Jennifer Aniston has long struggled with a fear of flying, but her relationship with hypnotist Jim Curtis has helped transform that anxiety into newfound confidence. The actors’ romance, which blossomed over the past year, intertwines with her journey to overcome this phobia, offering both a personal and emotional breakthrough.
Aniston’s Flight Anxiety and Hypnosis Journey
Aniston openly shared her intense fear of flying during a Travel + Leisure interview last April, describing rituals like tapping the side of the plane with her right hand and stepping onboard with the same foot. She candidly revealed,
“I have an extreme fear of flying,”
and explained how hypnosis played a role in dismantling these habits:
“I have been doing some hypnosis lately, and one of the requirements is to remove all of those superstitions.”
Through meditation and controlled breathing, she noted significant progress, calling the change “shockingly good.”
Her current boyfriend, Jim Curtis, is a hypnotherapist, Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner, and meditation teacher associated with Chopra. Curtis’s approach focuses on helping clients break free from
“past and patterns to create an entirely new reality full of connection, community and love,”
according to his professional philosophy. While Aniston did not explicitly detail if Curtis personally guided her hypnosis journey, their relationship certainly coincides with this period of growth.
The Story Behind Their Connection and Relationship
Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis have been publicly linked since a Fourth of July trip to Spain last year, where they were photographed alongside Aniston’s longtime friend Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka. However, Curtis revealed during a January 26 appearance on Today that the couple had been together
“months now, almost close to a year.”
Their romance began through mutual friends rather than Hollywood setups, a simplicity Aniston’s manager was unable to provide unlike for some of her past relationships.
“We were just introduced by friends,”
Curtis explained.
“That’s it. We found out that we had mutual friends and we started to just chat.”
Initially, their connection was slow-building; Curtis reflected,
“It took a long time, we chatted for a long time and we became close.”
Dating later in life offers its own challenges and insights. During an October Instagram Q&A, Curtis was asked about finding love at 42. His advice was:
“Same as you do at 22 and 32, but with more confidence, more experience and more authenticity.”
He emphasized the importance of self-love, echoing,
“first love yourself and recognize that you are the perfect age and that life is not over at 42,”
adding a perspective on aging:
“When you are 62 and 72, you will look back at 42 and wish that you were that age.”
The wellness coach also encouraged openness to love in the present moment:
“Go out, open yourself to love and smile, connect with people and most importantly, love yourself. When you love yourself, you will magnetize more love to you.”
Love and Support from Friends and Public Acknowledgment
Curtis, who celebrates his 50th birthday on November 2, felt the impact of his relationship with Aniston. Reflecting on 2025, he wrote on Instagram,
“It’s always the people who make it.”
This comes shortly after Aniston celebrated her 57th birthday on February 11.
Close friends have warmly embraced Curtis. At the 2025 ELLE Women in Hollywood event last November, Adam Sandler paid tribute to Aniston by acknowledging Curtis:
“You and Jim found each other and are having the love affair you two deserve. We love you, Jim. The whole world loves you Jim.”
Such acceptance speaks to the genuine nature of their connection.
The Role of Jim Curtis in Aniston’s Healing and Wellness
Aniston recently described Curtis as more than just her boyfriend—
“Hypnotism is one of the many things that he does,”
she told Elle, characterizing him as “quite extraordinary” for his dedication to helping many people. She elaborated,
“He’s very special, very normal and very kind”
and highlighted his mission to
“help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity.”
For Aniston, committing to such a life purpose is
“a beautiful thing to commit your life to.”
The actress’s commitment to Curtis parallels her own journey toward healing and self-improvement, signaling a transformative chapter in both her personal and emotional life.
Early Life and Background Insights
Jennifer Aniston was born on February 11, 1969, in Sherman Oaks, California, to actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow. Her godfather was the actor Telly Savalas, a close friend of her father. Her family’s original surname, Anastassakis, was altered after they immigrated from Greece to the United States.
Throughout her early life, Aniston faced challenges such as dyslexia, diagnosed in her early twenties. She reflected,
“I thought I wasn’t smart. I just couldn’t retain anything,”
revealing the struggles that shaped her determination.
During middle school, Aniston was subjected to bullying. She recalled,
“I was one of those kids who got sort of bullied, and I don’t know why. I was one of the kids who the others would decide to make fun of… I was a little on the chubby side, so I was just that kid.”
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Fame
Before fame, Aniston had modest jobs. She admitted,
“I made my allowance as a kid cleaning toilets. I’m actually pretty good at it.”
Later, she worked as a waitress, though she confessed to dropping Alpine burgers on customers, saying,
“I wasn’t a good waitress, but I was told that I was very nice and charming, so people liked me anyway.”
During her time at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, the renowned school featured in Fame, she played volleyball and basketball while studying drama. There, she formed friendships with classmates including Chaz Bono, Cher’s son.
“Every day a group of us would go to Chaz’s house after school,”
Aniston shared.
