imagine," she added.
"And we see each other. I talked on FaceTime with Court last night for an hour, and Lisa and the boys, and we just have a really – it’s a family forever."
Aniston recently dealt with tragedy when Friends co-star Perry, who was best known for playing Chandler Bing in the American sitcom, died last year at the age of 54.
He was found in the outdoor hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28 with his cause of death ruled as an accident from the effects of ketamine.
