"Good Housekeeping"
February, 2000
FRIENDS and LOVERS
As she walked down the red carpet at last year's Emmy Awards, Jennifer Aniston looked radiant--- but it wasn't only her dazzling jewelry and designer gown that made her glow. On her arm was superstar boyfriend Brad Pitt, her steady date for the past two years. Things didn't always look so rosy for America's favorite friend: In 1998, she was still reeling from a breakup with actor Tate Donovan and reluctant to start another relationship. Pitt had his own battle scars: Engaged in 1997 to Gwyneth Paltrow, he endured a painful split that left him determined, friends say, to steer clear of young actresses. That resolve quickly faded when he found Aniston. Much has been made of Aniston's newly sleek figure, but those who know her say that's only part of the transformation she's undergone since pairing up with Pitt. "Her level of self-confidence has really increased," says her good friend, make-up artist Collier Strong. "She's come to realize what she needs in her life and what really doesn't serve her anymore."
HOW THEY MET
Only in Hollywood: After Pitt and Aniston began noticing each other at celebrity functions, it was their respective agents who brokered the first date- a quiet dinner for two. The couple really got to know each other in Austin, TX, where Aniston was filming the comedy Office Space in May 1998. Pitt flew to the set to be with her, and the couple spent much of their time at her hotel, ordering room service and working out in the gym.
WHY IT WORKS
At first glance, Aniston, raised in New York City, would seem to have little in common with Pitt, a country boy from Missouri. But Aniston, who once lived in an inner-city housing project, had an unpampered working-class upbringing. Partly as a result, "she doesn't like fancy, overly elegant things," says one pal. "She likes to be laid-back and low-key, which is exactly how Brad is." Pitt and Aniston place a priority on spending quiet time together, reading books or having barbecues with friends. For her thirtieth birthday last year, Pitt rented a house in Acapulco for the couple and a large group of friends; the men spent their days playing football in the sand, while the women sat around and talked.
GOING TO THE CHAPEL?
Last November, Aniston and Pitt attended a concert given by friend Sting in New York City. Called onstage by the rock star, they joined in on a song that included the lyrics, "We're going to Vegas/ We're going to get wed... Don't be staring/ That's a real diamond she be wearing." With that, Pitt held up Aniston's hand for the audience to see, revealing a dazzling diamond ring. But press reps for both Aniston and Pitt refuse to say whether the two are now officially engaged. Aniston has made the important pilgrimage to Pitt's hometown of Springfield, MO, where she met the other women in her man's life: his mother, Jane, and grandmother Clara Hillhouse, who's now 88 years old. Pitt has also met Aniston's family, including her father, soap-opera actor John Aniston. "They're a lovely couple, and they're very happy together," says Papa Aniston. But Dad's keeping mum on any future nuptials: "I'll know about a wedding when I get an invitation."
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