In high school, Aniston underwent a goth phase, characterizing it as “tragic” and explained,
“I looked like a goth nightmare… I wasn’t going for most beautiful. It was, ‘How can I be the most rebelliously unattractive?’”
Acting Beginnings and Breakthrough Role
Aniston’s first acting role was an uncredited dancer in the 1988 film Mac and Me. She also portrayed Jeanine, Ferris Bueller’s little sister, in the TV series adaptation of the movie and starred in the 1993 horror film Leprechaun.
She famously secured the role of Rachel Green on NBC’s Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. Other actresses considered for Rachel included Jane Krakowski, Tea Leoni, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkeley, and Courteney Cox, who ultimately preferred to play Monica. Series co-creator Marta Kauffman recalled,
“We originally offered Rachel to Courteney Cox, but she said she wanted to do Monica, not Rachel.”
Cox and Aniston became lifelong friends, with Aniston serving as godmother to Cox’s daughter, Coco.
The cast shared daily lunches for ten years, humorously dubbed the “Jennifer salad,” a modified Cobb salad improvised by Aniston.
Personal Struggles and Family Dynamics
Aniston faced a difficult relationship with her mother, Nancy Dow, marked by estrangement before Dow’s passing in 2016. Aniston described her mother as “critical” and “unforgiving,” noting,
“She would hold grudges that I just found so petty.”
Yet therapy helped Aniston accept her mother’s behavior as projection:
“It takes a lot of therapy, but you do absolutely get over it. That was her projection. It had nothing to do with me.”
Reflecting on her mother, Aniston said,
“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. Being a single mom in the ’80s I’m sure was pretty crappy.”
Career Highlights and Industry Challenges
At the height of Friends’ success, Aniston and her co-stars became the highest-paid TV actors, earning $1 million per episode during the last two seasons. Despite this, Aniston initially hesitated to return for the final season, stating,
“I wanted it to end when people still loved us and we were on a high,”
and pondered,
“How much more of Rachel do I have in me?”
Aniston’s former husband and guest star on Friends, Brad Pitt, did not attend the series finale taping, preferring to watch the episode upon airing. The wrap party was held at their home, featuring vintage Haut-Brion wine dating back to Friends’ first season.
Her film work includes a notable role in the comedy cult hit Office Space, where her part was expanded due to the addition of the “flair” subplot. She confessed to EW that filming involved managing crushes, including producer David Herman,
“I was sort of madly in love with him and also terrified of him.”
High-Profile Relationships and Public Attention
Legally, Aniston changed her surname to Pitt following her 2000 marriage but reinstated Aniston after their 2005 divorce, which attracted intense media coverage due to Pitt’s high-profile relationship with Angelina Jolie, who starred alongside him in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
During the peak of their public drama, Los Angeles boutique Kitson sold “Team Aniston” and “Team Jolie” t-shirts, with Aniston’s merchandise outselling Jolie’s 25-to-1. Aniston has also taken legal action against paparazzi for privacy invasions, notably suing two magazines in 2000 for publishing topless photos taken in her backyard, and settling a case in 2006 after a paparazzo leaked similar images.
She described the emotional toll, listing feelings endured as
“shame, mortification, hurt feelings, emotional distress, anger, embarrassment, humiliation, feeling of being violated and injury to her privacy and peace of mind.”
Musician John Mayer once identified Aniston as “the one that got away,” expressing,
“I’ve never really gotten over it… It was one of the worst times of my life… In some ways I wish I could be with her.”
Responding to Media and Public Scrutiny
Exasperated by relentless tabloid attention, Aniston authored a 2016 Huffington Post op-ed titled “For the Record,” where she denied pregnancy rumors and criticized the media for their “sport-like scrutiny and body shaming,” which masquerades as journalism. She asserted,
“We don’t need to be married or mothers to be complete. We get to determine our own ‘happily ever after’ for ourselves.”
Leisure Preferences and Lifestyle Choices
Aniston frequently vacations in Cabo San Lucas, particularly at the One & Only Palmilla resort, often accompanied by friends such as Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Courteney Cox, and Jason Bateman with his wife Amanda Anka.
She has expressed a fondness for Mexican cuisine, sharing,
“I always love a good Mexican dish, like fluffy crispy tortilla chips with guac.”
Her preferred cocktail is a margarita made with
“pure tequila, lime juice, a squinch of Cointreau.”
Fitness and Wellness Regimen
Aniston regularly dedicates herself to fitness, primarily through running, cycling, and yoga. She explained her workout routine:
“Usually, my love is running. I like to do a good trifecta, where I do the bike for 15 minutes, elliptical for 15, and then I run for 15.”
She also uses interval training on the elliptical and acknowledged recent injury limitations, leading her to practice the Barre method, remarking,
“Boy, I forgot how much that really hurts and kicks your butt.”
Boxing doubles as mental therapy for her.
“Boxing is a great way to get aggression out,”
she said.
“You get a mental release of all this crap you’re taking into your ears and eyes every day and have little fantasy moments imagining who you’re actually punching… I’m just grateful it’s not actually the person, even though there’s one person.”
