Director Michael Lembeck recalls Julia Roberts’ nervousness while filming the 1996 two-part Friends episode “The One After the Super Bowl.” Despite being a major star at the time, Roberts felt anxious about her guest appearance, especially performing in front of a live studio audience.
Roberts, famous for her roles in Pretty Woman, Hook, and The Pelican Brief, hadn’t performed on stage since she was 15. Lembeck shared with the Los Angeles Times that Roberts was quite apprehensive during the filming. “The night of the shoot, we held hands, and I thought, ‘I am going to get gangrene if she squeezes my hand any tighter,'” he said. Her nervousness was evident despite her great performance throughout the week.
Roberts played Susie, a childhood classmate of Chandler, played by Matthew Perry. In the episode, Susie seeks revenge on Chandler for a past humiliation by tricking him into wearing her underwear and leaving him stranded in a restaurant bathroom.
Despite her fame, Roberts’ nerves were an issue initially. Lembeck explained, “We had been rehearsing all week, and Julia and Matthew enjoyed time both on and off the set. When they got onto the couch for their first scene, she was visibly nervous. But the live audience’s reaction helped her relax.”
As Roberts performed, she received laughs from the audience, which boosted her confidence. “Matthew flubbed a line, and the audience loved it. You could see Julia’s posture change as she remembered how to do this,” Lembeck said. “She then became a beast in her subsequent scenes.”
Lembeck noted that Roberts didn’t display any diva behavior on set. “The first time I saw her, I didn’t recognize her. She had stringy hair, no makeup, and was taller than expected. But she laughed harder than anyone during the week and had so much fun,” he recalled.
Roberts’ performance as Susie was memorable, despite her initial nerves. Her experience on Friends demonstrated her ability to overcome stage fright and deliver a fantastic performance.
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