Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Michael Kovac
Topics: Jennifer Aniston, Friends, Celebrity
Ben Williams
Topics: Jennifer Aniston, Friends, Celebrity
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon have been close friends for decades, but even after 25 years, Jen has only just discovered that Reese isn’t actually called Reese.
The pair, who famously played sisters in Friends and now star together in The Morning Show, sat down for a game of 'Do You Even Know Me?' with LADbible, where their friendship faced the ultimate test.
While the quiz brought up plenty of funny moments - including Aniston’s haunted first flat and Witherspoon’s viral Sabrina Carpenter mishap - it was the question about the latter's real middle name that left her bestie completely floored.
When asked to guess it, Aniston confidently answered: “Jane.” Witherspoon then revealed the correct answer, which was followed by an amazing back and forth.
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“I’m Laura Jeanne,” the Legally Blonde star said.
Aniston replied: “Laura Jeanne!?”
Witherspoon confirmed: “That’s my real name, yeah.”
A visibly stunned Aniston blurted out: “What, who the hell’s Laura!?”
She went on to joke: “Like I’m not calling you that from now on. Come on, Laura Jeanne.”
The revelation didn’t stop there, with Witherspoon clarifying that her full name is actually Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, and that 'Reese' comes from her middle name.
Aniston, while processing the news, then asked: “What made you go with Reese for your acting name?”
Laughing, Witherspoon replied: “I didn’t change it; my name was just always Reese,” before admitting herself that she didn’t know Aniston’s middle name, either, which is 'Joanna'.
Surprised herself, Reese responded: “What?... I was today years old.”
It's not the first time Witherspoon has spoken about her real name, as she opened up about it in a Vanity Fair interview with Nicole Kidman last year.
Fans loved seeing the unfiltered reaction. One wrote under the original YouTube video: “Jen's reaction to Laura Jean is priceless. Like, she couldn't believe it.”
Others admitted they felt the same, with some on Instagram directly quoting 'WHO THE HELL IS LAURA?!' while laughing.
The moment only cemented the duo’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most endearing friendships. From starring in sitcom classics to running through press tours together, they’ve been through plenty - but even the closest pals can still throw a surprise or two.
As Aniston and Witherspoon joked after the bombshell: “Jennifer Joanna. Jennifer Joanna. J.J. Does anybody call you J.J? Well, I do now.”
Turns out, after 25 years of friendship, there’s always something new to learn.