In the ten years that Friends ruled the airwaves, fans lived through every “we were on a break” argument and every “Pivot!” scream. But perhaps the biggest plot twist of all was the arrival of Emma Geller-Green, the daughter of Rachel Green and Ross Geller.
Now, over years after making their television debut, the twins who first brought baby Emma to life are stepping back into the spotlight to share a glimpse of their lives today—and they have some hilarious behind-the-scenes secrets to spill.
Athena and Alexandra Conley, now , were just tiny infants when they landed the role of a lifetime. Growing up in Long Beach, California, their path to Hollywood started in a very relatable way: a tip from a friend at church.
“My mom’s friend from church was a part of a twins club, and everyone in this club knew about this Friends audition that was happening locally,” Athena recently told People. “She told my mom, ‘You should just take your daughters to L.A. just for one day.’”
The “one day” trip turned into a life-changing moment. After a quick photo session and a trip to a back room, the casting directors didn’t even wait for an email. They stopped the family on their way out to tell them they had the part on the spot.
The twins filmed ten episodes of the hit sitcom during Season , but they eventually had to hand over the “Emma” mantle. As it turns out, even baby stars have their off days!
“Funny story, actually: they ended up replacing us because I did cry too much,” Alexandra joked about her infant self.
Her sister Athena added that child labor laws also played a role, as the production needed a fresh pair of twins to keep up with the filming schedule for the show’s final stretch.
While the sisters were too young to remember hanging out with Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, their mother certainly hasn’t forgotten the magic of the set.
“She said that all of the cast members were so nice and they were all hilarious, just cracking jokes the whole time,” Athena shared. “She felt like she was watching the show even when filming wasn’t taking place.”
So, where are Rachel’s “daughters” now? They’ve officially traded the soundstage for successful careers and college degrees. Both sisters graduated from California Polytechnic State University last year, and they are thriving in very different fields.
Athena has moved to Denver, where she balances a serious career as an investment control reconciler for a financial services company with a high-energy side hustle as a Denver Broncos cheerleader.
Meanwhile, Alexandra stayed closer to her Hollywood roots. She lives in Los Angeles and works in social media and marketing for a beauty brand—a career move we think fashion-forward Rachel Green would definitely approve of!
And yes, in case you were wondering, they are just as obsessed with the show as the rest of us.
“Now I’m obsessed with Friends—it’s one of my favorite shows ever,” Alexandra said. “So watching it now and seeing ourselves I’m like, ‘This is crazy!’”
It’s safe to say that even years later, these two will always have a seat saved for them on the orange velvet couch.
