'Friends': Maggie Wheeler (AKA Janice) Reveals How She Came Up With Her Character's Iconic Voice

"Friends" star Maggie Wheeler surprises Access Live and remembers her time on the iconic sitcom. Plus, she talks about her friendship with the cast members!
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"Access Hollywood," now in its 27th season, is an Emmy-nominated, half-hour syndicated entertainment news show. Broadcasting live to the East Coast, it features hosts Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Scott Evans, and correspondent Zuri Hall. The program delivers exclusive celebrity interviews and major entertainment news directly from the red carpet.

[@sweetielady7710]

Haha maybe I’m dumb but I totally thought her “Janice” voice was her real voice!! lol her real voice is lovely.. shows how talented she is

[@victoriabryer4710]

If you want the voice IRL look no further than Fran Drescher, See Fran's voice is real, and some say annoying.

[@timmy9985638678]

You're not alone on this..

[@victorsixtythree]

I could say the same thing about Karen on Will and Grace - I thought that was her real voice, too.

[@halahlo7007]

Me to but after see her on friends I rewatch parent trap She was the on the summer camp helping her mother i think And I hear her real voice

[@MrParkerman6]

Fran's voice is not exactly the same as when she is acting on the nanny, she changes it slightly. (Exaggerates it).

[@audiocopyrightfree3526]

She’s a terrific actor she made us believe that her voice is actually like janice

[@SohailJafar1]

How is she near 58 yrs old?! She looks fantastic!

[@chiraggoswami7270]

she's 58?!😳😳

[@SohailJafar1]

chirag goswami I was even more shocked because she looks so good!

[@lunakodama302]

money lmao

[@Sun_beetle]

She looks fantastic

[@kristinabarkovic4525]

It’s called medical dermatology. 💉Obviously she aged but she paid money so it’s not obvious 😛

[@bannanna.]

She ended up to be the most beautiful girl in FRIENDS now. So natural.

[@hastensavoir7782]

Really? Still Monica to me.

[@vegitoblue2187]

@@hastensavoir7782 yep esp early seasons her smile had a glow

[@sorchx]

@@hastensavoir7782 They said now. She's one of the only ones with no plastic surgery.

[@hastensavoir7782]

@@sorchx being low key helps

[@americanegale697]

@@hastensavoir7782 lmao have you seen Monica? Plastic surgery all over

[@oopsallbecki]

Janice is the only side character/love interest who was on for all 10 seasons!!! It's amazing, kinda impressive really

[@Showtime6192009]

so was gunther

[@peehusharma9977]

Not in season 6!

[@kevinsam3078]

I think jack geller was in every season too , and he is a side character

[@jillybean9569]

xRebecckahx wat about guntherc??

[@oopsallbecki]

@@jillybean9569 Gunther wasn't a love interest when i put the / i meant she was both

[@gunmuratilban8667]

She might not have gotten much screen time; but she played the crucial recurring guest role that every sitcom needs perfectly for Friends. The show would not be complete without Janice, absolutely stole every episode she was in. Also I'm shocked that she actually has a normal voice :D

[@tonyabbett1639]

You should hear her sing. OMG!!! 😳

[@levimarine7965]

She has a huge huge huge vocal range.

[@Anisa-cm6dr]

3.1k likes and no replies about to change that:)

[@user-dr5jv1wk4j]

Yeah she's like a parrot 🦜

[@rafaelmanalo8048]

Hahaha

[@moneyspider1]

Janice was like a recurring nemesis/villain who wasn't a nemesis/villain. It was great.

[@CB-xr1eg]

No, she was the annoying ex girlfriend who Chandler hoped he wouldn't meet again.

[@hutch1197]

"15 Yemen Road".....Yemen. One of the best lines in the show.

[@himanshidiwan8603]

Agreed

[@harshdeepsingh4612]

Yemen ?!?!? That even sounds like an actual country!!!

[@michellegulden1052]

I love that line

[@mcfcok1683]

Harsh Deep Apex ok i know what you guys are thinking but chandler is in Yemen i’m a young woman i have needs.

[@nelleo2507]

Me too 😂

[@worldsboss]

She was such a treasure, I’m so glad they kept bringing her back!

[@conniecrawford5231]

Janice is one of the funniest characters on Friends Her voice was hysterical!

[@cmrwrite]

Did she copy Fran Descher?

[@idontknowmyname1708]

Charity yes

[@morganjanelle4282]

Connie Crawford In the episode where Janice 'invites herself' to Monica & Chandler's upcoming wedding & she's in their apartment, the noises she makes when she says she needs a special kind of pillow because she will get 'very nasal' as if she isn't already, LMAO. Also in that same scene where she asks them "Do you have a cat?" & is making allergy sounds 😂🤣 I absolutely loved her on Friends.

