When Chris Hemsworth, the Australian heartthrob known for playing Thor, received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, his wife Elsa Pataky was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Before *Friends*, Courteney’s career was already taking off. She was featured in a famous music video years earlier.
So, how did Courteney feel about playing Monica? And what is she up to these days? Here’s everything you need to know about her.
Courteney Cox Reveals Heartfelt Pain Over Not Getting an Emmy Nomination for Friends!
Courteney Cox became a global superstar overnight when she landed the role of Monica Geller on *Friends*. Her life changed completely—she became very famous and very wealthy.
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Before *Friends*, Courteney’s career was already taking off. She was featured in a famous music video years earlier.
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So, how did Courteney feel about playing Monica? And what is she up to these days? Here’s everything you need to know about her.
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Getting a big break in acting must be thrilling, knowing you’re on your way to something great. For some actors, this happens when they’re young, while others work hard for years before getting their chance in their 30s or 40s.
Once that big break comes, things usually start to take off. For Courteney Cox, that was definitely the case.
The Alabama native first appeared in Bruce Springsteen’s music video for “Dancing in the Dark,” which kicked off her Hollywood career. Soon after, she landed the role of Monica Geller on the hit show *Friends*, and her life changed forever.
These days, Courteney Cox is busy with various projects, has built a wonderful family, and welcomed her children.
She has also been open about plastic surgery and facelifts, and has recently changed her views on the topic.
Here’s everything you need to know about Courteney “Monica Geller” Cox!
Courteney Cox was born on June 15, 1964, in Birmingham, Alabama, as the youngest of four children to Courteney and Richard Lewis Cox. When she was young, she was teased at school because of her last name.
She said, “I hated my last name, but when my dad passed away, I decided to embrace it and keep it going since there was no one else in the family to do so.”
When Courteney was 10, her parents divorced. She lived with her mother and later her stepfather, and the divorce had a lasting impact on her. She mentioned that one of her earliest memories is of her parents’ divorce. She said, “My mum wasn’t a go-getter, so I’m grateful I could see that and become the opposite.”
Courteney didn’t always dream of acting. She initially wanted to be an architect and studied architecture at Mount Vernon College. However, she dropped out and moved to New York City, where she started modeling and worked at a music agency.
Her modeling career was short-lived, but she soon transitioned into acting. In 1985, at age 21, Courteney got her big break, not in a film but in a music video. Director Brian De Palma cast her in Bruce Springsteen’s video for the hit song “Dancing in the Dark.” The video was filmed during a Springsteen concert, and Courteney played an enthusiastic fan in the front row.
At the end of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” music video, Springsteen brought Courteney Cox up on stage. They danced together to a saxophone solo by Clarence Clemons.
Looking back, Courteney wasn’t thrilled with her dancing in the video. She said, “That wasn’t good dancing on my part. I’d only recreate it as a joke.”
The video was a big hit on MTV, and even though Courteney was only in it for about 20 seconds, it helped her career take off. That same year, she appeared in the film *Misfits of Science*, and two years later, she landed her first major role.
She starred in the popular sitcom *Family Ties* and had smaller roles in films like *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* with Jim Carrey.
But in 1995, something unexpected happened. Marta Kauffman and David Crane created a new show about six friends living in New York. Courteney Cox was cast as Monica Geller, and it changed her career forever.
In 1993, Kauffman and Crane started working on a new show. It premiered on September 22, and right from the start, it was clear it was going to be a hit.
Today, *Friends* is one of the most famous sitcoms ever, running for 10 seasons and 236 episodes. The final episode was watched by over 50 million people in the U.S. Courteney Cox, along with Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, became a global star.
Marta Kauffman said in 1995, “She’s adorable and smart and really together. She is Monica.”
Courteney Cox said, “I love Monica because she’s a grown-up, and I can bring more of my personality to her. She’s goofy, angry, sarcastic, and a bit naughty. People might see her as the goody-goody, but I think she has more sex appeal than the others.”
Courteney found a lot of herself in Monica. In real life, she’s also what she calls a “neat freak,” just like her character on *Friends*.
Courteney Cox shared that she doesn’t use a lint brush or iron her clothes, but she’s great at picking lint off others. She once noticed she was acting just like Monica while helping John Stewart on his show and thought, “I’m just like Monica. This is kind of scary.”
