Jennifer Aniston Weighs in on Joey and Rachel Fan Theories

We don't deserve Jennifer Aniston — a woman who has successfully eschewed social media, but stayed relevant, who's beat the drum for pilates, paddle-boarding, and margaritas since the 90s, who handles A-list fame with grace, but knows where to draw the line, who will still address all our insane Friends theories, despite the fact that it's now been several decades since the show premiered.

Yet here she is, an unearned national treasure! And at 48, Aniston star is only ascendent. It was recently announced that the hyper successful face of brands like Aveeno and Smartwater (it's all about that moisture, people!) will give us the present this nation barely deserves — her triumphant return to primetime television. She and Reese Witherspoon, who in fact played Aniston's sister on Friends, will co-star in a still-untitled series set in the deliciously over-the-top world of morning talk shows. All the more impressive given that in the real world, Aniston has little patience for drama. Below, she weighs in on viral Friends fanfic, corrects the record on Justin Theroux's would-be audition for the show, and reveals which celeb has a look that makes even the oft-copied, never-matched Jennifer Aniston jealous.

You've talked a lot about wellness — exercise, meditation, diet. At what point in your career did you realize that you needed to take care of yourself like that?

I always have, in a weird way — without knowing that's what I was doing, exactly. I'm very fortunate that I've had many women friends since I was in my teens and early twenties. They're some of the most grounded, conscious, mindful women I know, and they introduced me to their world. Not to sound too "woo woo," but I believe in women showing up for women, and they've always been there for me. When my career started to really pick up, it [was like] a hamster wheel. And sometimes, I wouldn't feel grounded, especially when I wasn't making that time to sort of be in my body, be [present] with my girlfriends. But when I did take that space, there was this marked difference in being able to take on what was in front of me. I'm all for it: do your treatments, go to a dealer or a therapist, do reiki, see a bodyworker. Those practices have always been part of my constitution since I can really remember. I just have to really stay committed to it. Otherwise, I feel it.

Have you rubbed off on Justin [Theroux]?

He is good at me-time already, I think. We're very likeminded and that's why we get along so well, We have very similar sensibilities, and he has a wonderful group of friends, too, that he's had forever. They're wonderful, just very grounded, decent people. He knows how to take care of himself.

I read that he almost tried out for Friends, but slept through the audition. Do you ever think about what it would have been like if you'd met earlier?

Oh, it was perfect when we met — perfect. And he didn't sleep through it! He just didn't want to get on a plane. He didn't he didn't want to live in California at that point. He was a total New Yorker, and he wasn't moving.

Recently, an 100-tweet thread that claimed Joey and Rachel should have ended up together went viral. Any chance you secretly wish Joey and Rachel had made it?

No! No, no. They tried! I think there was a moment when Joey and Rachel got together that maybe it could happened, but it didn't. It was Ross and Rachel all the way. I really believe that if there's an afterworld of Friends, they're still thriving. Don't you? I just don't think Joey and Rachel could have made it. I think it was more physical than emotional with them. They were friends with benefits, and they left it at that.

You've been a hair icon since the 90s, and women still ask their stylists to give them your color. But when you go in for a touchup, who's look do you want to copy?

I remember when I was a kid, it was Valerie Bertinelli when she was on One Day at a Time. I brought her picture in when I was, like, 12. I didn't get anything close to what she had. I think I ended up with a mullet. It was so terrible. Now, I'm like everyone else. I look at women who's hair color I love and bring in those [images]. There was a big period with Sarah Jessica [Parker]'s highlights. I would send in those pictures, and be like, "Give me that!" She has fantastic hair. I feel like I always want what she has. I also think Heidi Klum has really gorgeous hair — great color.

This interview has been edited and condensed.