After a friendship lasting over 25 years, it’s evident that Jennifer Aniston believed she knew her long-time colleague and The Morning Show co-star Reese Witherspoon quite well. However, even with their enduring bond, Jennifer was taken aback when Reese disclosed her full legal name during a recent press interview.
Reese Witherspoon, originally named Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon, chose to abbreviate her name when she pursued her acting career professionally. While many fans may not have been aware that Reese’s real first name is Laura, Jennifer was equally surprised to learn this lesser-known fact during LADBible’s Do You Even Know Me? segment as part of their promotional activities for season four of their popular Apple TV+ series.
The duo, whose friendship dates back to 2000 when Reese appeared on Friends as Jennifer’s on-screen sister, were challenged to answer questions about each other in a light-hearted manner during the segment.
During the exchange, Witherspoon asked Aniston about her actual middle name, presenting options A: Jane, B: Jean, or C: Joan. Aniston mistakenly guessed Jane, prompting Reese to clarify, “It’s confusing. I’m Laura Jean.”
Despite the casual clarification, this revelation was almost overwhelming for Aniston, who exclaimed, “Laura Jean?” Witherspoon confirmed, “That’s my real name. Yeah.”
Aniston, astonished, declared, “Laura! Who’s Laura? Who the hell’s Laura? I’m not calling you that from now on! Where did Reese come from?” Witherspoon explained further, stating, “It’s my middle name. I’m Laura Jean Reese.”
Inquiring about the name change in her acting career, Reese explained that she had always used her middle name in her daily life, not just as a professional choice.
In the same video, Jennifer disclosed her full name as Jennifer Joanna Aniston, surprising her co-star.
Looking back on their collaboration a quarter of a century ago, the pair also tested each other’s knowledge of Friends, the iconic show that propelled Aniston to fame in the 90s and provided numerous stars, including Witherspoon, with memorable guest appearances.
Conducting a rapid-fire quiz, Aniston quizzed her on-screen sister about how Rachel Green, her character, had famously botched a recipe in a specific episode.
With quick recall, Reese remembered how Rachel had mistakenly added mince beef and peas to a trifle in a memorable TV moment. Aniston explained that the mishap occurred when Rachel followed a magazine recipe, inadvertently blending a trifle dessert with a recipe for cottage pie due to stuck-together pages.
The first episode of The Morning Show’s season four premiered on September 17, with new episodes debuting every Wednesday on Apple TV+.