40 Facts About Rachel Green

Rachel Karen Green is a fictional character, one of the six main characters who appeared in the American sitcom Friends.

The role of Rachel Green was originally offered to Tea Leoni, the producer's first choice, and Courteney Cox, both of whom declined, Leoni in favor of starring in the sitcom The Naked Truth, and Cox in favor of playing Rachel Green's best friend Monica in Friends.

Rachel Green's popularity established her as the show's breakout character, who has since been named one of the greatest television characters of all time, while the character's second season haircut spawned an international phenomenon of its own.

Rachel Green is regarded as a style icon due to her influence on womenswear during the 1990s.

Rachel Green is considered to be Aniston's breakout role, credited with making her the show's most famous cast member and for spawning her successful film career.

Rachel Green is introduced in the pilot episode of Friends as a runaway bride who leaves her fiance, Barry Farber, at the altar, and seeks refuge with her childhood friend Monica Geller in New York City.

Previously reliant on her parents' wealth, Rachel Green begins her journey toward independence by working as a waitress at Central Perk, despite being notably unskilled at the job.

Rachel Green's relationship with Ross is a central focus throughout the series.

The episode that would ultimately transform the friends' relationship for the remainder of the series was the first-season finale "The One Where Rachel Green Finds Out", in which Rachel Green finally learns of Ross' true feelings for her, at the same time discovering she actually feels the same.

Jonathan Bernstein of The Daily Telegraph believes that they accomplished this by "dangl[ing] the possibility of a Ross and Rachel Green recoupling through several cliffhangers without ever putting them back together".

When it finally came time to write the series finale, "The only thing [Crane and Kauffman] absolutely knew from very early on was that we had to get Ross and Rachel Green together," deciding, "We had dicked the audience around for 10 years with their 'will they or won't they,' and we didn't see any advantage in frustrating them" any longer.

The final character to be cast, Rachel Green is portrayed by actress Jennifer Aniston, who auditioned for the role shortly after declining a position as a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live.

Rachel Green's decision was initially ridiculed by both her friends as well as actor Adam Sandler, a Saturday Night Live alum.

However, casting her as Rachel Green posed a challenge for the network because, at the time, Aniston was simultaneously starring in a developing CBS sitcom called Muddling Through, in which she plays a young woman whose mother is returning home from jail after two years.

Meanwhile, NBC risked having to recast the role of Rachel Green, replace Aniston, and reshoot several episodes if CBS' series proved successful, which would have potentially cost the network millions of dollars.

Rachel Green was brought up in Long Island, New York.

Originally depicted as a character who is unprepared for "the world as an adult", Rachel Green's personality was gradually tailored to suit Aniston as the series progressed, becoming "more self-sufficient and sympathetic".

Luckily, Rachel Green is smart, resourceful and chic, so her future is bright, both as a member of the workforce and with her newfound tribe.

Vulture's Lindsey Weber, who identifies herself as Jewish, observed several similarities and Jewish stereotypes she shares with the character, citing the facts that Rachel refers to her grandmother Ida Green as "Bubbe", Long Island origin, and engagement to a Jewish doctor as allusions to the character's Jewish culture.

Cooper continued to write that although Rachel Green possesses some Jewish American Princess traits, she is more similar to the "little woman" stereotype.

The New York Posts Robert Rorke labeled Rachel Green "a rehabilitated Jewish American Princess", in contrast to her sister Amy who remains "selfish, condescending and narcissistic".

Critical response towards Rachel Green remained mostly positive throughout the show's ten-season run.

Club, John Reid believes that Rachel Green is responsible for the success of the pilot, explaining, "The story of this group of friends must start with a stranger coming to town," describing Rachel Green as "the perfect stranger for this plot".

The Los Angeles Times Bob Shayne admitted his attraction towards Rachel Green, joking, "my feelings for Rachel Green, I say with some embarrassment, mirror those of Gunther".

Meanwhile, TVLine criticized Rachel Green for sleeping with ex-fiance Barry in season one's "The One With the Evil Orthodontist", panning the episode as "cringeworthy".

Additionally, fans would often approach Aniston and scold her for decisions that Rachel Green makes within the show that they do not particularly agree with.

Viewers' perpetual desire to see Rachel Green succeed helped her remain a fan favorite throughout all ten seasons of the show.

Rachel Green has had several romantic relationships throughout Friends decade-long run, the most famous and prominent of which remains her on-again, off-again relationship with friend Ross.

However, Ross and Rachel Green do sleep together again the night before she leaves for Paris, which results in him admitting he still loves her and wants to get back together in the series finale.

Rachel Green turns down the Paris job in order to be with Ross when she realizes she still loves him too, and the two agree "this is it", getting back together for good.

Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel Green, confirmed that after the series finale, Ross and Rachel Green got remarried, happily and had at least one more child.

Vogue's Edward Barsamian credits Rachel Green with inspiring "the cool New York look".

Rachel Green is often considered to be one of television's best dressed characters.

On being typecast in the aftermath of Rachel Green, Aniston admits that at times it "gives you more of a challenge, to shape people's perceptions of you".

The "Rachel Green" debuted in the show's 20th episode, "The One with the Evil Orthodontist".

The "Rachel Green" immediately became popular among women, launching an international hair trend.

The popularity of the "Rachel Green" coincided with the popularity of Friends during the mid-to-late-1990s.

The "Rachel Green" remains one of the most popular hairstyles in history, and became the most popular hairstyle in the United States since actress Farrah Fawcett's.

The "Rachel Green" is often ranked among the greatest and most iconic hairstyles of all time, with Redbook placing it at number four and Time ranking it ninth.

Zahra Barnes of Self joked that Rachel Green's hair has always been the "true star of the show".