“This Film Took a Toll on Me”: Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About Painful Pinched Nerves During the Making of Cake

Jennifer Aniston revealed that she developed pinched nerves while portraying a chronic pain sufferer in her drama movie Cake.

The 45-year-old actress has won rave reviews for her portrayal of Claire Simmons – an accident survivor with facial scars suffering from chronic pain.

Aniston told AwardsLine in an interview published on Tuesday that she and director Daniel Barnz honed her sharp-tongued, acerbic character for weeks before filming.

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Rave reviews: Jennifer Aniston, shown earlier this month at the People Magazine Awards in Beverly Hills, California, has revealed that she suffered pinch nerves while filming her drama Cake

Rave reviews: Jennifer Aniston, shown earlier this month at the People Magazine Awards in Beverly Hills, California, has revealed that she suffered pinch nerves while filming her drama Cake

‘Physically, this movie was trying on my body. I had a lot of pinched nerves just from being in that physical space for five weeks straight, but I missed it when it was over,’ said the former Friends star.

‘We had so much fun together. We were like a little theater group,’ she added.

Aniston said she talked with a stuntwoman friend who has undergone 22 surgeries and endured ‘excruciating pain’ to prepare for the role.

Physical role: The Friends star portrays acerbic chronic pain sufferer Claire Simmons who has facial scars following a tragic accident

Physical role: The Friends star portrays acerbic chronic pain sufferer Claire Simmons who has facial scars following a tragic accident

She and Barnz had more time to rehearse than to shoot so Aniston said they paid attention to detail.

‘We made sure to get the scars correct because that was another thing — the camera literally is in your face, so we went through a couple tests,’ she said.

The hard work has certainly paid off for Aniston, who also is an executive producer of the film.

Happy couple: Jennifer was supported by fiance Justin Theroux at the September premiere of Cake in Canada

Happy couple: Jennifer was supported by fiance Justin Theroux at the September premiere of Cake in Canada

The cast received a standing ovation following the film’s premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival and Aniston’s performance has been hailed by critics.

Aniston has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Best Actress gongs at the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globes.

She already won the trophy for Movie Performance Of The Year – Actress at the inaugural People Magazine Awards earlier this month.

She's a winnter: Jennifer earlier this month won the gong for Movie Performance Of The Year - Actress at the inaugural People Magazine Awards

She’s a winnter: Jennifer earlier this month won the gong for Movie Performance Of The Year – Actress at the inaugural People Magazine Awards

Aniston has been getting some Oscar buzz for her performance with the announcement of the nominations for the Academy Awards coming up on January 15.

The actress previously has won Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for portraying Rachel Green on Friends.

Cake is scheduled for release on January 23 in the US and in the UK on February 20, 2015.

Television star: The fan favourite is shown in 2002 after winning an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Rachel Green on NBC's sitcom Friends

Television star: The fan favourite is shown in 2002 after winning an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Rachel Green on NBC’s sitcom Friends

 

Jennifer Aniston

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