Julia Roberts asked Matthew Perry to write her a physics article in exchange for appearing on Friends

They had electrical chemistry on screen and updated themselves in real life.

This was the case for stars Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry, when she starred in her hit comedy series Friends for a special episode in 1996.

And to convince the future Oscar winner to appear on the NBC sitcom, the actor – best known for playing Chandler Bing – had to write him an article on quantum physics.

In their prime: New details have been shared about stars Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry, around the time she starred in her hit comedy series NBC Friends in 1996

Details on this fateful episode of Friends from season two, titled The One After The Super Bowl, were shared Thursday to The Hollywood Reporter, in an exclusive conversation with show creators David Crane, Marta Kauffman and others. notable producers and writers.

“Matthew asked him to be on the show,” executive producer Kevin Bright said.

“She replied, ‘Write me an article on quantum physics, and I will,’ he continued.

In order to convince the future Oscar winner to appear on the show: Perry had to write him a memoir, as described Thursday in an exclusive conversation with the show’s creators

“I understand Matthew left, wrote an article, and faxed him the next day.

Friend writer Alexa Junge shared more information on these initial exchanges between the stars, who were both in their prime at the time.

“ They might have met before the episode, but she was interested in him from afar because he’s so charming, ” Junge recalls.

Super Bowl episode: The pair had onscreen electrical chemistry and continued to this day in real life

“There was a lot of flirtation during the fax. She would give him these questionnaires like, “Why should I go out with you?” And everyone in the writers’ room helped him explain why.

“He could do very well without us, but there was no doubt that we were on Team Matthew and we were trying to make that happen for him,” she added.

Co-writer Jeff Astrof also recalled what it was like to have Julia on set, filming in front of a live studio audience with her future boyfriend.

“ They might have met before the episode, but she was interested in him from afar because he’s so charming, ” friend writer Alexa Junge recalls.

“I remember standing with her on the sidelines. She kept saying, “Chandler is so funny!” And I say to myself: “I wrote each of these lines!” I don’t know if she fell in love with Matthew on the spot, but they quickly started dating.

Perry and Roberts were linked from 1995, probably around the time they filmed the special, until the following year.

The article comes as Friends fans anxiously await the high-profile reunion of the original six stars, which has been delayed countless times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The OG’s: The article comes as Friends fans anxiously await the high-profile reunion of the original six stars, which has been delayed countless times due to the coronavirus pandemic