The role Matthew Perry cherished the most: “It’s probably my best movie”
In the film business, stars are often perceived in ways outside of their control. You might think fondly of a project that nobody saw, or hate the director attached to something that defined your entire career.
But when you’re a global film star in one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, you might find yourself struggling against the very limited perception of who you are, with constant comparisons to a made-up character that bears no reflection of your true self.
It would be insane for anyone to assume that Tom Cruise runs the way he does after missing the bus, or that Meryl Streep has the same approach to business as her fashionista counterpart in The Devil Wears Prada. But for Matthew Perry, the awkward and endearing persona of Chandler Bing followed him throughout the majority of his career, even when he would rather redirect the spotlight to other characters he played.
Friends is without a doubt, one of the most iconic television shows, with each actor from the core friend group being forever defined by their antics in that purple apartment and the organic chemistry they had with one another. From the incredible supporting stars, boasting surprise visits from the likes of Robin Williams and Reese Witherspoon, to their endearing arguments as they bicker over correct dating practices and the viability of a dinosaur career, there is no moment too small to make it into the hall of fame.
But for many of them, their careers were defined by their characters on the show, despite pursuing many other creative avenues over the years and starring in projects that majorly contrasted with the upbeat nature of the show. For Perry, this was something that he often felt was overlooked and shadowed by the notoriety of Chandler, with the actor highlighting the one film of his that he felt was his best work.
When discussing this, the actor said, “I did a movie that I love called Fools Rush In with Salma Hayek that was probably my best movie”.
The film follows a couple who have a one-night stand before drifting apart, suddenly being forced into marriage together after the discovery that one of them is pregnant. Perry’s love for the film brought a surge of new audiences, with Hayek herself even saying, “I was very moved last year when Matthew shared on his Instagram stories how much he loved Fools Rush In, and how he thought that that film we did together was probably his best movie.
“Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude.”
Sometimes the projects you pour yourself into end up being the ones nobody notices at the time. You can give it everything – blood, sweat, late nights – and if it isn’t marketed right, or just misses the moment, it gets brushed aside. Still, those kinds of films have a way of resurfacing, with new audiences digging them up years later and realising what had been missed.
Perry might always be remembered for one role above all, but he’ll also be thought of as a proper entertainer – someone who threw his whole self into the work.
