Actors Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston attend the 2011 People’s Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (CBS) — Jennifer Aniston could have been a regular on “Saturday Night Live,” but decided to become Rachel Green instead.
The former “Friends” actress told Oprah Winfrey Thursday that she was offered a job on “SNL” but turned it down to do the hit sitcom.
Aniston’s “Just Go With It” costar Adam Sandler (an “SNL” alum himself) remembered the actress’ rebuff.
“We wanted Aniston to be on the show with us,” he told Winfrey of his early “SNL” days. “And I remember being on the ninth floor, where Lorne Michaels’ office was, and seeing Jen come in. I was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s Aniston. Is she about to be on our show? Wow, I’m gonna be working with Aniston?’ “
But, he added, she decided not to take the offer.
“‘She said no? She’s gonna do that ‘Friends’? What the hell is ‘Friends’?” he recalled.
“Did Lorne Michaels offer that to you?” Winfrey asked of the “SNL” gig.
“Yeah,” Aniston answered. “I was…you know, I had this show ‘Friends’ coming up, and I thought…yeah…They thought I was making a huge mistake.”
“But it worked out for you,” Winfrey deadpanned.
“Yeah, it did all right,” Aniston said.
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