The recent comments by sitcom director James Burrows totally miss the point.

By David Craig

Published: Friday, 01 September 2023 at 12:47 PM


Emily Waltham has long been a divisive figure among Friends fans, and it now appears that was the case behind-the-scenes of the popular sitcom as well.

In his new memoir, recurring Friends director James Burrows had some choice words for Helen Baxendale, who played the role, describing her as “nice, but not particularly funny”. He goes so far as to say that, if not for a hectic shooting schedule, the team would likely have recast her – and what a terrible mistake that would have been!

Baxendale certainly had a different energy to the rest of the Friends cast. Four seasons in, the core group were well-adjusted to the rhythm of an American studio sitcom, while their new recruit had a largely dramatic background – barring some comedic beats in the first run of Cold Feet.

Therefore, it’s unsurprising that she wasn’t quite as comfortable with the unnatural style of delivery that a show like Friends demands (if you don’t know what I mean, check out any compilation of the show with its laugh track edited out). But to suggest that she wasn’t funny at all is a gross overstatement.

Prior to the events of the wedding – after which Emily was depicted (whether fairly or unfairly) in an overtly villainous light – she was a charming addition to the show. The character comes out swinging with a fiery tirade at Rachel, having been strip-searched, soaked to the bone and “run down by one of your wiener cars” during a calamitous trip to the Big Apple.

She displays a similar ferocity when helping Ross identify the weaknesses of his rugby opponents, but a softer, more sympathetic side to the character also soon emerges. Her earnest joy at seeing “a deer just outside eating fruit from the orchard” and the giddiness with which she accepts an admittedly hasty proposal are indications of the true Emily.

If she’s comparatively lacking in comedic punch, I’d argue that’s less to do with Baxendale’s performance and more so with the very design of the character. She was clearly intended to be a wholesome, sensible and cultured figure, and in that respect can be considered a much better match for Ross than Rachel ever was.