Paget Brewster has played some truly beloved characters on television, perhaps the most famous of which is Agent Emily Prentiss on the long-running CBS legal drama "Criminal Minds." But before she was fighting crime and chasing serial killers, Brewster was stealing hearts as Kathy on the classic sitcom "Friends." The then-newcomer appeared in six episodes of the fourth season as Kathy, the love interest first of Joey (Matt LeBlanc), and then of Chandler, played by

.

Her story arc provided plenty of drama between the two besties, both of whom carried a torch for Brewster's character. And while she went on to find major success starring in "Criminal Minds" and the actor holds a special place in her heart for her brief stint on "Friends." Over the years, Brewster has recalled several memories of her time on the show, from when she first landed the role to how she almost lost it immediately because of a drastic haircut.

 

Friends was the up-and-coming actor's big break

Paget Brewster had never landed a major TV role before when she first auditioned for "Friends," which, by its fourth season, was already a household name. Brewster was an avid viewer and during an appearance on "The Talk," the "Criminal Minds" star shared that when she walked into the audition, she found herself among several famous faces who were also vying for the role of Kathy, so she just assumed she had no chance (via

). Because the actor didn't see herself as a viable candidate, she didn't overthink it, which allowed Brewster to be herself. 

In fact, when it was her turn to audition, she announced, "Clearly I'm your runty alternate so let's just get this show on the road." Brewster's self-deprecating sense of humor worked to her advantage; Matthew Perry thought she was bold and funny, and executive producer/co-creator Kevin Bright clearly agreed because he ultimately hired her.

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