 The final character to be cast , Rachel is portrayed by actress Jennifer Aniston , who auditioned for the role shortly after declining a position as a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live . Her decision was initially ridiculed by both her friends as well as actor Adam Sandler , a Saturday Night Live alum . Actress Téa Leoni , who at the time was being referred to by the media as " the next Lucille Ball " , was offered the role of Rachel as the studio 's first choice , but she declined in favor of starring in the sitcom The Naked Truth . Actress Elizabeth Berkley also auditioned for the role prior to being cast in the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell . Other actresses who auditioned for Rachel include Denise Richards , Melissa Rivers , Nicolette Sheridan , Parker Posey , and Jami Gertz . Originally , the producers wanted to cast actress Courteney Cox as Rachel , who Crane and Kauffman were particularly drawn to because of her " cheery , upbeat energy . " Additionally , Cox was the most famous cast member at the time amidst an ensemble of relatively unknown actors . However , the actress lobbied for the role of Rachel 's best friend Monica , as whom she was ultimately cast , because she felt that she was not " quirky " enough to play Rachel . At the same time , although unbeknownst to each other , Aniston was being considered for the role of Monica , but fought to play Rachel because she felt that the character suited her better . At one point , Cox had begun to regret her decision to play Monica until her own character 's storylines started improving . 
 The final character to be cast , Rachel is portrayed by actress Jennifer Aniston , <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a>auditioned for the role shortly after declining a position as a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live . Her decision was initially ridiculed by both her friends as well as actor Adam Sandler , a Saturday Night Live alum . Actress Téa Leoni , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>at the time was being referred to by the media as " the next Lucille Ball " , was offered the role of Rachel as the studio <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>first choice , but she declined in favor of starring in the sitcom The Naked Truth . Actress Elizabeth Berkley also auditioned for the role prior to being cast in the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell . Other actresses <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>who</mark></a>auditioned for Rachel include Denise Richards , Melissa Rivers , Nicolette Sheridan , Parker Posey , and Jami Gertz . Originally , the producers wanted to cast actress Courteney Cox as Rachel , who Crane and Kauffman <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> particularly drawn to because of her " cheery , upbeat energy . " Additionally , Cox was the most famous cast member at the time amidst an ensemble of relatively unknown actors . However , the actress lobbied for the role of Rachel <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>best friend Monica , as whom she was ultimately cast , because she felt that she <a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>not</mark></a>" quirky " enough to play Rachel . At the same time , although unbeknownst to each other , Aniston was being considered for the role of Monica , but fought to play Rachel because she felt that the character suited her better . At one point , Cox <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> begun to regret her decision to play Monica until her own character <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>storylines started improving . 
The final character to b cast , Rachel is portrayed by actress Jennifer Aniston , auditioned for the role shortly after declining a position as a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday nite Live . Her decision was initially ridiculed by both her friends as well as actor Adam Sandler , a Saturday Night Live alum . Actress Téa Leoni , at the time was bein referred to by the media as " the nxt Lucille Ball " , was offered da role of Rachel as tdastudio  first choice , but she declined in favor of starring in thdaitcom The Naked Truth . Actress Elizabeth Berkley also auditioned for the role prior to being cast in the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell . Other actresses auditioned for Rachel include Denise Richards , Melissa Rivers , Nicolette Sheridan , Parker Posey , and Jami Gertz . Originally , the producers wanted to cast actress Courteney Cox as Rachel , who Crane and Kauffman was particularly drawn to because of her " cheery , upbeat energy . " Additionally , Cox was the most famous cast member at the time amidst an ensemble of relatively unknown actors . However , the actress lobbied for thedale of Rachel  best friend Monica , as whom she was ultimately cast , bc she felt dat she ain't " quirky " enough to play Rachel . At the same time , although unbeknownst to each other , Aniston was being considered for the dae of Monica , but fought to play Rachel because she felt that the character suited her betta . At one point , Cox done begun to regret her decision to play Monica until her own character  storylines started improving .