Lisa Kudrow reflects on being 'luckiest' to find love before global fame

The Emmy-winning actress Lisa Kudrow has reflected on her enduring thirty-year marriage to Michel Stern, describing their early meeting as a pivotal moment of fortune.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 62-year-old star explained that finding her life partner shortly before the global phenomenon of Friends provided a vital foundation.

“I feel like the luckiest thing that happened to me was that I met and fell in love with the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with before Friends, right before,” she observed.

The couple, who married in 1995, famously shared the experience of Kudrow’s pregnancy during the fourth season of the hit sitcom.

This personal milestone was integrated into the show’s narrative through her character, Phoebe Buffay.

Kudrow fondly recalled how her co-stars would include her unborn son, Julian, in their pre-show rituals. “And when I was pregnant, then they would say, ‘Have a great show, love you, love you — love you, little Julian!’ It was so sweet,” she shared.

Julian, now 27, is set to make his acting debut on 22 March in the third season of HBO’s The Comeback. Kudrow noted that his creative inclinations were evident from a young age, leading to an emotional moment during a high school performance.

“My husband and I were boo-hoo-hooing,” she admitted, recognising his inherent talent. Regarding the longevity of her marriage, Kudrow attributes their success to a team-based philosophy.

“We’re not promising to love each other forever… but we are promising to work on whatever problems come up,” she previously told Glamour.