Playing a bitter, unpleasant woman was tough: Jennifer Aniston on Cake - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Playing a bitter, unpleasant woman was tough: Jennifer Aniston on Cake

Reuters | By, Chennai
Sep 13, 2014 04:28 PM IST

In her film Cake, which had its world premiere at the TIFF on September 8, Aniston plays Claire Simmons, a woman suffering from constant pain and pill addiction who is haunted by hallucinations of a fellow support-group member who committed suicide.

The sheer physicality of playing a character in chronic pain was the most challenging part of starring in the film Cake, said of a leading role that turns one of the world's most glamorous actor into a bitter, unpleasant woman.

In the film, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, plays Claire Simmons, a woman suffering from constant pain and pill addiction who is haunted by hallucinations of a fellow support-group member who committed suicide.

To prepare for the role, the former Friends star drew on the experiences of two friends who lived with chronic pain. She also wore a brace that prevented her from slouching to mimic the stiff movement required.

"For me, it was really important to stay true to what the medicine I was taking physically would be doing to my body and at what point," Aniston said.

"It turns out if you walk like that for five weeks, you do actually become in pain."

As for the emotional aspect of portraying a woman dealing with chronic pain and grief, said she was able to go home at the end of the day and leave the psychological component at work.

"It was a hard place to be, but I slept and I was just eager to get to work every day. I really loved spending that time with (the character)," she said.

Much of the focus surrounding Cake, has been on the performance from the 45-year-old Aniston, who went without makeup save for the character's white scars across her face.



Also watch: Cake trailer

An early review from Deadline called her performance an Oscar contender, while Variety said Aniston gives 'a strong if self-consciously deglammed performance'.

But the movie overall has received mixed reviews, with Britain's Guardian newspaper deeming it 'about as fun to watch as sciatica'.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"It's just the farthest thing from anything I've ever done," Aniston said of her decision to take the part in Cake.

"I knew this would be an extraordinary challenge for me and I was so excited and so ready to dive in and take it on."

Aniston, who rose to fame starring on the hit television series Friends in the 1990s, has had a mixed record on the big screen, though she won acclaim for her roles in The Good Girl, and Friends With Money.

Cake is directed by Daniel Barnz, who came across Patrick Tobin's script while he was judging a screenwriting competition.

The script grew out of a short story Tobin had written after hearing the experiences of a friend who ran a support group for women in chronic pain.

At the screening, Barnz praised Aniston as being 'one of the greatest actresses I know'.

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On