Jennifer Aniston continues to fuel interest in her summer romance with Jim Curtis after the pair were spotted enjoying a date night in New York City on September 5. The outing marks another public glimpse of their relationship as it gains momentum in the wake of a summer spent vacationing and socializing together.
The former Friends star and her boyfriend opted for a relaxed look during the evening, with Jennifer choosing light wash jeans paired with a white T-shirt and a tan blazer, complemented by natural makeup and loose waves. This date night follows their initial appearance together earlier in July, when romance rumors first started circulating.
History of the Relationship and Social Circles
The couple’s connection became more publicly evident over the Independence Day weekend when they were seen vacationing in Spain, accompanied by Aniston’s longtime friend Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka. Since then, Jim Curtis has been introduced to several notable figures within Jennifer’s circle.
In August, the two dined at the well-known Nobu Malibu restaurant alongside Courtney Cox and her partner Johnny McDaid, reinforcing the impression of a serious romance. Though neither Jennifer nor Jim have formally confirmed their relationship, it represents her first public romantic involvement since her divorce from Justin Theroux in 2018, which ended after three years of marriage.
Who Is Jim Curtis? Background and Previous Relationships
Jim Curtis, who describes himself as an author, speaker, coach, and educator, brings a layered background into the relationship. Previously married to Rachel Napolitano, with whom he has a teenage son named Aidan, Curtis also had a relationship with Bethenny Frankel, a former star of The Real Housewives of New York City.
Frankel discussed her brief fling with Curtis on her podcast, Just B with Bethenny Frankel, remarking,
“I dated Jennifer Aniston’s boyfriend and he was a nice guy,”
and noting that their relationship occurred “maybe 10 years ago.” Citing respect for Jennifer and Jim’s current relationship, Frankel refrained from elaborate details but expressed positive sentiments about Aniston’s new romance.
She added,
“He was earlier in his journey. But with that and with the wellness aspect, there was an earthiness to it, and it does vibe with Jen Aniston.”
Frankel further praised Aniston’s pursuit of love, saying,
“I’m happy for Jennifer Aniston because I do believe she wants to find love. I do believe it’s been difficult, as I understand as well as anybody can, and I do believe she’s sort of got that earthy, mellow side to her.”
Aniston’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jennifer Aniston was born on February 11, 1969, in Sherman Oaks, California, to actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow. Interestingly, her family’s original last name was Anastassakis before immigration to the United States from Greece. Her godfather is actor Telly Savalas, recognized as one of her father’s best friends.
Aniston has been open about challenges she faced in her early years, including struggles with dyslexia diagnosed in her twenties, which made academic retention difficult. Reflecting on those feelings, she said,
“I thought I wasn’t smart. I just couldn’t retain anything.”
Jennifer also revealed she endured bullying during middle school, describing herself as
“one of those kids who got sort of bullied”
without understanding why. She was particularly self-conscious due to her weight during grades five through seven, which made her a target for peers. Despite these hardships, she has persevered into a successful acting career.
From Humble Jobs to Hollywood Stardom
Before rising to fame, Aniston held several unglamorous jobs. She shared that she earned her childhood allowance by cleaning toilets, stating with humor,
“I’m actually pretty good at it.”
Later, she worked as a waitress, humorously recalling mishaps, including dropping hamburgers on customers. Despite her clumsy service, she was told she had a warm and charming demeanor that made her popular.
Jennifer attended the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she studied drama while participating in volleyball and basketball. During her formative years, she formed close friendships, including with Chaz Bono, with whom she and a group of friends regularly gathered after school.
Aniston also admitted to experimenting with alternative aesthetics during high school, undergoing a goth phase she described as “tragic,” aiming to appear rebelliously unattractive rather than traditionally beautiful.
The Early Steps in Her Acting Career
Jennifer’s initial on-screen role involved an uncredited spot as a dancer in the 1988 film Mac and Me. Before she became Rachel Green on Friends, she replaced Jennifer Grey as Jeanine Bueller, Ferris Bueller’s sister, in a short-lived TV show adaptation. Additionally, she appeared in the cult horror film Leprechaun in 1993.
