From the outside, it may seem like Jennifer Aniston has it all. She’s one of the most famous TV actresses in the world—beautiful, wealthy, and highly recognized. While she shines in all those areas, her life hasn’t always been easy. When you dig deeper, you find that Aniston’s past holds its share of heartache and struggles. Despite facing many setbacks, including starring in four failed TV shows before her breakthrough on “Friends,” she remained resilient. Aniston has now enjoyed a career in show business for nearly 40 years, but what about the hardships she’s faced that few talk about?
Her Fear of Water Stems From a Childhood Accident
Aniston’s fear of being underwater comes from a terrifying experience as a child. At five years old, she rode her tricycle into a pool and sank to the bottom. Her brother saved her, but the trauma stayed with her into adulthood. This fear made her 2014 role in the film Cake especially challenging, as she had to undergo water therapy for it.
An Unstable Childhood
Despite her success as an adult, Aniston’s childhood was far from perfect. She grew up witnessing her actor parents’ rocky relationship, which she described as “destabilizing.” She watched them be unkind to each other, and from a young age, she vowed not to repeat those behaviors in her own relationships.
Her Parents’ Divorce Affected Her Love Life
At just nine years old, Aniston came home from a friend’s birthday party to discover that her father had left. Without any warning, her mother told her the news, and Aniston was deeply traumatized. Making it worse, her father was already in a new relationship.
Her Mother’s Constant Criticism
Aniston’s relationship with her mother, Nancy Dow, was difficult. Dow set high standards for her daughter, especially when it came to appearance, and often held grudges over small issues. Aniston learned from her mother what not to do in life.
Her Mother’s Tell-All Memoir Drove Them Apart
In 1999, the relationship between Aniston and her mother took a turn for the worse when Dow published a memoir titled From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir. Aniston felt betrayed and blindsided, and the trust between them was broken. They didn’t speak for ten years, and her mother wasn’t invited to her 2004 wedding to Brad Pitt.
Jennifer Aniston Has Dyslexia
School was never easy for Aniston. For most of her life, she believed she wasn’t smart. It wasn’t until later, during an eye exam for a glasses prescription, that she learned she had dyslexia. This discovery helped her understand her academic struggles.
Her Marriages Ended in Divorce
After a few years of marriage, Aniston and Brad Pitt separated and eventually divorced. A decade later, she married Justin Theroux, but this marriage didn’t last as long as her first. Aniston doesn’t see these relationships as failures, though. She views the end of her marriages as necessary steps toward happiness.
Motherhood Wasn’t Meant to Be
Many have speculated about whether Aniston intentionally chose not to have children. She and Theroux tried to conceive using IVF and other methods, but it didn’t work out. In her own words, “the ship has sailed,” and she has no regrets about it.
She’s Struggled With Sleepwalking and Insomnia
In her 30s, Aniston didn’t struggle much with sleep, but as she got older, insomnia began to affect her daily life. Her attempts to fix her sleep problems made things worse, and she occasionally sleepwalked, even setting off her house alarm at times.
A Stalker Put Her in Danger
Aniston’s fame has attracted obsessive fans. In 2010, she obtained a restraining order against Jason Peyton, who stalked her at a location she frequented. He had a sharp object, duct tape, and letters written to her, and even scratched “I LOVE JENNIFER ANISTON” on his car.
Relentless Paparazzi Harassment
One major factor in Aniston’s failed marriages was constant paparazzi intrusion. They would often put her and others in danger to get a photo. In 2005, she sued a photographer who took pictures of her sunbathing topless on her own property. The case was settled, and Aniston received $550,000.
Media Criticism and Sexist Headlines
The media has often painted Aniston in a negative light, making sexist and false claims about her. They’ve dissected her love life, divorce, and lack of children, frequently portraying her as “sad and childless,” something she discussed in an interview with Marie Claire.
Her Father’s Death Was Devastating
When Aniston’s father, actor John Aniston, passed away, she went through a tough period. Their relationship was strained during her childhood, but he returned to her life a year after leaving. They had their ups and downs, but in 2022, at the age of 89, he passed away. Aniston had reconciled with him during the pandemic, making his death even more difficult for her.
