American Idol

With her 50th birthday behind her and a pioneering show on the new Apple TV+, JENNIFER ANISTON’s star has never shone brighter. Here, she shares her thoughts on Hollywood, her inner circle and finally being in creative control.

- Kerry Diamond

“I’m sorry it’s not clearer,” says Jennifer Aniston. She is standing in the living room of her gorgeous hilltop home, looking at the epic view that spans all of Los Angeles— the skyline, the boulevards, the palm trees—and extends to the Pacific Ocean.

Granted, there’s some smog, but the vista is spectacular by anyone’s standards. Not to mention the property’s lush green gardens, giant pool and living-room bar. Just navigating the long, winding road that leads to “Casa Jen” gives the whole experience a James Bond feel. “Jane Bond,” corrects Aniston with a chuckle. “But I must admit it took me about a year-and-a-half not to have to look at a map to get here.” Fortunately for the rest of us, Aniston’s internal GPS has recently led her back to TV in a major way. She and her good friend Reese Witherspoon both star in and serve as executive producers of Morning Wars, a fierce drama that debuted in November on the highly anticipated Apple TV+ streaming service. It was among the first shows that the tech behemoth picked up under its new television division, and, yes, the two A-listers and their creative team had to pitch the idea to the heads of video at Apple. “This was something that didn’t even have walls yet. It’s so exciting to be a part of that,” Aniston says.