Hitting the headlines

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Hitting the headlines

Jennifer Aniston: nobody's fool

18/08/2008 11:33:00 AM, Gill Pringle Prev Next

Enough with the poor Jen headlines! She’s strong, smart, gorgeous and working up a storm. Who needs John anyway? wonders Gill Pringle

There is nothing Jennifer Aniston hates more than another “Poor Jen” headline. In the days following the birth of former husband Brad Pitt’s twins with Angelina Jolie, Jen steeled herself for a slew of pitying articles, just as she did when Shiloh was born two years earlier.

Now, in the wake of reports that her five-month romance with rocker John Mayer, 30, has hit the skids, Jen, 39, is bracing herself for further unwelcome outpourings of concern.

“It seems the slightest thing prompts yet another ‘Jen is so tragic’ article – and she’s soooo over this whole portrayal of her as being some kind of victim,” comments a close friend. “She’s strong and smart and every day she is grateful for the life she’s been blessed with. Compared with the real human suffering in the world, Jen doesn’t see why anyone should feel remotely sorry for her.”

Despite being one of the most high-profile actresses in the world, Jen’s professional life is not safe from scrutiny either. US financial bible Forbes recently published its annual Top-Earning Actresses list, placing Jen at No.3 – with Cameron Diaz in first place.

Of course, Cameron is also enjoying a passionate fling with Jen’s ex, British male model Paul Sculfor so some observers couldn’t resist suggesting Jen had lost out in more ways than one. But while Cameron raked in $57.5 million during the last year, Jen was hardly doing it tough earning $31 million.

It is true that Jen appears to have laid low professionally. She has not released a single film in the two years since co-starring with former flame Vince Vaughn in The Break-Up. But behind the scenes she’s been hard at work on four new movies, every one of them destined to be a surefire box-office hit.

The secret power behind Jen’s business prowess is her best friend and production partner, Kristin Hahn. Bridesmaid at Brad and Jen’s wedding, producer Kristin quit the former couple’s Plan B production company just a few weeks before their October 2005 divorce; in March this year she launched Echo Films with Jen.

While industry insiders have since privately dubbed Jen and Kristin’s company “Plan C”, in a nod to their old association, there’s nothing remotely laughable about this formidable duo’s professional savvy.

While working with Drew Barrymore last year on He’s Just Not That Into You, Jen was inspired by Drew’s own production company, Flower Films, and discussed the possibility of setting up something similar with Kristin, whose credentials include co-producing Martin Scorsese’s multiple-Oscar-winning film The Departed.

Today, at the helm of Echo, Jen and Kristin have optioned numerous scripts, as well as implementing a first-look development deal with Universal Pictures. “We’re drawn to stories about people finding their voice and finding their way because they help us as listeners and viewers do what we feel we’re all trying to do, which is make sense of our lives through the stories of others,” Jen told Variety.

Within the next few months she will star opposite Aaron Eckhart in Traveling, with Woody Harrelson in Management, Owen Wilson in Marley & Me and Drew and Scarlett Johansson in He’s Just Not That Into You.

After that Jen will both star in and produce no less than six new films, all in various stages of development. While her current crop of films are largely romantic comedies, she is looking forward to stretching her range, a particular pet project being Counter-Clockwise, a true story based on a study conducted by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer in which she tried to reverse the ageing process of subjects by recreating the era of their prime.

Another favourite, surprising project is Goree Girls, a period musical which Jen and Kristin will produce. It is based on a true story set in the 40s about a group of women serving time in Goree Prison, Texas, who formed one of the first all-female country and western acts in the country. Still in development, Jen is said to be thrilled, not to mention a little nervous, at the opportunity to sing in a role.

With so much happening work wise, it’s little wonder then that she’s taking a break from the dating game...

Buy Grazia magazine, on sale now, for the full story.

Jennifer Aniston in Los Angeles. Getty Images.

User comments

I think jennifer Aniston is very talented and beautiful- I don't think anyone needs to feel sorry for her. So she's had a few relationship break downs who hasn't?At least she's healthy and she has so much else going for her that i don't think she needs a man in her life anyway!there are plenty of women out there who would happily trade places with her!As far as i'm concerned she always looks happy and always radiant good on her!

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