The queen of romantic comedies, Jennifer Aniston sat down with MiNDFOOD to talk beauty, life, and happiness.
Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Jennifer Aniston, dominates television once more with Netflix’s heartwarming comedy, Dumplin’. Aniston stars as a former beauty queen and mother to her rebellious daughter, Dumplin’, played by up-and-coming Aussie actress, Danielle Macdonald.
What is your idea of beauty?
My idea of beauty is what makes you feel beautiful.
And what is that for you?
The people around you. The life that you have. A good hair day (laughs)
What’s the biggest misconception about you?
That there’s some sort of level of unhappiness that I live in that is due to the fact that I don’t have some sort of a storybook moment at this stage of my life. That’s just simply not true.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about the show I’m about to start (The Morning Show) with Reese Witherspoon. I’m very excited about that and it’s been all consuming. I’m passionate about this movie. I’m just passionate about life.
What can you tell us about The Morning Show?
Well, the series takes place in the New York media world behind the scenes of the New York talk shows, morning shows. It’s very exciting.
What do you like to watch on TV?
I watch the news, I watch recordings of the news. I love documentaries.
How do you watch your favourite shows?
My viewing area is usually in our kitchen, but usually I’m at my desk so I multi task. I’ll make sure I can answer emails or watch the news. I’ll watch a documentary or I’ll have girlfriends come over.
What initially drew you to this film? Any similarities between Dumplin’ and her mother and the relationship you had with your own mother?
Where do we start? (laughs) I really I loved the story, the dynamic, the mother-daughter aspect of it was because it was very similar to my mother and our relationship. She was a former super model and she was all about presentation and what she looked like and what I looked like. I did not come out the model child she’d hoped for and so that was always something that really resonated with me.
Do you ever get over having a disapproving parent?
You have to. It takes a lot of therapy but you do absolutely get over it. That was her projection. It had nothing to do with me.
What is the meaning of this movie to you?
You realise that all of these people, no matter what shape or size, have so much more in common than they probably ever understood.
I see you’re drinking your own brand – Smart Water. Is that the only thing you’ll drink?
Yes (laughs). I’m a loyal student.
What did you and Danielle do when you first met?
When Danielle came over to my house it was really to talk about Dumplin. We drank Smart Water (laughs) and we ate vegetables and hummus. That’s about all we did.
How was working with Dolly Parton?
Well, she’s a national treasure. She is a real icon. I remember the first thing I said when I met her, I asked her, “I don’t know how you keep doing this” and she just said, “Well, I drove myself into a corner and now I got to live up to it.” Everything she says is kind of a bumper sticker (laughter).
What do you think about child beauty pageants?
Oh, I don’t think it’s great at all. I don’t think people should be judged. I don’t love that world. It’s quite disturbing what they are striving for.
What do you think about the future of the #METOO movement?
I think incredible things have happened in this year that were long overdue. I think in any movement it swings like a pendulum. It sort of goes really aggressively one way and then will go really aggressively the other way and. A lot is being brought to the surface that has needed to involving women and being objectified.
What was the last piece of art that evoked an emotional response in you?
Oh my God. Billy Crudup’s one man show that I saw in New York called “Harry Clark.” He plays 18 characters in an 80 minute period of time and it was one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever seen an actor do.
Does music help you get into character?
Oh, it’s always it’s a beautiful tool for me to because there’s always a piece of music that existed during a period of time that I can remember and connect. It’s also really helpful for my work-outs.
What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?
There are so many places all over the world that I haven’t been to that I’m dying to go to.
Such as?
I want to go on safari!
