Jennifer Aniston’s newest role will bring back many disturbing memories of her late mother, Nancy Dow, but friends hope it will offer her insight and even bring her psychological release from the tumultuous relationship that continues to haunt her, pals tell the National Enquirer.
The Friends alum, 56, is on board to executive produce and star in Jennette McCurdy’s bestselling memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, about the former child star’s toxic relationship with her abusive stage mother, who died in 2013.
“This was a story that made Jen laugh and cry. She just had to do it,” says an insider. “So she partnered up with Jennette and got Apple TV on board.”
Jen will play the mom, but friends warn: “Make no mistake, this role is not going to be easy for her. It’s going to be painful and laborious.”
As readers know, the Morning Show star and her mom were estranged right up until Nancy’s death in 2016 at age 79 from complications related to a stroke.
“Jen paid the medical bills and very little else. Their relationship was strained up until the end of Nancy’s life,” confides the insider.
“Jennifer puts on a brave face regarding her mom, but everyone knows she’s still disturbed by how it went down. Nancy lived in crappy conditions at a badly kept apartment in Toluca Lake, and she died very unhappy, very alone and financially in trouble. It’s a great source of pain to Jen whether she admits it or not.”
“She believes in the project but it’s still tough because she never got over her mom’s so-called betrayal.”
For one thing, Jen never forgave her mother for the book Nancy wrote about her after she made it big on Friends, called From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir, the source says.
“It was and is an embarrassment to Jen, and she’s still sore about it,” continues the insider, adding, “Jen doing a show called I’m Glad My Mom Died is going to open up a lot of old wounds — and her friends just hope she’ll be able to handle it.”
