Before she starred in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Lisa Kudrow played the quirky and witty Phoebe Buffay on the cult-popular show Friends. This was her big break, but right after childbirth, she immediately returned to work. What exactly happened?
Lisa Kudrow on going to work after giving birth
Lisa Kudrow spoke to CBS’s Sunday Morning about her coming back to the show The Comeback. Pun intended, though she also revealed the details behind a said work ethic, especially after giving birth to her son Julian.
“I had given birth to my son, and 10 days later, I did ‘The Tonight Show.’ And then I was in a meeting for ‘Analyze This,’ and my agents were like: ‘Yeah, we’ll be ok; you’re not shooting until July, and it’s May; it’s no big deal.’
Kudrow’s son, Julian, was born on May 7, 1998, and Analyze This was released in 1999. It is also interesting how it all panned out because Kudrow’s pregnancy was included in F.R.I.E.N.D.S episodes and was written as a part of the plot.
So while she was filming for Analyze This, she was also simultaneously working on the ’90s sitcom. The actress spoke about how chaotic it initially seemed because she needed time to recover. However, it was the encouragement from the family, her husband, and the fact that she had a nurse to assist her in taking care of the baby while she was working on the film.
Kudrow also underlined the workaholic culture of the 90s, where work meant worship, and how it wouldn’t fare well if this were to happen today. She wouldn’t choose to film right after 10 days of childbirth, saying:
‘I guess it’s okay to go back to work immediately.’ I’m not mad at anybody. It was at a time when work was a priority, and everything else had to accommodate. That was sort of the ethos at that time.”
She has reprised her role in satirical comedy The Comeback for her role of Valerie Cherish, but that’s not it. The actress is also working on a sequel to Michele and Romy’s High School Reunion, which is slated for release in late 2026, according to reports.
