Jennifer Aniston Talks About Her `Dream Role' As Pill-Addicted Chronic Pain Sufferer in `Cake'

Friends Reunion 2014:  Jennifer Aniston was cast in a sweet new role. The Friends star, the one with the hair, says her performance in the new drama "Cake" was "beyond a dream role." Jennifer Aniston will star in the indie film "Cake." 

Jennifer Aniston, hot off her role in "We're the Millers" will star along with Anna Kendrick and Sam Worthington. Jennifer will play Claire Simmons, "a woman who becomes fascinated by the suicide of Nina, a woman in her chronic pain support class" who is "acerbic" and "hilarious. 

In the film Aniston plays a woman who deals with chronic pain but gets who's addicted to pills and booze. Aniston told Variety at the Toronto Film Festival that the chronic pain "was hard on my body for five weeks of shooting. I spent weekends seeing a chiropractor and getting massages and trying to maintain my sanity." 

Aniston told Variety that her character "basically has to decide whether she wants to live or die. The woman's journey is so heartbreaking but so uplifting, because she's gone through a trauma but maintains her wit, which is very endearing."

Aniston is still said to be the last holdout to a "Friends" reunion. But it looks like "Rachel" will be too busy. "Cake" is the first movie under the banner Cinelou Films, which linkup between Chinese TV producer Shenghua Entertainment and After Dark Films. They just signed a five-movie $50 million deal.

"Cake" director Daniel Barnz said the movie will be the first of 5 films in a $50 million deal made between After Dark Films and Shenghua Entertainment from China. "Cake" comes from a script by Patrick Tobin. The project is looking for a U.S. distributor.

Speaking about Jennifer Aniston, Barnz said "I've especially loved her more dramatic performances. I can't wait to watch her tackle a role that has such a brilliantly funny voice and so much raw pain."

Director Daniel Barnz said "Of the zillions of Jennifer Aniston fans, I might be the biggest one of all. I've especially loved her more dramatic performances, and I can't wait to watch her tackle a role that has such a brilliantly funny voice and so much raw pain (hats off to writer Patrick Tobin). I'm honored to be collaborating with Ben, Kristin and Courtney, and it's exciting that Cake will be the first film under the Cinelou banner. It feels like we're all taking a leap of faith together, and that's pretty thrilling."