How Friends' Success Almost Killed David Schwimmer's Acting Career

It is hard to imagine the struggles of Hollywood popularity until you become popular yourself.

Being constantly followed and recognized everywhere you go, meeting all kinds of people who try to cheat you, and always questioning the intentions of those around you is not easy.

It is especially hard to accept when success comes suddenly. No one in the cast of Friends could have imagined the success the show would have after its first season.

The premise of six friends sharing an apartment in New York and trying to figure out life proved so relatable that the sitcom became a smash hit.

Of course, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, who starred in the show, got to experience all the extremes.

While some of the perks of celebrity status are undeniable, there are also some serious downsides. For David Schwimmer in particular, sudden fame may have come at the cost of a passion for acting.

As the actor explained in a podcast for the Hollywood Reporter, the experience was quite jarring for him. Though many doors opened in front of him, Schwimmer felt he had to rethink his relationship with those around him and acting itself.

"As an actor, the way I was trained, my job was to observe life and to observe other people, so I used to walk around with my head up, really engaged and watching people. The effect of celebrity was the absolute opposite: It made me want to hide under a baseball cap and not be seen," he said.

Fortunately, the actor found his way back into the industry by taking on more behind-the-camera opportunities and exploring the art of directing.

This, along with carefully chosen roles during and after Friends, helped David Schwimmer stay in the business and, most importantly, reconnect with himself.

If you are feeling nostalgic and want to revisit Friends, you can do so by streaming all seasons of an iconic sitcom on Netflix or MAX.

Source: Hollywood Reporter