“Jen is such a beautiful soul, always taking care of people around her,” Cotillard says of her new costar, whom she first crossed paths with during her first awards season in Los Angeles some 18 years ago. “I really, really enjoyed getting to work with her and hang out. Jen and Reese are very supportive women.”
It’s evident in the middle of this Glamour cover shoot when suddenly Cotillard’s eyes begin watering from a reaction. Before her makeup artist can come to the rescue, Aniston helps her costar keep any tears from ruining her makeup. Minutes later, when the wind machine blows Aniston’s perfectly styled hair slightly out of place, it’s Cotillard who immediately fixes her hair.
Aniston is first to admit that creating that kind of nurturing and protective environment, especially on a production that’s as fast-paced and intense as The Morning Show, isn’t by accident.
“Every year since I finished the first season, I was like, Well, that’s it—I’m dead. That just killed me,” she says of playing Alex Levy, the quick-witted host of Alex Unfiltered and head of talent for UBN. “And then you forget. I kind of compare it to what childbirth must be like when my friends are like, ‘You just kind of forget what it was, and then next thing you know you’re knocked up again.’”
But the Emmy winner (for her iconic role as Rachel Green on Friends in 2002) says the key is trusting one another, especially when it comes to delegating tasks. “Reese will say, ‘You take this one. I trust you in this department.’ Or vice versa. The beauty of the ego is so minimal [on this production], so when she has a true concern and it’s been said more than once, everyone listens. It’s a really good environment.”
This trust has allowed for more honest conversations with each other, whether it be about aging in the public eye (“the pressure is so hard on actresses,” Cotillard says), the unglamorous parts of the business (“I wish people asked us more about what it takes to make it at the level you’re at,” Witherspoon admits), or being unapologetic about what you want (Pittman on all the recent opportunities coming her way). It’s why we couldn’t think of a more fascinating and established group of women to share the personal stories they don’t often talk about for Glamour’s global September cover. Let us reintroduce you to the women of The Morning Show.
Aniston as Alex LevyApple TV+
Jennifer Aniston
Glamour: There’s a great line in episode three of the new season where your character, Alex, is at an event with Aaron Pierre’s character, Miles, who makes a comment that red carpets are where everyone wants you to die. And Alex responds by saying, “So it’s like a regular red carpet then.” How do you feel about red carpets?
Jennifer Aniston: I don’t feel that way. Some people find it like a sport where they build you up and then they love to tear you down. What’s the reason why people do it? Who knows? But I just try as best I can [to tune it out] because it doesn’t do you any good.
It made me think about the Met Gala. I’m sure you’ve been invited, but you’ve never gone. Why?