Endorsements and Advice on Health and Beauty
Beyond acting, Aniston has lucrative endorsement deals with brands like Aveeno, Smartwater, and Eyelove, reportedly earning over $10 million annually from these collaborations. She credits her glowing complexion to simple practices:
“I can never stress enough to my friends that they must do as I do…hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink lots of water, get enough sleep, exercise, and eat a clean healthy diet, whenever possible.”
Pop Culture Interests and Social Media Presence
Despite once vowing never to join social media, Aniston launched an Instagram account in 2019 that caused a significant stir online. Before officially creating profiles, she admitted to occasionally looking up others’ accounts, maintaining strict control over her own communications with “You’ll never see 2,895,000 emails,” explaining,
“When I go to clear out the box in the morning, I answer my emails and give everybody the answers they need and that’s it.”
She has revealed guilty pleasures for reality television such as the Kardashian-Jenner family saga and the Bachelor franchise. On Access Hollywood, she described the latter as
“junk food… a train wreck! Have you seen them? You can’t feel bad for them. They’ve done that to themselves, just to entertain us.”
Personal Connections and Animal Companions
Aniston’s love of animals is well-known. She worked with Dolly Parton on Netflix’s Dumplin’ and spoke fondly of the singer, revealing she named her white shepherd dog Dolly after the music icon. She also had a dog named Norman, who died at age 15 in 2011, and commemorated him with a tattoo on her right foot. Norman, according to Aniston, was her favorite word.
Alongside ex-husband Justin Theroux, Aniston has since adopted a pitbull named Sophie and a terrier named Clyde. Her history with pets reflects a deep attachment that has remained a consistent part of her life through personal and professional changes.
Standing with Fellow Celebrities and Friends
Aniston has forged lasting relationships in Hollywood. She often co-stars with Adam Sandler, most recently in Murder Mystery 2 (2023). During a Friends-E.R. crossover staged by NBC, she became friends with George Clooney, maintaining that camaraderie through the years despite their respective relationship changes. She visited Clooney and his family in Italy and remarked to Ellen DeGeneres,
“It’s amazing to see him with children. That’s what we talked about, that anything can happen.”
Facing Industry Pressures and Gender Expectations
Early in her career, Aniston was advised to lose 30 pounds before auditioning for Friends. She recounted the experience to Rolling Stone in 1996:
“My agent gave it to me straight… the disgusting thing of Hollywood—I wasn’t getting lots of jobs ‘cause I was too heavy.”
Using NutriSystem, she shed weight and celebrated her changed physique, saying,
“It was amazing to see this thing emerge. I never knew I had this body in me.”
More recently, Aniston has spoken against unrealistic beauty standards imposed by Hollywood, urging change:
“It’s time to just stop thinking beauty is in the shape of a size 4 and the right butt size and the right waist size and the right measurements. It’s just old. We’ve done it. We’ve been there. Let’s move on.”
Experiences with Harassment and Workplace Dynamics
Following the rise of the #MeToo movement, Aniston shared her experiences with unwanted advances at work. She admitted,
“I’ve definitely had some sloppy moves made on me by other actors, and I handled it by walking away.”
She emphasized,
“I’ve never had anyone in a position of power make me feel uncomfortable and leverage that over me. In my personal experience I’ve been treated worse verbally and energetically by some women in this industry.”
Deep-Rooted Fear of Flying Explained
Aniston traced the origin of her aviation fear to her twenties, recalling,
“It was a weird, scary flight.”
She then became consumed by media stories about plane crashes, confessing,
“I became all-consumed with the idea of dying on an airplane. It was so out of control in my brain. So, yeah, that’s something I’d like to get rid of. It’s so irrational.”
Close Friendships and Social Role
Within her circle, Aniston plays a central role as the planner, described by best friend Kristin Hahn as the “social glue.” Hahn noted,
“When she’s not in town, we almost don’t know what to do with ourselves.”
This highlights Aniston’s importance in both her social and professional communities.
Perspective on Marriage, Divorce, and Family
Aniston, who has been married twice, views her past relationships through a positive lens. Reflecting on her marriages, she stated,
“My marriages, they’ve been very successful, in [my] personal opinion. And when they came to an end, it was a choice that was made because we chose to be happy, and sometimes happiness didn’t exist within that arrangement anymore.”
Regarding motherhood, Aniston admitted feeling apprehensive:
“Some people are just built to be wives and have babies. I don’t know how naturally that comes to me. Who knows what the future holds in terms of a child and a partnership—how that child comes in…or doesn’t? And now with science and miracles, we can do things at different times than we used to be able to.”
Remembering Matthew Perry
The recent death of Matthew Perry on October 28, 2023, deeply affected Aniston and the Friends cast. She revealed to Variety that she had been texting with Perry the morning he passed, describing him as his usual “funny Matty.” She added,
“He was not in pain. He wasn’t struggling.”
She also shared a touching text exchange in which Perry wrote to her,
“Making you laugh just made my day. It just made my day.”
