**Lisa Kudrow Reflects on Lasting Love and Family as 30-Year Marriage Milestone Approaches**
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/fbook-a6f9ef30c7fe4ef0a3d7d630d9710a0c.jpg)
In a recent interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, actress Lisa Kudrow, famed for her role as Phoebe Buffay on *Friends*, reflected on her 30-year marriage to advertising executive Michel Stern. The couple married in 1995, just a year after the sitcom debuted, and they have a son, Julian, who is now 27. Kudrow’s sentiments about love and timing reveal a deeply rooted appreciation for the life she built prior to her rise to fame.
Kudrow remarked on the fortune of having met Stern before her stardom. “I feel like the luckiest thing that happened to me was that I met and fell in love with the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with before *Friends*, right before,” she said. The actress first encountered Stern in the 1980s when he was dating her roommate, setting the stage for a connection that would ultimately flourish into a long-lasting marriage.
The actress’s unexpected pregnancy during the filming of *Friends* was woven into the plot of the iconic series, with Kudrow’s character acting as a surrogate for her brother’s triplets. In an earlier interview, she recounted the cherished moments backstage with her fellow cast members, who would gather to wish her well before each show. “It was so sweet,” she recalled, as they would include her unborn child in their affectionate send-offs.
Today, her son Julian is stepping into the limelight, making his acting debut in the forthcoming third season of HBO’s *The Comeback*, which is slated for release on 22 March. Kudrow has consistently praised her son’s creative talents, noting his early inclination towards storytelling and film-making. “At 9, he was doing stop-motion projects and writing mind-blowing short stories,” she said. His innovative Lego projects, including a detailed car crash scene, amazed her, confirming that his gifts were evident from an early age.
Kudrow and her husband were visibly moved when they attended Julian’s high school production of *The Laramie Project*. “My husband and I were boo-hoo-hooing,” she admitted, highlighting how proud they are of his artistic pursuits. This moment of realisation confirmed to her that Julian possesses a unique talent.
Kudrow attributes the longevity of her marriage to a foundation of mutual respect and an understanding that sustaining a relationship requires effort. In a 2014 conversation with *Glamour*, she stated, “When we decided to get married, we understood: We’re not promising to love each other forever… but we are promising to work on whatever problems come up.” This philosophy has allowed the couple to navigate the complexities of life together while remaining individually grounded.
The actress also emphasised the importance of independence within marriage. She believes that couples often encounter difficulties when they assume they must fuse into a single entity. “I think people get in trouble when they assume they’re supposed to be one unit… [Marriage] is like being on a team. Each teammate is different, but you have the same goal,” she explained, revealing her pragmatic approach to partnership.
As *Friends* continues to resonate with audiences around the world, Kudrow’s insights into her personal life offer a glimpse into the enduring impact of love, commitment, and shared aspirations. With a successful career and a close-knit family, she stands as a testament to finding balance both on and off screen.
Kudrow’s reflections not only celebrate her journey through fame but also highlight the enduring power of maintaining strong familial ties. As she prepares for another chapter in her son’s artistic career and reflects on her own life achievements, it is evident that her marriage, forged in the quiet moments before celebrity, remains a cornerstone of her happiness today.