Lisa Kudrow finally rewatches Friends, in memory of Matthew Perry: “He was so funny…”

The actress who plays Phoebe Buffay was previously unable to watch the series in its entirety. She changed her mind after the untimely death of her acting partner.

Lisa Kudrow will soon return to the small screen (on Apple TV+ in the series Tim Bandits, by Taika Waititi). While promoting in the United States, she reveals that 30 years after the debut of Friendsshe finally embarked on a “rewatch” from the Serie.

The actress says she has long hated the idea of ​​seeing herself play Phoebe Buffay again, refusing to embark on a complete viewing of the flagship NBC sitcom despite its status as a cult series. However, she recently changed her mind, following the death of Matthew Perrythe interpreter of Chandler Bing, at only 54 years old.

“Honestly, I couldn't do it, entrusts the actress to Hollywood Reporter. I couldn't watch this show again because it's so embarrassing to watch your own work. But if I did it for Matthew, then would that be ok? It's a way of celebrating his comedic talent: he was so funny and that's what I want to remember about him.”

At the end of 2021, when the meeting Friends organized with Jennifer Aniston (Rachel), Courteney Cox (Monica), Matt LeBlanc (Joey), David Schwimmer (Ross) and Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow had already recounted her embarrassment when her husband, Michael Stern, wanted to watch the series again, all admitting to not being able to hold back bursts of laughter. She confirms this feeling by now resuming the episodes from the beginning:

“I laughed very hard, everyone is hilarious. I'm blown away by Courteney, impressed by Jen. Matthew, obviously, he has this unique way of making us laugh. No one had had this comedic rhythm before him. Matt was hilarious too. Just like David. Sometimes, I even laugh at what I did! So yes, it was my way of celebrating the series, but it was still very embarrassing. At home, if someone walks into the room while I'm watching Friends, what does it look like? It’s horrible, isn’t it?”

A difficulty in seeing herself on screen which does not prevent the actress from retaining excellent memories of filming:

“We were laughing all day, actually. Quite simply because between scenes, we were surrounded by all these really funny people. Especially when someone like Matthew was there. His goal was this: 'How many laughs can I unleash in a single day in real life?' We were laughing our heads off the whole time, tears were starting to flow, even flying around our faces!”

Do Friends often watch episodes of Friends?

In 2020, Kudrow also confided to Aniston that she did not want “waste yourself” series : “I don't look at her, no. I never watch it in the hope that one day the six of us can sit down and watch it together.”

This wish will never be granted. After the shock of Matthew Perry's death last October, she posted a moving farewell messagein which she once again thanked her playing partner for being so successful in making them all laugh:

“We shot the pilot, then Friends Like Us was ordered and immediately we were at the NBC schedule presentation together. Then… You suggested we all play poker together and made it so much fun while we were making the first connections. Thanks for that. Thank you for making me laugh so much that my muscles ached and tears streamed down my face every day. Thank you for your big heart in a six-person relationship, which required compromise. And a lot of 'discussions'. Thank you for coming to work when you weren't well, and for being so brilliant despite everything. Thank you for the best 10 years a person can live. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for everything I have learned about grace and love from you. Thank you for the time I was able to spend with you, Matthew.”

In a few days, Friends will change streaming platforms. Then the series should be released on blu-ray in a remastered version by the end of 2024.

Friends leaves Netflix and will arrive on Max from July 1 in France