Reese Witherspoon says getting the call to be on 'Friends' felt like winning the lottery

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 5/27/21

Before Reese Witherspoon was Elle Woods in Legally Blonde or Melanie in Sweet Home Alabama, she was a guest star on Friends.

Witherspoon had a two-episode arc as Jill Green—Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) sister—during the sixth season of the iconic sitcom in February 2000: "The One with Rachel's Sister" and "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Jill visits New York City distraught because her dad has cut her off, and she develops a short-lived fling with Ross (David Schwimmer).

"When my agent called me and said, 'Do you want to play Rachel Green's sister on Friends?', I was like, 'Have I won the lottery?" Witherspoon said during Friends: The Reunion, which debuted on HBO Max today (May 27).

The Oscar-winning actress continued: "OK, so, one of the most exciting things was I got to be in this scene where I'm in the apartment, and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) walks in, and he goes, 'How you doin'?' And it was his iconic line! And I was so excited. And to watch a famous character say his famous line?! Come on."

Friends: The Reunion brought the six cast members—Aniston, Schwimmer, LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry—all together for only the second time since the show wrapped after 10 seasons in 2004, though the first time at Stage 24.

Witherspoon wasn't the only guest to stop by:

We're going to need a bigger couch. Catch these special guest appearances in the #FriendsReunion streaming May 27 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/1VVYCdtpqv
— HBO Max (@hbomax) May 13, 2021

In the years since Witherspoon's short stint as Jill, she and Aniston have each become instantly recognizable powerhouses. Aniston and Witherspoon are now co-starring and serving as executive producers on the Emmy-winning and COVID-delayed series The Morning Show.

They have also, it seems, become something like sisters in real life.