*Friends* became a huge hit worldwide, and the cast earned a lot of money. In the final seasons, they each made $1 million per episode. Even now, 17 years after the show ended, they make about $20 million a year from reruns because they get a share of the show’s syndication revenue. Netflix paid up to $100 million to keep *Friends* on their platform through 2019.
Today, Courteney Cox has a net worth of about $150 million.
Despite the success and money, Courteney was hurt that she never got an Emmy nomination while all her co-stars did. “It always hurt my feelings,” she told Howard Stern. “When every single cast member was nominated but me, it definitely hurt. I was happy for everyone, but it was tough being the only one left out.”
Courteney Cox said she always wanted her fellow cast members to win awards, but she also wanted to be included sometimes. She never wanted to take anything away from anyone else, just to be part of it.
Even though she didn’t get an Emmy for *Friends*, she did receive awards for her work on other projects. After *Friends*, Courteney starred in the sitcom *Cougar Town* as Jules Cobb, and she was recognized for her role there. In 2010, she got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series.
Over the years, Courteney Cox became a global star, as well as a wife and mother. She married actor David Arquette in 1999, and they had a daughter, Coco, in 2004. They divorced in 2013.
Since then, Courteney has been in a relationship with musician Johnny McDaid from the band Snow Patrol.
There have been rumors about Courteney getting plastic surgery and Botox. In 2017, she confirmed that she had used fillers but also mentioned that the world of cosmetic procedures can be quite intense.
Courteney Cox talked about how easy it is to get caught up in cosmetic procedures. She said that doctors often suggest small tweaks that seem harmless at first. Over time, these changes can add up, and you might not notice until it looks different in photos or someone points it out.
Eventually, Courteney decided to stop using fillers and embrace her natural self. She now promotes being yourself and often shares makeup-free photos on Instagram, which can inspire others to do the same.
“I’m as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person that I was, I hope I do,” Cox said.
“Things are going to change. Everything’s going to drop. I was trying to make it not drop, but that made me look fake. You need movement in your face, especially if you have thin skin like I do. Those aren’t wrinkles—they’re smile lines. I’ve had to learn to embrace movement and realize that fillers are not my friend. “
In 2022, Courteney Cox used an app to see how she might look ten years older, and many of her followers were surprised by the results. She mentioned in the caption that she probably wouldn’t style her hair that way.
Courteney has also been open about her experience with cosmetic procedures. In 2019, she admitted to using lip fillers because she wasn’t happy with her appearance. However, she stopped using them when she realized she didn’t look like herself.
Courteney Cox now feels great about herself. She says she embraces getting older and is happy with how she looks naturally, without trying to change it. She’s focused on growing and improving in other areas of her life.
Courteney Cox was fantastic as Monica Geller on Friends, and people still love watching the show today.
What do you think about Courteney Cox’s views on fillers and cosmetic procedures? Let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to share this article on Facebook with your friends and family!
A Secret Santa Gift Unlocked the Mystery of My Mother’s Disappearance — Story of the Day
Two years after my mother vanished without a trace, I unwrapped a Secret Santa gift and froze. Inside was her necklace—a piece she’d never part with. I needed to find out who my Secret Santa was and where he had found that treasure.
The office was alive with holiday cheer. Strings of twinkling lights draped across cubicles, and a faint scent of cinnamon lingered in the air. Around me, colleagues laughed and exchanged Secret Santa gifts. I tried to smile but couldn’t shake the emptiness that had settled in my chest.
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For two years, the holidays had been hollow. My mother had vanished without a trace, walking out the door one cold morning and never returning. No note, no goodbye.
The police called it a voluntary disappearance. I called it impossible. Mom would never leave me willingly, not without a reason.
“Your turn, Sophie!” Jenna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
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She stood beside me, clutching her mug of hot chocolate, her cheeks pink from excitement or maybe a marshmallow overdose.
I stepped forward. The attention made my skin prickle, but I reached for the small, gold-wrapped box on the table. My fingers worked quickly, untying the ribbon and peeling back the paper.
I wasn’t expecting much. Maybe a candle or a coffee mug with a cheesy slogan. But the moment I opened the box, the world seemed to tilt.
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Inside lay a necklace. HER necklace.
