Entertainment

Jennifer Aniston's role in Cake 'like going back to acting class,' she tells Q

Former Friends star Jennifer Aniston admits to CBC Radio's Q that she couldn't have taken on her dark role in the new film Cake when she was in her 20s.

The 45-year-old former Friends star plays a drug-addicted woman in the indie drama

Jennifer Aniston, seen here at the TIFF gala for Cake, is opening up about her dark new role in an interview with CBC Radio's Q. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

Jennifer Aniston became America's sweetheart playing Rachel Green on the hit TV comedy Friends.

Now, in her latest film, Cake, she took on her riskiest and darkest role yet — playing a woman living with chronic pain, loss and addiction.

"For me it felt like I was going back to acting class," the 45-year-old admitted in an interview with CBC Radio's culture, arts and entertainment show Q.

Aniston strips down for her role in Cake as Claire Bennett — a woman struggling to cope under the shackles of chronic physical and emotional pain.

Jennifer Aniston reveals a darker side of herself in her portrayal of a drug-addicted woman in the indie drama Cake. (Cinelou Releasing)
The star's physical transformation and raw, emotional performance earned her Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild award nominations.

Aniston admits she couldn't have pulled it off during her decade playing coffee-serving Rachel on Friends, which ended its run in 2004.

"No way. Absolutely not. You have to have a level of life experience and wisdom to be able to access those parts of yourself ... in my 20s, I think I was doing just fine being Rachel."

Listen to Aniston's full interview with Q guest host Candy Palmater on the show's blog here.

Cake opens in theatres this weekend.