Courteney Cox is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, thanks to her iconic roles on Friends and Scream. But the actress and filmmaker has also gone through some remarkable changes over the years, both in her career and her appearance. In this article, we take a look at how Courteney Cox has transformed from a model and a music video star to a sitcom legend and a horror queen, and how she has embraced her natural beauty after regretting some of her past cosmetic procedures.
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#1. 1983
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The fresh-faced actress flaunted full eyebrows and short curly hair early in her career. She was working as a model and appeared in several commercials before landing her first film role in Masters of the Universe.
#2. 1984
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She became famous overnight when she was chosen by director Brian De Palma to dance with Bruce Springsteen on stage in his music video for “Dancing in the Dark”. She later said that she was “terrified” during the shoot and that she had no idea what to do.
#3. 1987
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She landed her first major TV role as Lauren Miller, the girlfriend of Michael J. Fox’s character on Family Ties. She sported a sleek bob and a chic wardrobe on the show, which ran for two seasons. She also starred in the fantasy film Masters of the Universe as Julie Winston, a young woman who finds a cosmic key that transports her to another world.
#4. 1994
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She became a household name when she was cast as Monica Geller, the obsessive-compulsive chef and sister of Ross Geller on Friends. She was originally offered the role of Rachel Green, but she preferred to play Monica because she felt more connected to her character. She also starred in the comedy film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective as Melissa Robinson, a publicist who hires a quirky detective to find a missing dolphin.
#5. 1996
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She proved her versatility as an actress when she took on the role of Gale Weathers, a ruthless reporter who covers the murders of a masked killer in Scream. She dyed her hair blonde for the part and wore a red suit that became her signature look. She also met her future husband David Arquette on the set of the film, who played Deputy Dewey Riley.
#6. 1998
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She married David Arquette on June 12, 1998, in a lavish ceremony at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. She wore a strapless white gown designed by Valentino and carried a bouquet of white roses. The couple exchanged vows written by themselves and had their friends and co-stars as guests.
#7. 1999
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She reprised her role as Gale Weathers in Scream 2 and Scream 3, which were both box office hits. She also continued to play Monica Geller on Friends, which became one of the most popular and acclaimed sitcoms of all time. She also changed her name to Courteney Cox Arquette and added it to the credits of Friends as a gesture of love for her husband.
#8. 2004
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She gave birth to her daughter Coco Riley Arquette on June 13, 2004, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She named her after her mother Courteney Copeland and her husband’s grandmother Coco Arquette. She also said goodbye to Friends after 10 seasons and 236 episodes. The finale was watched by more than 52 million viewers and won six Emmy Awards.
#9. 2007
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She returned to TV as Lucy Spiller, the editor-in-chief of two tabloid magazines on Dirt. She also served as an executive producer of the show, which was created by her production company Coquette Productions. The show ran for two seasons on FX and received mixed reviews from critics. She also appeared in the drama film The Tripper, which was directed by her husband David Arquette.
#10. 2009
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She starred as Jules Cobb, a divorced mother who dates younger men on Cougar Town. She also served as an executive producer of the show, which was co-created by her friend and former Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow. The show ran for six seasons on ABC and TBS and received positive reviews from critics. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
#11. 2011
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She separated from David Arquette after 11 years of marriage. They announced their split in a joint statement, saying that they remained “best friends” and “responsible parents” to their daughter Coco. They also said that they still loved each other deeply and that they were working on their relationship.
#12. 2012
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She made her directorial debut with the TV movie TalhotBlond, which was based on a true story of an online love triangle that ended in murder. She also starred in the movie as Amanda, the wife of the main suspect. The movie aired on Lifetime and received positive reviews from critics. She also appeared in the comedy film American Reunion as a cameo.
#13. 2013
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She filed for divorce from David Arquette, citing irreconcilable differences. They finalized their divorce on May 28, 2013, and agreed to share joint custody of their daughter Coco. They also remained on good terms and supported each other’s projects. She also started dating Johnny McDaid, a member of the band Snow Patrol, whom she met through their mutual friend Ed Sheeran.
#14. 2014
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She directed her first feature film, Just Before I Go, which was a black comedy drama about a man who decides to end his life after his wife leaves him. She also starred in the film as his sister. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and received mixed reviews from critics. She also got engaged to Johnny McDaid on June 26, 2014, after six months of dating.
#15. 2015
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She reprised her role as Gale Weathers in Scream 4, which was the final installment of the franchise. She also reunited with her Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow for a special segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where they performed a scene from a fake script written by Kimmel. She also said goodbye to Cougar Town after six seasons and 102 episodes. The finale was watched by more than two million viewers and received positive reviews from critics.
#16. 2016
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She appeared in the documentary film Gleason, which followed the life of former NFL player Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS. She also starred in the drama film Mothers and Daughters, which featured an ensemble cast of actresses playing different roles related to motherhood. She also broke up with Johnny McDaid after two years of engagement, but they reconciled later that year.
#17. 2017
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She opened up about her past cosmetic procedures and how she regretted them. She said that she felt pressured to look young in Hollywood and that she tried to chase that for years. She said that she had all of her fillers dissolved and that she wanted to look more natural and like herself. She also said that she was happy with her age and that she learned to accept it.
#18. 2019
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She celebrated her 55th birthday with her Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow, whom she remained close friends with over the years. She also joined Instagram and became an influencer with more than 12 million followers. She posted several videos and photos of herself and her friends, including some hilarious recreations of Friends scenes and jokes. She also appeared in the music video for Brandi Carlile’s song “The Joke”, which she directed herself.
#19. 2020
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She participated in the All In Challenge, which was a fundraiser for COVID-19 relief efforts. She offered a chance to have lunch with her and her Friends co-stars at the Warner Bros Studio, where they filmed the show for 10 years. She also reunited with them for a special episode of Friends, which was delayed due to the pandemic but finally aired in May 2021 on HBO Max. She also spent time with her daughter Coco and her boyfriend Johnny McDaid during the lockdowns.
#20. 2021
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She returned to TV as Patricia “Pat” Phelps, a successful author who moves into a haunted house with her family on Shining Vale. She also served as an executive producer of the show, which premiered on March 6 on Starz. She also celebrated her daughter Coco’s graduation from high school and her boyfriend Johnny McDaid’s birthday with sweet posts on Instagram.