Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995                   TAG: 9502230050
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHRISTY SLEWINSKI NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COX IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH `FRIENDS'

Next, she was Michael J. Fox's girlfriend in ``Family Ties.''

Then, she was the object of Jim Carrey's affections in ``Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.''

Now Courteney Cox has stepped into the spotlight once again, in the NBC sitcom ``Friends.'' The new show, part of the network's Thursday-night power lineup, has gone right to the top echelon of the Nielsens.

Of course, Cox is sharing the accolades with the rest of the ``Friends'' ensemble cast: David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow. But, with the show getting hotter each week, there's plenty of attention and glory for all.

And there will probably be even more. Tonight night, NBC gives ``Friends'' another boost, moving it from its maiden 8:30 time period to 9:30, right after ``Seinfeld,'' TV's top-rated show. In fact, the network is marking the change with a two-parter that sandwiches ``Friends'' on both sides of ``Seinfeld'' for the night. (And if that's not enough, the double episode also features guest stars George Clooney and Noah Wylie, who took a little time off their own blockbuster hit, ``ER,'' to romance Cox's and Aniston's ``Friends'' characters.)

So, the question is, are the ``Friends'' stars really friends?

``We couldn't have better chemistry together. We just connect, and get along,'' Cox says. ``And it's not a joke, like, `Oh yeah, we're friends,' but really aren't. We really are.''

The ensemble setup, in fact, was one of the aspects that appealed to Cox, who plays Monica, the clan's nurturer and unofficial leader. ``I didn't think viewers would ever get bored, because there are six of us with very different personalities, and there's always a story for each,'' she says. And even when one actor's character steps back a bit while another takes center stage, ``you're still there,'' she says, ``and they always make you a part of it, you don't ever feel like you're not in the episode. I like it - I think the ensemble thing works.''

Cox campaigned hard for her ``Friends'' role. ``I just connected with Monica,'' she said. ``And I felt I could bring my own personality out in this role, which I haven't been able to do yet.''

Ironically, Cox says, the powers that be were pushing to cast her as Rachel, the formerly spoiled rich girl now played by Aniston. ``I just didn't feel that role was me,'' says Cox, so she walked away from ``Friends'' with a simple thanks, but no thanks.

But she didn't give up there. Cox continued to send producers tapes of her work in which, she hoped, they'd see strains of Monica. It worked.

``Now, of course, I see Jennifer and I think, oh, gosh, she's doing such a great job on that part. And there's no one better to play that part than her. I think, in the long term, it's a good choice.''

As for Cox's future: ``I've been thinking about that recently, since I'm 30. ... Five years from now, I see myself married, I'll have a kid, and maybe, hopefully, I'll still be working on `Friends' and doing great films, or at least films that are great for me. That's my dream.''

And if ``Friends'' continues? ``I guess they'll have to write in marriages and pregnancies, or something,'' she says.