Courteney Cox became a global superstar overnight when she landed the role of Monica Geller on *Friends*. Her life changed completely—she became very famous and very wealthy.
Before *Friends*, Courteney’s career was already taking off. She was featured in a famous music video years earlier.
So, how did Courteney feel about playing Monica? And what is she up to these days? Here’s everything you need to know about her.
Courteney Cox Reveals Heartfelt Pain Over Not Getting an Emmy Nomination for Friends!
Courteney Cox became a global superstar overnight when she landed the role of Monica Geller on *Friends*. Her life changed completely—she became very famous and very wealthy.
about:blank
Before *Friends*, Courteney’s career was already taking off. She was featured in a famous music video years earlier.
about:blank
So, how did Courteney feel about playing Monica? And what is she up to these days? Here’s everything you need to know about her.
about:blank
Getting a big break in acting must be thrilling, knowing you’re on your way to something great. For some actors, this happens when they’re young, while others work hard for years before getting their chance in their 30s or 40s.
Once that big break comes, things usually start to take off. For Courteney Cox, that was definitely the case.
The Alabama native first appeared in Bruce Springsteen’s music video for “Dancing in the Dark,” which kicked off her Hollywood career. Soon after, she landed the role of Monica Geller on the hit show *Friends*, and her life changed forever.
These days, Courteney Cox is busy with various projects, has built a wonderful family, and welcomed her children.
She has also been open about plastic surgery and facelifts, and has recently changed her views on the topic.
Here’s everything you need to know about Courteney “Monica Geller” Cox!
Courteney Cox was born on June 15, 1964, in Birmingham, Alabama, as the youngest of four children to Courteney and Richard Lewis Cox. When she was young, she was teased at school because of her last name.
She said, “I hated my last name, but when my dad passed away, I decided to embrace it and keep it going since there was no one else in the family to do so.”
When Courteney was 10, her parents divorced. She lived with her mother and later her stepfather, and the divorce had a lasting impact on her. She mentioned that one of her earliest memories is of her parents’ divorce. She said, “My mum wasn’t a go-getter, so I’m grateful I could see that and become the opposite.”
Courteney didn’t always dream of acting. She initially wanted to be an architect and studied architecture at Mount Vernon College. However, she dropped out and moved to New York City, where she started modeling and worked at a music agency.
Her modeling career was short-lived, but she soon transitioned into acting. In 1985, at age 21, Courteney got her big break, not in a film but in a music video. Director Brian De Palma cast her in Bruce Springsteen’s video for the hit song “Dancing in the Dark.” The video was filmed during a Springsteen concert, and Courteney played an enthusiastic fan in the front row.
At the end of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” music video, Springsteen brought Courteney Cox up on stage. They danced together to a saxophone solo by Clarence Clemons.
Looking back, Courteney wasn’t thrilled with her dancing in the video. She said, “That wasn’t good dancing on my part. I’d only recreate it as a joke.”
The video was a big hit on MTV, and even though Courteney was only in it for about 20 seconds, it helped her career take off. That same year, she appeared in the film *Misfits of Science*, and two years later, she landed her first major role.
She starred in the popular sitcom *Family Ties* and had smaller roles in films like *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* with Jim Carrey.
But in 1995, something unexpected happened. Marta Kauffman and David Crane created a new show about six friends living in New York. Courteney Cox was cast as Monica Geller, and it changed her career forever.
In 1993, Kauffman and Crane started working on a new show. It premiered on September 22, and right from the start, it was clear it was going to be a hit.
Today, *Friends* is one of the most famous sitcoms ever, running for 10 seasons and 236 episodes. The final episode was watched by over 50 million people in the U.S. Courteney Cox, along with Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, became a global star.
Marta Kauffman said in 1995, “She’s adorable and smart and really together. She is Monica.”
Courteney Cox said, “I love Monica because she’s a grown-up, and I can bring more of my personality to her. She’s goofy, angry, sarcastic, and a bit naughty. People might see her as the goody-goody, but I think she has more sex appeal than the others.”
Courteney found a lot of herself in Monica. In real life, she’s also what she calls a “neat freak,” just like her character on *Friends*.
Courteney Cox shared that she doesn’t use a lint brush or iron her clothes, but she’s great at picking lint off others. She once noticed she was acting just like Monica while helping John Stewart on his show and thought, “I’m just like Monica. This is kind of scary.”
*Friends* became a huge hit worldwide, and the cast earned a lot of money. In the final seasons, they each made $1 million per episode. Even now, 17 years after the show ended, they make about $20 million a year from reruns because they get a share of the show’s syndication revenue. Netflix paid up to $100 million to keep *Friends* on their platform through 2019.
Today, Courteney Cox has a net worth of about $150 million.
Despite the success and money, Courteney was hurt that she never got an Emmy nomination while all her co-stars did. “It always hurt my feelings,” she told Howard Stern. “When every single cast member was nominated but me, it definitely hurt. I was happy for everyone, but it was tough being the only one left out.”
Courteney Cox said she always wanted her fellow cast members to win awards, but she also wanted to be included sometimes. She never wanted to take anything away from anyone else, just to be part of it.
Even though she didn’t get an Emmy for *Friends*, she did receive awards for her work on other projects. After *Friends*, Courteney starred in the sitcom *Cougar Town* as Jules Cobb, and she was recognized for her role there. In 2010, she got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series.
In 2021, she and the *Friends* cast were nominated for an award for their reunion special. Courteney Cox is still active in TV and is currently working on a new show called *Shining Vale*, which is in post-production.
