Jane Sibbett, best known for her role as Carol Willick on the hit sitcom Friends, recently opened up about the challenges she faced playing a lesbian character on the show. As the 30th anniversary of Friends approaches, Sibbett revealed that she received death threats and verbal abuse for her portrayal of David Schwimmer’s ex-wife.
Despite the groundbreaking nature of her character’s sexuality and the positive depiction of divorce and co-parenting on screen, Sibbett faced backlash from viewers and even members of her own church. She recounted instances where she was accosted by strangers and acquaintances, including a child yelling obscenities at her and a woman from her church telling her she was going to hell.
Even Sibbett’s own father initially refused to support her role on the show, opting to host a bible study during Friends’ airtime instead. However, after an episode in which Carol married her girlfriend Susan aired, Sibbett’s godfather wrote a letter to her father expressing pride in her performance, which ultimately changed his perspective.
Despite the challenges she faced, Sibbett remains grateful for the opportunity to play such a groundbreaking character. She believes that the portrayal of Carol and Ross’s co-parenting relationship was a positive example for viewers. Sibbett also shared a behind-the-scenes story about an improvised scene that made it into the final cut of an episode, showcasing her creativity and spontaneity as an actress.
Overall, Sibbett’s experience on Friends was a mix of highs and lows, but she remains proud of the impact her character had on television and the representation it provided for the LGBTQ+ community.
