Lisa Kudrow grateful to Friends character

Lisa Kudrow is grateful to her Friends character Phoebe Buffay for showing her how to have fun. The 47-year-old actress had nothing in common with the kooky masseuse she portrayed in the sitcom for 10 years but says she will always be grateful to Phoebe for making her more “optimistic” as a person.

“Thanks to Phoebe, I don’t have to worry — I can have fun,” she said.

“Phoebe was very far from who I was as a person. But part of her definitely rubbed off on me, inspired me to be more optimistic.”

In Lisa’s latest TV show Web Therapy she stars as narcissistic counselor Fiona Wallice — who treats her patients badly — and the actress is thrilled to play someone so different from both Phoebe and herself.

“This type of character is certainly a risk but I can’t help it,” she said.

“There’s just something about not doing what the audience expects of you. People who think they’re pulling something off when the rest of the world can see right through them have always struck me as funny. They make me laugh a lot.”