Lisa Kudrow is famously private when it comes to her personal life. Best known for her iconic role as Phoebe Buffay on Friends, the actress rarely offers a glimpse into her world off-screen.

But in a rare and touching moment during an appearance on the podcast Literally! With Rob Lowe, Kudrow opened up about a particularly heartwarming relationship—one that involves her son Julian and her longtime friend and Friends co-star, Jennifer Aniston.

Fans of Friends have long speculated about the real-life bonds between the six lead actors, who portrayed one of television’s most beloved friendship groups. Kudrow’s recent revelation offered an endearing new dimension to those connections, especially between Aniston and Kudrow’s son.

Lisa Kudrow reveals pride in talented family member as Jennifer Aniston  shows support

During the interview, Kudrow shared that when Julian was very young and watched Friends at home, he would sometimes mistake Jennifer Aniston for his own mother.

“When we were home and we would be watching something, the show was on, and there was Jennifer,” Kudrow recalled with a laugh. “My son would be like, ‘Mommy!’ and he couldn’t see the difference.”

She went on to describe how Julian, then a toddler, would react when he actually saw Aniston in person. “When he did see Jennifer, he would crawl into her lap,” Kudrow said fondly. “You prefer her—that’s fine, a lot of people do. She’s lovely.”

It was a funny and touching story, but one that also highlighted the deep familiarity and affection that extended beyond the cast and into their families. It seems that even young Julian, in his innocence, sensed the warmth between these women, mistaking Aniston for his mom not just because of similar looks on TV, but possibly because of the love and comfort she radiated in real life.

This behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives was particularly meaningful because Kudrow was the only Friends cast member to have a child during the show’s original 10-season run. She gave birth to Julian while the series was still filming, and her pregnancy was even written into the storyline of her character Phoebe in a now-famous surrogate plot.

lisa kudrow son julian revelation

Kudrow explained to Rob Lowe that balancing motherhood and acting wasn’t always easy. “When I was there, I was there,” she said. “My son was so little. I think he was five or six when we finished.”

She went on to describe how the Friends set was not exactly toddler-friendly. “It wasn’t a fun place for him. He wasn’t there much, as it turns out. It was fine for a quick visit but not to spend all day with mommy.”

Kudrow added that it felt strange for Julian to see her in the role of Phoebe, someone who was so unlike his real-life mom. “I didn’t like him experiencing me not as mommy,” she said. “Because Phoebe was not his mother—Phoebe does not have children.”

Despite not being on set frequently, the rare moments Julian did spend there clearly made a lasting impression, particularly with Jennifer Aniston. The revelation of his affection for her as a child paints Aniston not just as a co-star or a Hollywood icon, but as someone who was truly family to Kudrow and her young son.

Jennifer Aniston, for her part, has always spoken fondly of her Friends castmates, referring to them as lifelong friends. The emotional story shared by Kudrow added new weight to that sentiment. It wasn’t just camaraderie during rehearsals or shared fame—they were intertwined in life’s most personal moments, including motherhood.

Fans were deeply moved by Kudrow’s revelation, with many taking to social media to express how touching it was to learn about the sincere and lasting friendship between the two actresses. In a world where celebrity friendships can feel fleeting or performative, Kudrow and Aniston’s bond stands out as genuine, loving, and enduring.

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In the years since Friends ended, the cast has remained close, often attending each other’s milestones, collaborating on projects, and supporting one another publicly. But it’s the quiet, personal stories like this one—of a child mistaking his mother’s friend for family—that remind fans of just how real their friendships truly are.

Lisa Kudrow’s emotional retelling didn’t just amuse and touch fans—it gave them a beautiful reminder: that behind the laughter, the fame, and the fictional world of Central Perk, the heart of Friends was always rooted in something very real.