Emily on "Friends" was almost dismissed for not having chemistry with Ross
The star guest Helen Baxendale was "was nice, but not particularly funny", according to a director.
"Me, Ross, Take Thee Rachel" is one of the most memorable lines of Friends , but for the actor Helen Baxendale , It was the beginning of the end of his time in the series. Baxendale played Emily Waltham, Ross' ( David Schwimmer ) British Love Interest, that he was married when he accidentally said the name of his ex-girlfriend. It appeared in more than a dozen episodes through the seasons 4 and 5, but according to one of the directors of the show, Baxendale would have been replaced by a different actor if Friends was not in a time of crunch. In his memories, prolific television director James Burrows wrote that Baxendale lacked chemistry with Schwimmer and that she was not as funny as Jennifer Aniston , which almost obtained Emily Rés. Continue reading to learn more.
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Baxendale and Schwimmer had no chemistry.
Burrows , whose credits also include Laverne and Shirley ,, Sink ,, Acclamations (which he also co-created), and Will and grace , made 15 episodes of Friends . In his book in 2022, Directed by James Burrows , the 82 -year -old man revealed that the Emily and Ross relationship did not play as everyone hoped. He indicated that Boxendale had been poorly hidden.
"She was nice, but not particularly funny," wrote Burrows about The Guest Star ( via People ). "Schwimmer had no one to bounce back. It was like applauding with one hand."
Burrows explained more: "In sitcoms and any type of romantic comedy, the funny is just as important as chemistry. We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross must be as funny as Rachel."
There was not enough time to bring in a different actor.
While the producers planned to redesign Emily, it would have been too difficult to replace Boxendale in the constraints of the program of the program.
"Often, you cannot overcome, because of tight shooting times or other logistical considerations," wrote Burrows. "You need someone who makes you laugh. Sometimes you start an arc and it doesn't work, so you have to get rid of this person. If it's a day player, it's a quick farewell."
Burrows explains that, on the other hand, "if there is chemistry, writers will work to find a way to keep the actor".
It wouldn't have been the first time Friends replaced a recurring guest star. Ross Carol's ex-wife was played by the actor Anita Barone for the first appearance of the character, while Jane Sibbett played the role for the rest of the race. In this case, it was Barone's decision to leave The series, according to Screen Rant.
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Emily was supposed to be longer.
If another actor had played Emily, it is possible that his scenario has led more episodes. And it is not only because another actor could have been better considered with Schwimmer, but also because Baxendale learned that she was pregnant. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
According to the book, I will be there for you: that of friends by Kelsey Miller ,, Baxendale discovered that she was pregnant The same week as she was thrown in season 4 of the show.
"Emily was never going to be a regular character, but her original bow was much longer," wrote Miller. "Pregnancy meant to accelerate things considerably ..."
The final of season 4 revolved around Emily and Ross' wedding. Baxendale appeared less frequently in season 5 while the characters crossed their rupture.
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Baxendale did not want the attention that came from Friends .
In an interview in 2022 with The independent ,, Baxendale looked at its passage on Friends . She explained that she did not want the kind of renown that the main distribution had.
"I saw these people in Friends , for example, and I thought: I don't think life is really what I want. They were hunted down. They couldn't enter a supermarket and buy something, "she said.
From the attention she attracted, even as a recurring character, she said: "I did not think of what I was guaranteeing it. It was not me, it was on this subject .. . This thing ... This program I have happened to be in a few episodes. The whole thing was crazy. "
Today, Baxendale is still an actor and works mainly in the United Kingdom in addition to Friends , she is best known for having played on the series Cold feet In the late 1990s and early 00 years. In recent years, she appeared in episodes of Poirot ,, MUDER MUDERS , And Law and order: United Kingdom . His last role was in the series Noughts + Cross .
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