Why Courteney Cox was ‘nervous’ to find work after Friends ended

Friends was a show that broke records, moved mountains, and changed the history of American comedy forever.

The series was a big hit that no one, especially the cast, saw coming. The success was unprecedented, so much so, it seemed the series could go on forever with no ending in sight. However, all good things come to an end.

Saying goodbye to the sitcom was far from easy for longtime fans. But, for our talented cast bidding a farewell to the show that jumpstarted their career proved to be the most difficult thing as they not only had to leave behind what they always knew but also had to go out into the entertainment world all over again to seek new opportunities.

For Courteney Cox, this was a nightmare.

Why Courteney Cox struggled after Friends

Cox sat down with USA Today to discuss her journey thus far in the entertainment business. She recalled her many struggles, specifically the trials and tribulations that came post-Friends.

“After Friends, I was very cautious and nervous about doing something that wouldn’t be compared to Friends,” Cox told USA Today. “Because there’s almost no comparing to that incredible show that I feel so lucky to have been on.”

Though the nervousness affected the first stages of her job search after the 1994 series’ ending, Cox’s anxiety, fortunately, didn’t stay too long.

Dirt, Web Therapy, and the ABC-turned-TBS series Cougar Town are just a few of the many series Cox took on following the Friends series finale in 2004. TalhotBlond, Mothers and Daughters, and Charity Case are a few more projects that she went on to do. All of these titles and many, many more are a result of Cox taking that first step to overcome her anxiety.

Still, she does have a few moments where nostalgia overtakes her.

“To walk into the stage and see the exact place where I spent 10 years of my life, it just brought me back to so much,” Cox stated when reflecting on the Friends reunion. “I definitely had tears streaming down my eyes, and I couldn’t believe it. All the memories kept flooding in.”

Saying goodbye may have been difficult, but with Courteney Cox securing exciting new projects like the Scream franchise and her new show Shining Vale, it’s unmistakably clear that she doesn’t regret overcoming her biggest fear one bit.