In his 2022 memoir, Directed by James Burrows, legendary Friends director James Burrows revealed he faced challenges working with actress Helen Baxendale, who played Ross Geller’s fiancée, Emily Waltham. Although Baxendale starred in a memorable storyline, Burrows explained that her performance was “not particularly funny,” making it difficult for her co-star David Schwimmer to develop the comedic rhythm typical for Friends. Burrows likened the dynamic to “clapping with one hand,” as Schwimmer, playing Ross, struggled to “bounce off” her character as he did with Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel.
Burrows emphasized the importance of comedy in sitcom romances, explaining that any of Ross’s love interests needed to match Rachel’s humor to create the right chemistry on screen. Baxendale’s lack of a comedic edge, according to Burrows, hindered the dynamic, leaving the character of Emily as a less humorous counterpart. Tight production schedules, however, made it impossible to recast her.
Despite the challenges, Burrows acknowledged that sometimes actors’ on-screen chemistry or comedic appeal could lead to extended roles. This was not the case with Baxendale, as Burrows stated that her character arc was eventually wrapped up to allow the storyline to focus back on Ross and Rachel’s more comedic and fan-favorite relationship.
Although Burrows critiqued Baxendale’s comedic abilities, fans of Friends have continued to remember her role in the storyline fondly, proving that her brief presence on the show remains a notable part of Friends history.
