Julia Roberts got Matthew Perry to write her an article on quantum physics in exchange for an appearance on Friends in 1996 … which led the couple to date
They had an electrical chemistry on the screen and started dating in real life.
Such was the case with stars Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry, at the time she starred in the hit comedy series Friends, for a special episode in 1996.
And to convince the future Oscar winner to appear on the NBC sitcom, the actor – best known for playing Chandler Bing – had to write her a final work on quantum physics.
At its peak: new details were shared about stars Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry, around the time she starred in NBC’s comedy series Friends in 1996
Details about that fateful episode of Friends of the second season, entitled The One After The Super Bowl, were shared on Thursday in The Hollywood Reporter, in an exclusive conversation with David Crane creators, Marta Kauffman and other notable producers and writers .
‘Matthew invited her to join the program,’ executive producer Kevin Bright shared.
“She replied to him, ‘Write me an article on quantum physics and I will do it,'” he continued.
In order to convince the future Oscar winner to appear on the show: Perry had to write a final work for her, as described on Thursday in an exclusive conversation with the show’s creators
– As far as I know, Matthew left, wrote an article and faxed it the next day.
Friends writer Alexa Junge shared more about the initial exchanges between the stars, who were at the height of their careers at the time.
“They may have met before the episode, but she was interested in him from a distance because he is very charming,” recalls Junge.
Super Bowl episode: the duo had electrical chemistry on the screen and started dating in real life
‘There was a lot of flirting about the fax. She was giving him questionnaires like, “Why should I go out with you?” And everyone in the writers’ room helped explain why.
“He could have done very well without us, but there was no doubt that we were at Team Matthew and trying to make it happen for him,” she added.
Co-writer Jeff Astrof also recalled what it was like to have Julia on set, filming in front of a live studio audience with her future boyfriend.
“They may have met before the episode, but she took an interest in him from a distance because he is so charming,” recalled Friends writer Alexa Junge.
‘I remember staying with her on the side of the field. She kept saying, “Chandler is so funny!” And I was like, “I wrote each of those lines!” I don’t know if she fell in love with Matthew at the time, but they soon started dating.
Perry and Roberts were connected from 1995, certainly around the time they recorded the special episode, until the following year.
The article arrives as Friends’ fans eagerly await the much-anticipated reunion of the original six stars, which has been postponed countless times due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The OG’s: The article arrives while Friends fans eagerly await the much-anticipated reunion of the original six stars, which has been postponed countless times due to the coronavirus pandemic