Jennifer Aniston’s Childhood Struggles

Despite her fame from Friends and other films, Jennifer Aniston faced a difficult childhood marred by her mother’s constant criticism.

Traumatic Upbringing
Jennifer endured daily remarks about her appearance from her mother, actress Nancy Dow, leading to low self-esteem.

In 2018, she told USA TODAY that her mother "wasn’t doing anything intentional to damage any self-esteem of mine, as we discussed in our older years together."  

"She was doing what she thought best," Aniston said, while promoting the Netflix film "Dumplin'," about a mother and daughter's challenging dynamic. "She wasn’t raised with great parental support. She was a beautiful, stunning girl and that’s how she made a living, modeling. She was teaching me what she thought was important. Which was how to look good. That wasn’t necessarily where my interests lay."

Impact of Parental Relationship
Raised by her mother after her parents’ divorce, Jennifer faced relentless criticism for her physical attributes.

Emotional Toll
Constant reminders of her perceived “ugliness” deeply affected Jennifer’s confidence and relationship with her father.

Challenges with Dyslexia
Jennifer also struggled academically due to dyslexia, further adding to her challenges during her formative years.