She Might Not Have An Oscar Nomination, But Jennifer Aniston’s Come A Long Way

**Next month we'll finally get to see Jennifer Aniston in the much-buzzed-about Cake.

Although she missed out on an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Claire Bennett (boo), Jen is still being lauded for her performance that's a far cry from anything we’ve seen her do before. The film tells the story of chronic pain-sufferer Bennett, who initiates a relationship with a widower (Sam Worthington) while confronting hallucinations of his dead wife (Anna Kendrick).

Jen has spoken openly about how difficult the role was, describing it as “extremely challenging”. She took the intensity of the subject matter into consideration while preparing for the role, explaining: “I have two girlfriends who have suffered from chronic pain, and one dear friend who is a stuntwoman who suffered a severe accident and became addicted to pain meds.

“So I would ask about their physicality, and I talked to different doctors and psychopharmacologists. It was important for me to be true to what the medicine I was taking would do to my body, and at what point.”

The hard work seems to have paid off with critics calling her performance “redefining” and “an acting showcase”. The role has earned her SAG, Golden Globe and Critics' Choice nominations as well as a trophy from the inaugural People Magazine Awards and the Montecito Award at the 2015 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which Jen will be presented with at the end of this month.

So, as we count down the days to see Jen in her most dramatic role to date, join us in a look back at some of the best moments from her career...

1. Friends (1994 – 2004)

Of course we have to start where it all began: Friends. Jennifer entered our lives in 1994 as spoiled runaway bride Rachel Green and a decade later when the show ended, we felt like we’d grown up with her.

Through the ten series we fell in and out (and back in) of love with TV’s most iconic couple, Ross and Rachel, and since the emotional finale the words “got”, “off” and “plane” have never sounded the same.

7. Life of Crime (2014)

Jen’s last role before Cake hinted at a foray into darker territory. In Life of Crime the actress plays socialite Mickey Dawson, the target of a kidnapping plot that goes wrong when her husband refuses to pay the ransom. Isla Fisher and Mos Def co-star in the dark comedy.

Cake is in cinemas from Friday, February 20th 2015

*by Laura Donaldson. Follow Laura on Twitter *@lauradonaldson_