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Fans still remember many of the characters in Friends over a decade after it ended. Jennifer Aniston rose to fame because of the show and continued to find success. People know the actor for her work and her dating partners. 

The news reported Aniston’s split with Justin Theroux three years ago. However, they continue to be on friendly terms. Over two decades ago, Aniston dated Paul Rudd for a while. The actor once explained what it is like kissing her former boyfriend. 

Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd smiling
(L-R) Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd | Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Who are Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd?

Aniston is an actor and businesswoman, and she was born to a family of actors. She discovered acting as a child and began her career in Off-Broadway productions in the late-80s. The star landed her first regular TV role in the show Molloy. In 1994, Aniston starred as Rachel Green in Friends.

She found success and soon became a household name. After the series ended, the actor appeared in several blockbuster films like Marley & Me. Aniston endorsed companies such as Aveeno and Emirates. Producer and actor Rudd majored in theater while he attended the University of Kansas.

He worked various jobs before making his TV debut in 1992. In 1995, the celebrity landed a role in the movie Clueless. Later, Rudd appeared in the popular Halloween franchise as a grown-up version of Tommy Doyle. Rudd appeared in multiple high-grossing films, such as Monsters vs. Aliens. One of his most popular roles is Scott Lang in Ant-Man. Currently, the star is married and has two children. 

Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd used to date

Over the years, Aniston made headlines regarding her relationship with other celebrities. She and Rudd used to date way back in the day. The two of them first met in 1998 when they starred in The Object of My Affection. The characters they played were love interests. Rudd and Aniston began to date soon after their time together on the set of the movie.

However, their romance would be very short-lived. Aniston would go on to date and eventually marry actor Brad Pitt. Aniston and Rudd remained friends for years and have worked together multiple times. Once was in 2002 when Rudd appeared in Friends as Phoebe’s love interest. The two stars would appear as love birds again later on. 

In 2012, Aniston and Rudd starred in the film Wanderlust together. The film is about a married couple who move to a commune to escape modern society. The two actors portrayed the married couple. Aniston and Rudd had a couple of awkward encounters whenever they had met but managed to stay on positive terms. 

Jennifer Aniston talked about kissing Paul Rudd

Many people may easily forget that Aniston and Rudd had dated for a brief time. Aniston’s relationships with people like Pitt dwarfed their romance. She and Rudd would later act as a married couple in Wanderlust. In the film, the couple becomes members of a hippie community in a hotel called Elysium.

One of the rules is that the characters would have to give in to the idea of “free love.” A rift forms between them, but Rudd’s character realizes that he still loves his wife. Naturally, Rudd and Aniston’s characters would have to kiss on-screen. Some people might think it would be awkward for the exes to kiss.

According to Cosmopolitan, Aniston stated in an interview, “Nah. I’ve kissed him for years.” Some people are uncomfortable with being in the same room as their ex. Aniston and Rudd kept things professional whenever they needed to kiss for the cameras. In the same interview, Paul added, “We’ve made out for decades.”