Poor Jennifer Aniston. Over the past few years, she’s somehow gone from “Friends” to frigid — one creepy, Goth mansion away from turning into Miss Havisham.
But here’s a little piece of unconventional advice for poor Jen: Stay single, girlfriend! Hell, go crazy, adopt a bunch of cats and start shopping for tchotchkes at Sanrio Surprises. It could be good for your career.
“A celebrity’s personal life absolutely affects our perception of them, which in turn affects whether we support their work or not,” says Lisa Boesky, psychologist and author of “When To Worry.”
In other words, the more audiences like and sympathize with Jen, the more liable they are to stand in line on a Friday night to see one of her movies — such as Friday’s “Love Happens,” in which Aniston is wooed by a self-help guru (Aaron Eckhart).
A shacked-up Aniston simply isn’t as much of draw for both male and female moviegoers.
“I think her divorce from Brad Pitt probably helped her career,” Boesky says. “Jen is seen as the victim, and we root for her in person, and that in turn makes us want to root for her in a role. Who can’t relate to being unlucky in love? Picking the wrong guys? Getting dumped? Women in particular find her relatable.”
Because of her personal lack of love, watching Aniston get the guy in formulaic romantic comedies is all the more rewarding. Good thing. Her next two movies are “The Baster,” about a single gal who gets artificially inseminated, and “The Bounty,” with Gerard Butler.
For some viewers, there may also be a component of availability built into a star’s appeal. Married celebs are completely unattainable and therefore less attractive.
In the ’60s, The Beatles’ management asked John Lennon to keep his first marriage to Cynthia a secret so as not alienate younger, female fans. And you don’t need us to tell you what happened to Hanson’s career after those guys got hitched.
So forget what they say about you, Jen, and embrace the single life. A huge stack of money has to be better company than John Mayer. And cleaner, to boot.