By Salome Stuhler
These two stars were more than just “Friends” … Actor Matthew Perry (53) makes RomCom fans happy: In his memoirs he now reveals that he was once with Hollywood’s number one radiant woman: Julia Roberts (54).
And the “Friends” star admits: it was ER who dumped her one day…
This romance may have been a few years ago, but it is still a topic of conversation today.
According to Perry, he and Roberts were dating when she appeared in a “Friends” episode: In 1996, she played Chandler Bing’s childhood friend Susie Moss. Her star performance only came about because Perry tried hard for her – tried very hard.
In excerpts from his memoir, which is due to be published in The Times and The Sunday Times, Perry says: He really wanted Roberts to be on the 1995 sitcom. She made two conditions: that she be part of Chandler Bing’s storyline – and that Perry write her an essay on quantum physics.
Perry thought nothing easier than that: He sent her the essay. This was the beginning of a friendship – by fax. The actors are said to have faxed “hundreds” of messages to each other, sometimes three or four a day. At some point it became more: Roberts sent him her phone number.
According to Perry, he and Roberts were dating when she appeared in an episode of “Friends.” Photo: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
The call that followed lasted for five hours. According to Perry, the actors fell in love with each other. Later they met, the chemistry was right – it was the beginning of a ’90s romance as it should be.
When the ‘Pretty Woman’ star finally played Chandler’s girlfriend on ‘Friends’ in 1996, they were still a couple off-camera.
But just two years later it was all over. Why? Perry ended the relationship for fear of being abandoned.
“I could never have been enough for her,” writes Perry, “I was broken, twisted, unlovable. So instead of facing the inevitable agony of losing her, I broke up with the beautiful and radiant Julia Roberts.”
Matthew Perry’s memoirs “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing” are available in German from Lübbe from November 1st Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
He could hardly put into words the “confused look” in Roberts’ eyes when he gave her the pass.
A romance that ended way too soon. The only consolation is that they are immortalized as a romantic couple in Season 2’s “Friends” episodes 12 and 13.