The delicate silver chain glinted under the office lights, and the aquamarine pendant shimmered like a tiny ocean. My breath caught as I turned it over.
There it was. “AMELIA,” etched into the back. My hands trembled.
“Sophie? You okay?” Jenna whispered to me.
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“I’m fine. It’s just… this necklace. It belonged to my mom.”
“Oh, wow! That’s a coincidence,” she said, leaning in for a better look. “It’s gorgeous.”
Coincidence? No. It can’t be. How did this end up here? Who had given it to me?
For the first time in two years, I had a tiny, fragile thread to follow. And I wasn’t letting it go.
***
The next morning, I walked into the office with the necklace tucked safely in my pocket. My mind buzzed with questions, but one stood out: “Who was my Secret Santa?”
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By mid-morning, I couldn’t hold back any longer. As a group of colleagues gathered around the coffee machine, I approached cautiously.
“Hey, does anyone know who might’ve been my Secret Santa?”
Jenna, always the cheerful one, piped up first. “Secret Santa is supposed to be anonymous, Sophie. That’s the fun of it!”
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“I know, but…” I hesitated, pulling the necklace out of my pocket and letting it dangle from my fingers. “This is my mother’s necklace. She’s been missing for two years, and… well, it’s the first clue I’ve had.”
The room fell silent. Even Jenna didn’t seem to know what to say. Then, from across the room, Margaret’s voice rang out, sharp as ever.
“Who else could it be?” She rolled her eyes, walking toward us. “Thomas, obviously. He’s the only one around here who’d buy something from a flea market and call it a gift.”
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I blinked, surprised by her bluntness. Margaret had been after Thomas for months, dropping not-so-subtle hints and invitations to dinner until, finally, he gave in and agreed to go out with her. So, she guarded him like a hawk, as if every interaction he had was a potential threat to their fragile new relationship.
“Thomas?” I turned to look at him, standing awkwardly behind Margaret.
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“Uh, yeah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “I just thought it was pretty and…”
Margaret smirked. “Exactly. Typical Thomas.”
I ignored her tone, focusing instead on him. “Where did you get it? Do you remember the seller?”
“Yeah, it was a stall at the flea market downtown. I can show you where. If you want.”
“No, you can’t,” Margaret interjected, placing a hand on his arm. “You have work to finish, Thomas. Remember the reports? Or do you want to stay late again?”
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Her voice dripped with jealousy. The tension between them made me squirm.
“It’s fine,” I said quickly, not wanting to cause a scene. “I’ll check it out myself. Thanks anyway, Thomas.”
Frustration bubbled inside me as I left the office. Margaret’s possessiveness was maddening, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I headed straight to the flea market, determined to find the seller.
***
The market was overwhelming, with its endless stalls and the chatter of bargaining voices. It took over an hour, but I finally found the vendor. When I showed him the necklace, his face lit up in recognition.
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“I remember this piece,” he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “That aquamarine is rare. It cost a fortune! I bought it from a woman outside a small shop in another town. She seemed… troubled.”
My heart raced. “Do you remember the shop?”
He scribbled down an address on a scrap of paper and handed it to me. “Here you go, miss.”
I glanced at the paper and frowned. “Wait… this is in another state?”
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The man nodded. “Oh, yes. It’s a small shop just over the border. Quite the journey.”
I sighed. “Great. Just my luck.”
Armed with the address, I tried booking a train and found out they were all full. As I stood there, weighing my options, a familiar voice called out behind me.
“Need a ride?”
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I turned to see Thomas, slightly out of breath but smiling. “Margaret wasn’t thrilled, but I couldn’t let you do this alone.”
“Thomas! I need to get to another state by evening. But it’s Christmas Eve. Margaret is already…”
He cut me off with a shrug and a grin. “Margaret will get over it. Besides, this seems more important.”
For a brief moment, we were driving in silence. The thought of finding my mother kept my nerves buzzing like static. In a few hours, we pulled into a dimly lit station.
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Thomas jumped out to pay while I stretched, feeling the chill of the evening air. A few minutes later, he returned, his face pale.
“I’ve got bad news,” he muttered, holding his card up. “It’s declined. Again.”
I stared at him. “You’re kidding.”