Over the years, Courteney Cox became a global star, as well as a wife and mother. She married actor David Arquette in 1999, and they had a daughter, Coco, in 2004. They divorced in 2013.
Since then, Courteney has been in a relationship with musician Johnny McDaid from the band Snow Patrol.
There have been rumors about Courteney getting plastic surgery and Botox. In 2017, she confirmed that she had used fillers but also mentioned that the world of cosmetic procedures can be quite intense.
Courteney Cox talked about how easy it is to get caught up in cosmetic procedures. She said that doctors often suggest small tweaks that seem harmless at first. Over time, these changes can add up, and you might not notice until it looks different in photos or someone points it out.
Eventually, Courteney decided to stop using fillers and embrace her natural self. She now promotes being yourself and often shares makeup-free photos on Instagram, which can inspire others to do the same.
“I’m as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person that I was, I hope I do,” Cox said.
“Things are going to change. Everything’s going to drop. I was trying to make it not drop, but that made me look fake. You need movement in your face, especially if you have thin skin like I do. Those aren’t wrinkles—they’re smile lines. I’ve had to learn to embrace movement and realize that fillers are not my friend. “
In 2022, Courteney Cox used an app to see how she might look ten years older, and many of her followers were surprised by the results. She mentioned in the caption that she probably wouldn’t style her hair that way.
Courteney has also been open about her experience with cosmetic procedures. In 2019, she admitted to using lip fillers because she wasn’t happy with her appearance. However, she stopped using them when she realized she didn’t look like herself.
Courteney Cox now feels great about herself. She says she embraces getting older and is happy with how she looks naturally, without trying to change it. She’s focused on growing and improving in other areas of her life.
Courteney Cox was fantastic as Monica Geller on Friends, and people still love watching the show today.
What do you think about Courteney Cox’s views on fillers and cosmetic procedures? Let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to share this article on Facebook with your friends and family!
You Don’t Wanna Miss These 29 Promo Codes If You Love a Bargain
Amazon makes it so easy for all of us to find amazing bargains and purchase items, even 50% off. Whether you need something for your kid, your beauty regimen, or your household, we have you covered. Keep scrolling to discover the 29 products that currently have promo codes.
Health and household
Vitamins for hair growth
15% promo code: 15YM1UIY (valid April 8 through May 2)
Pure Himalayan organic resin for immune support
50% promo code: 505K3R9Q (valid April 8 through May 2)
A set of shower steamers
50% promo code: 50RQ5NDP (valid April 8 through May 5)
Guava skin toner face sheets
50% promo code: 509JEZXV (valid April 21 through April 29)
Sandalwood beard oil
10% promo code: 10GYALIVE102 (valid April 15 through April 16)
Argan oil for hair growth
10% promo code: 10GYALIVE102 (valid April 15 through April 16)
Beauty and grooming
Professional hair dryer
50% promo code: 506RX57Y (valid April 8 through April 15)
Natural exfoliating loofah scrubber
50% promo code: 50U4IUP1 (valid April 8 through April 23)
Hair crimper for creating wavy hairstyles
50% promo code: 5043CP9S (valid April 9 through April 15)
Tattoo aftercare balm
50% promo code: 50CA1Q12 (valid April 26 through May 3)
Kitchen and dining
Heated portable lunch box
48% promo code: 48NOJV62 (valid April 9 through April 19)
Spoon rest with drip pad for multiple utensils
50% promo codes: 50MOVG21 (valid April 9 through April 30)
Blender for shakes and smoothies
50% promo code: 50LN1OW5 (valid April 9 through April 30)
Cast aluminum Dutch oven
45% promo code: 45KOLLEL (valid April 9 through April 22)
Touchless kitchen faucet
10% promo code: 10I8DPNE (valid April 9 through May 8)
Glass tumbler with lid and straw
40% promo code: 40FH9XBO (valid April 9 through April 15)
Stove gap covers
40% promo code: 40TKLAG5 (valid April 9 through May 8)
Water dispenser for 5-gallon bottle
50% promo code: 50MHGRKI (valid April 9 through April 16)
Baby and nursery
Baby teether toy
50% promo code: 50DEM8W8 (valid April 16 through April 20)
Baby proofing drawer locks
50% promo code: 509ZAW8X (valid April 12 through April 16)
Indoor and outdoor retractable baby gate
50% promo code: 50AA7DL4 (valid April 12 through April 16)
Home improvement
Candle warmer lamp with timer
40% promo code: 40M76UE6 (valid April 9 through April 15)
Wooden pegboard for organizing items
50% promo code: 50B25Q8V (valid April 8 through April 30)
Under cabinet lights with motion sensor
50% promo code: 503BYJWA (valid April 8 through April 14)
Galaxy LED projector
50% promo code: 50GTK8P6 (valid April 9 through April 16)
Flameless candle with remote control
40% promo code: 40TT53K4 (valid April 8 through April 14)
Shower razor holder
50% promo code: 50XDZ883 (valid April 9 through April 15)
Waterproof solar garden lights
20% promo code: 20GN9KJ9 (valid April 8 through April 16)
Car rim repair pens for scratches
50% promo code: 50ZPFDOO (valid April 8 through April 30)
Who hasn’t battled the annoying ear wax in your favorite earbuds? It’s so easy to find a tool for solving such an issue, as it is to locate items that are both useful and entertaining.
Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews may have been edited for length and clarity.
Preview photo credit Matt / Amazon
Leave a Reply