Making her television debut in the fourth season of NBC’s FRIENDS, Paget Brewster, who starred as Kathy, caused some of the tensest moments between Matthew Perry’s Chandler and Matt LeBlanc’ Joey. While her run in the popular sitcom was short-lived, in which she initially appeared as Joey’s girlfriend before ending up with Chandler, only appearing in six episodes, it did give her career a major boost.
Reflecting on her time on the popular sitcom, which lasted for 10 seasons that fans keep on revisiting to this day, the Criminal Minds Star credited the late Matthew Perry for her first big break.
Also read: “I Am Not Kidding About This”: Matthew Perry Had Recurring Nightmares About FRIENDS
Matthew Perry Put in a Good Word to the Casting Directors, Recalled Page Brewster
Thanks to Kathy, Paget Brewster’s career took off exponentially, as she would find herself starring in several other notable projects, including CBS’ Criminal Minds. Reflecting on her breakout role, the actor expressed that she owes her career to the FRIENDS star Matthew Perry, as he put in a good word for her to the casting directors. Perry, who previously witnessed Brewster’s acting prowess prior to her main audition, was convinced she was the one perfect fit for Kathy, even though the Criminal Minds Star wasn’t confident herself. She told The Talk:
“I watched Friends, and so I got the audition and they called me back to have another audition. I saw four very beautiful and very famous actresses. And I thought I’m not gonna get this, so I wasn’t nervous. So the door opened, I went in the room and said ‘Clearly I’m your runty alternate so let’s just get this show on the road…
In an interview with Headline & Global News, she said,
I actually owe Matthew Perry my career. He was in the casting room when I got that and I guess he went to bat for me and said, ‘She’s the funniest one; you have to cast her.'”
She did end up earning the role that put her on the map, which Paget Brewster later went on to describe as her first real acting job.
Despite Being Initially Scared Paget Brewster Did Go On to Break Some Rules in Friends
While Paget Brewster was initially scared of her first real acting job, this didn’t stop her from breaking a few rules. After things ameliorated, thanks to the rest of the cast, whom she described as extremely nice, the Criminal Minds Star recalled climbing up “into the lighting catwalks above the stage and audience to watch everyone”. Recounting the moment, she tweeted,
When I was guesting on Friends, when I wasn’t in a scene on shoot nights, I climbed up into the lighting catwalks above the stage and audience to watch everyone. A huge insurance no no. I regret none of it. pic.twitter.com/MGNRINzSsE
— paget brewster (@pagetpaget) May 2, 2019
Brewster also revealed she initially asked the writers to change her storyline so that she could return following her friendship with the female cast members, which was unfortunately rejected.
FRIENDS is available to stream on Max.
