Jennifer Aniston was born on February 11, 1969 in Sherman Oaks, California to Nancy and John Aniston (Hreek descendence).

Aniston's parents separated when she was 9 years old. After the divorce, she was raised in New York City by her mother.

Aniston proved to be a talented painter during her stay at the Rudolf Steiner School (one of her pieces was displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Acting appealed to her, and became her primary focus after graduating from New York's prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in 1987. She took roles in off-Broadway productions such as For Dear Life and Dancing on Checker's Grave before she began honing her skills in television acting with appearances on shows like Quantum Leap and Herman's Head.

She began scoring roles in a series of romantic comedies -- namely, She's the One (1996), Picture Perfect (1997), 'Til There Was You (1997), and The Object of My Affection(1998) -- and met fellow actor Brad Pitt.

Jennifer Aniston had gained an astounding amount of notoriety since her fledgling film debut in 1993's Leprechaun, and starred in director Stephen Herek's Rock Star in 2000 after a relatively well-received supporting role in 1999's Office Space.

While Pitt made headlines by becoming legal guardian of Jolie's adopted children and father to a baby Jolie gave birth to in Namibia, Aniston starred alongside comedy and character actor extraordinaire Vince Vaughn in The Break-Up.