“It’s Margaret’s doing. She froze my account. I’d bet my last dollar on it.”
I groaned, pulling out my wallet. “I’ve got fifty bucks, but that’s not enough to fill the tank and get us there.”
For a moment, we stood in silence.
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“Need a hand?” a deep voice called out.
We turned to see a truck driver stepping out of his rig. He was a burly man with kind eyes and a worn Santa hat perched on his head.
“We’re trying to get to the next town,” I explained. “We’re almost out of gas, and… well, we’re stuck.”
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Tell you what. I’m heading that way myself. Got room in the cab if you don’t mind hitching a ride.”
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Thomas and I exchanged a quick glance. “We’d really appreciate it.”
“Hop in,” he said with a nod, gesturing toward the passenger door.
The ride was bumpy but surprisingly comfortable. The truck driver, who introduced himself as Joe, chatted with us about Christmas, his family, and the long hours he’d been pulling on the road. His kindness was a balm to my frayed nerves. When we arrived at the town, the shop’s door was locked, and a sign on the window read:
“Sorry, We’re Closed.”
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“Now what?” I whispered, the weight of the journey threatening to crush me.
Before Thomas could respond, the hum of a taxi interrupted us. The car stopped abruptly and out stepped Margaret, her cheeks flushed with anger.
“You’ve got some nerve,” she snapped, marching toward Thomas. “Tracking you wasn’t easy, you know. And all for her?” She pointed at me with disdain.
“Margaret, it’s not what you think,” Thomas began, but she was already on a roll.
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“The necklace, Thomas! What kind of ‘colleague’ gift is that? Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?”
“It’s my mother’s,” I interrupted, showing her the name on it. “See? Amelia. I’m here because of her.”
Margaret looked skeptical, but before she could respond, Joe cleared his throat. “Excuse me, but that necklace… It saved someone’s life once.”
We all turned to him in surprise. Joe nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
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“A woman sacrificed it once. She said it was her most valuable possession, but she didn’t hesitate to part with it. It’s a long story. I can take you to her.”
My breath caught. “You know her?”
“I think so,” he said. “If she’s who I think she is, she’ll be at the shelter. She’s always there, especially on the holidays.”
Shelter… Does that mean she’s ended up homeless?
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My heart twisted at the thought, but I nodded. “Let’s go.”
***
Despite the biting cold outside, the shelter glowed with warmth. Golden lights twinkled in the frosted windows, and inside, the hum of chatter and laughter mixed with the scent of spiced cider and fresh-baked cookies. My heart pounded as we stepped through the doors. The weight of hope and fear pressed down on me.
Is she here? Can this really be it?
We were greeted by a kind woman bustling about, her apron dusted with flour. She paused when she saw the necklace in my hand and gasped softly.
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“That’s a beautiful piece,” she said, her voice tinged with recognition. “I know it well. It saved me, you know.”
My throat tightened. “It was my mother’s. Do you know where it came from?”
“Come with me.”
The woman introduced herself as Alice, the owner of that small shop in town we’d already been to. She explained how, two years ago, she’d been on the brink of losing everything—the shop and the shelter.
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Then, a woman had appeared, disoriented but determined. She’d insisted on selling the necklace, refusing to take no for an answer. That woman was Amelia. My mother, Amelia.
Tears stung my eyes as Alice continued. “She’s been with me ever since, helping me run the shelter and shop. She’s remarkable, even though… she struggles with her memory. But she’s here tonight. I never leave her alone on the holidays.”
The room seemed to blur as I waited. And then I saw her.
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My mother stepped into the room. Her frame was thinner, her hair streaked with gray, but her eyes—those familiar, loving eyes—met mine. For a moment, she paused, and then tears filled her gaze.
“Mom,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I ran to her. She held me tightly, and the world around us faded.
We spent the evening in the warm embrace of the shelter’s community. Even Margaret, moved by Alice’s story, softened, donating generously and offering heartfelt apologies.
That night, I realized Christmas wasn’t just about presents or tradition. It was about love, hope, and second chances. Miracles, I thought, happen in the most unexpected ways.
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Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: For months after Mark’s death, I was drowning in grief, clinging to signs I thought he was sending me. 11:11, 10:10, 09:09. They gave me hope, a lifeline. But a stranger turned those signs into something more.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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