Jennifer Aniston opens up about her tough separation with ex-husband Bradd Pitt: "It was such juicy reading for people"

Although their romance didn't start until 1998, Aniston and Pitt first crossed paths in 1994 through their managers.

Jennifer Aniston has opened up about one of the most challenging chapters of her life—her highly publicised split from ex-husband Brad Pitt.

In a candid conversation for Vanity Fair’s September cover story, the 56-year-old actress reflected on the “vulnerable time” following their divorce and how the intense media coverage deeply affected her.

"I haven’t looked at that article in forever," Aniston said, recalling her first Vanity Fair interview in 2005. "I just remember the experience of doing it – which was kind of jarring. It was also such a vulnerable time. But yeah, that was one for the memoirs." At the time, she gave herself one piece of advice: "Just pick yourself up by the bootstraps and keep on walking, girl."

Although their romance didn't start until 1998, Aniston and Pitt first crossed paths in 1994 through their managers. At a Sting concert in 1999, they became engaged, and in 2000, they were married in a Malibu beachside ceremony. By 2004, Aniston was ready to start a family, telling The Guardian, "It’s time… I think you can work with a baby, I think you can work pregnant, I think you can do all of it."

"It was such juicy reading for people," she further admitted. "If they didn’t have their soap operas, they had their tabloids. It’s a shame that it had to happen, but it happened. And boy did I take it personally." She added that she "didn’t have a strong enough constitution to not get affected by" the attention and speculation surrounding their breakup.

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The couple did, however, separate in 2006, completing their divorce in 2005. The following year, during what Aniston called "the love triangle," Pitt and Angelina Jolie welcomed their first child together.

Pitt had a well-publicized relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow prior to his marriage to Aniston. However, his relationship and eventual breakup with Aniston became one of the most talked-about love stories—and heartbreaks—in Hollywood.