Challenges with Family and Personal Growth
Throughout her life, Jennifer Aniston’s relationship with her mother, Nancy Dow, was troubled. She has spoken candidly about her mother’s critical attitude and how it affected her self-image, stating,
“She was critical. She was very critical of me,”
and revealing that her mother held grudges that Jennifer found “so petty.”
Aniston credits therapy for helping her process and accept her mother’s behavior, explaining,
“It takes a lot of therapy, but you do absolutely get over it. That was her projection. It had nothing to do with me.”
Nancy Dow and Jennifer were estranged for many years before Dow’s death in 2016, with Dow publicly criticizing Jennifer and even penning a tell-all book. Jennifer notably did not invite her mother to her wedding to Brad Pitt in 2000.
Reflecting on her mother’s struggles, Aniston acknowledged the difficulties Dow faced as a single mother in the 1980s, explaining,
“She was missing what was [actually] important… I think she was just holding on and doing the best she could, struggling financially and dealing with a husband who was no longer there.”
Friends Casting and Co-star Dynamics
The role of Rachel Green on Friends was highly contested, with actresses such as Jane Krakowski, Tea Leoni, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkeley, and Courtney Cox auditioning.
“We originally offered Rachel to Courteney Cox,”
co-creator Marta Kauffman revealed, but Cox preferred to play Monica, a decision that helped solidify their iconic dynamics.
Cox and Aniston developed a strong off-screen friendship, with Aniston even becoming godmother to Cox’s daughter Coco. During Friends’ decade-long run, the trio of Aniston, Cox, and Lisa Kudrow had daily lunches together. The “Jennifer salad” routinely shared was a customized Cobb salad made by Aniston with turkey bacon and garbanzo beans.
Jennifer’s Career Choices and Iconic Moments
While Aniston was offered the opportunity to join Saturday Night Live early in her career, she declined, feeling she was more suited to dramatic acting. She later hosted SNL in 1999 and 2004 and appeared in a cameo in 2016.
One of her most famous contributions to pop culture is the “Rachel” haircut, which sparked a nationwide trend but elicited mixed feelings from Aniston herself, who called it
“the ugliest haircut I’ve ever seen.”
Her hairstylist Chris McMillan later confessed he was high while cutting it.
Though Friends’ final season saw the main cast earning historic salaries of $1 million per episode, Aniston considered not returning, citing concerns about the character’s longevity.
“I had a couple issues that I was dealing with,”
she explained, seeking to conclude the show while it was still celebrated.
Brad Pitt, her husband during much of the show’s run, was absent from the finale taping, choosing to watch it broadcast to experience the surprise. One of the wrap parties was hosted at their home, with vintage Haut-Brion wine recalling the show’s inception.
Additional Career Highlights and Personal Interests
Midway through Friends, Aniston was cast in the cult comedy Office Space, where a larger role was created to leverage her star power. She reflected on personal crushes during filming, including producer David Herman, highlighting how love and work intertwined in her early career.
Though professionally she retained her maiden name, she legally took Pitt’s surname during their marriage, reverting after their 2005 divorce, which famously involved the high-profile Brad Pitt–Angelina Jolie love triangle. In reaction, the Los Angeles boutique Kitson sold “Team Aniston” and “Team Jolie” shirts, with Aniston’s versions reportedly outselling Jolie’s by a large margin.
Jennifer has actively defended her privacy, suing paparazzi multiple times over unauthorized topless photographs taken in her backyard, detailing the emotional toll caused by such invasions, including feelings of
“shame, mortification, hurt feelings, emotional distress, anger, embarrassment, humiliation, feeling of being violated and injury to her privacy and peace of mind.”
Notable Relationships and Public Perception
Musician John Mayer described Jennifer Aniston as “the one that got away,” expressing regret over their split and sorrow that their relationship did not last. Aniston has been a mainstay in tabloid headlines for decades, frequently targeted by speculation surrounding her love life, rumored pregnancies, and connections to high-profile breakups.
In 2016, she authored a powerful op-ed confronting the objectification and relentless scrutiny women endure in the media. She stated, “For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up. I’m fed up with the sport-like scrutiny and body shaming that occurs daily under the guise of ‘journalism,’ the ‘First Amendment‘ and ‘celebrity news.’
