Jennifer Aniston’s meteoric rise to fame began after she was cast in Friends in 1994 as Central Perk cafe waitress Rachel Green – alongside Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry – almost 21 years ago.

And here are 21 very candid pictures of what Hollywood’s most popular sweetheart has been up to since.

1994

(Landov)
(Landov)

Jennifer appears in the Who Killed the Beauty Queen? episode of the CBS television series Burke’s Law… shortly before she was cast in Friends.

1995

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello/file)

Jennifer, sporting “The Rachel” hairdo, and Matthew Perry at the 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony in California. Commenting on the famous hairstyle at the red carpet, Jennifer said: “I think it was the ugliest haircut I’ve ever seen.”

1996

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Nizon/Griffin/EMPICS Entertainment)

Jennifer plays down the celebrity during a shopping trip in Los Angeles, sporting a casual attire and thick comfy flip flops.

1997

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Albrecht Gerlacht/EMPICS Entertainment)

The actress leaving her local gym in Los Angeles – in a cute gym attire. Unlike today, where celebs are perfectly attired in designer labels, gyms were a more relaxed affair in the ’90s.

1998

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Alan Zasi/EMPICS Entertainment)

Jennifer cosying up with her then boyfriend actor Tate Donovan while on a casual stroll outside.

1999

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(EMPICS Entertainment)

Jen spotted in Santa Monica in a rare photo of her smoking.

2000

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Russ Einhorn/Starmax/EMPICS Entertainment)

Jen with boyfriend Brad Pitt at the 2000 Vanity Fair Oscar party in Los Angeles. After breaking up with Tate Donovan in 1998, she started dating Brad before marrying him in 2000.

2001

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Kevork Djansezian/AP)

Jennifer and Brad looking really loved up at the premiere of her film Rock Star.

2002

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Kevork Djansezian/AP)

The actress looks shocked as she accepts her award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her work on Friends, during the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. As part of a re-negotiated contract with the show’s producers, Jennifer and other cast members were being paid $1 million (£650,000) per episode.

2003

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(DPA)

Jennifer at the 29th annual People Choice awards 2003 in Pasadena with a walking stick, which she had to carry after breaking a toe on her right foot when she hit it on a piece of furniture.

2004

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

With Matt LeBlanc at the 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards. The last episode of Friends was aired just a few months later on May 6, 2004, on NBC.

2005

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Antoine Cau/ABACA)

Jennifer looks stunning in her casual attire as she stops by the Ed Sullivan theatre for her guest appearance on the David Letterman show to promote her new film Derailed, in New York.

2006

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Charles Guerin/ABACA USA)

Jennifer works the casual tailored look as she promotes her new movie The Break Up in New York, which co-stars Vince Vaughn.

2007

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Kevork Djansezian/AP)

Greeting fans as she takes the stage to accept the Favourite Female Movie Star award at the 33rd Annual People’s Choice Awards.

2008

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(NPX/Starmax/EMPICS Entertainment)

Jennifer cuddles up to co-star Owen Wilson at the world premiere of Marley & Me in Los Angeles.

2009

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Landov)

Jennifer proves that nothing fazes her as she pedals a rickshaw as part of the scenes for the film Bounty Hunter in Atlantic City in New Jersey.

2010

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Charles Guerin/ABACA)

Jennifer rocking the geek chic on the set of her new movie Wanderlust in The West Village in New York.

2011

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Matt Sayles/AP)

The actress can’t contain her excitement as she accepts the award for Decade of Hotness at the Spike TV Guys Choice Awards.

2012

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Chris Pizzello/AP)

Jennifer gets her own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

2013

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Tanya Kesey/Starmax/EMPICS Entertainment)

Dog lover Jennifer takes a moment to pat a German Shepherd on the set of her film Squirrels To The Nuts.

2014

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Gazing at fiance Justin Theroux as they attend The Leftover season premiere at the NYU Skirball Center. The couple started dating in 2011 and got engaged in 2012.

2015

Jenifer Aniston celebrates 46th birthday.
(Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Jennifer Aniston at the Los Angeles premiere of Cake at the ArcLight. While Jennifer was nominated for her role in the movie at the Golden Globes, she sadly missed out on Oscar nominations.