[@soundseeker63]

THAT voice and that laugh were a stroke of acting genius! They weren't scripted, but became such an integral part of who Janice was and what made her so hilarious/annoying in that uniquely Janice way! :-D Just brilliant! I'm also surprised and delighted to hear about Maggie's involement in the choir, that sounds like a really beautiful and uplifting project to be involved in. Good on her for keeping "busy" :-D

[@KeldonA]

Definitely a stroke of genius. Rosa in Brooklyn nine nine is another brilliant made up voice that sounds real and makes the character distinct

[@z0mb1e.z13]

her voice is nothing like janice’s. she’s amazing!

[@meenadadlani5719]

Your oh so cute!!

[@SunClub2018]

I agree

[@lydialeung9106]

That nasal sound

[@MrParkerman6]

Yeah it is. It's just lower and less nasal.

[@thatgirlreacts5465]

Ari Neal nah, it’s similar. You can totally tell.

[@johncarlodelamasa3214]

Janice, Gunther, Ross and Monica's parents were other characters that also makes as laugh whenever they had their own screentime.

[@morganjanelle4282]

The Stig's Teenage Cousin Absolutely !! and also Frank Jr. & Alice......Frank Jr. was hilarious too. 😂🤣

[@irondasgr]

+ Rachel's sisters

[@aaliyahasan11thc78]

Especially ross'parents

[@LindyLouCantu]

Frank Jr. was the best, and I also loved Marlo Thomas as Rachel's mom.

[@Ruciomaru]

She didnt age that much

[@andychow2151]

OMG she looks exactly the same as Amy Winehouse! And I love Janice!

[@debadityadasgupta2189]

she in fact is elder than lisa kudrow..but still she looks so young

[@duyle-ej6ty]

@@debadityadasgupta2189 Her thicker skin and facial fat help to make her look much younger. Just facts, no pun intended

[@debadityadasgupta2189]

@@duyle-ej6ty none taken

[@emilywilliams363]

She hasn't "done" as much or anything

[@thewanderingfoodie_]

My jaw drops every single time Janice enters the room. I love her !

[@francaclark2907]

I love her character, and Chandler's reactions when she keeps popping up - too funny. She's awesome.

[@soniabhatia2662]

Who just got this in their recommended😂

[@BH-1498]

Same

[@tsakibubis]

OH MY GOD

[@sophia..k]

me ahaha

[@noekan.9902]

Me 😂

[@aunacarasi571]

me!!!! hahaha i love janice 😂 such a brillant actress to portray such annoying yet entertaining character lol

[@awakened_link1041]

She seems like a real sweet, genuine person IRL.

[@SultryNeoSoul]

I love her voice in real life. It’s so soothing🌹

[@gooddaysahead1]

O MY GOD! I love Janice. She always poured her heart out.

[@PointOfImpactMinistries]

She is gorgeous! And I love she can so easily switch between voices.

[@shehryarqureshi629]

She is so charming! I wish we could see more of her on screen.

[@mechadoggy]

The Friends spinoff should have revolved around the Bings and Janice and her husband instead of Joey

[@Wierdgirl5834]

she's so down-to-earth, I love her

[@johnjohnson3709]

She should play Amy Winehouse.

[@argenisguerrero5848]

YES. I I can see the resamble.

[@umislunares]

Lucian David yes they look so similar!

[@ingriddubbel8468]

She died at 27. How is a 58 year old woman to play a young woman. She looks great for the age but 30 years is a stretch.

[@AirFire18]

Ingrid Dubbel Amy was on drugs, didnt exactly look great. I’m sure the camera can remove a couple of years off

[@User-winter999]

Ingrid Dubbel technology can do a lot of things

[@taylorq23]

She appeared in almost every season of friends!

[@duyle-ej6ty]

I believe in all seasons, but I may be wrong. She is the unofficial friend

[@wannabepronstar9186]

She appeared in all seasons but the sixth, however her voice is heard in the mix tape.

[@kendeng9828]

Wannabe Pronstar by my recollection

[@saira9130]

Except season 6

[@mikoajpapiez1231]

s01e05, s01e10, s01e14, s02e03, s02e24, s03e01, s03e03, s03e04, s03e06, s03e07, s03e08, s04e15, s05e12, s06e17, s07e07, s08e23, s08e24, s09e21 and s10e15

[@YM-kk6jv]

She is such a good bonus to the show I’m so happy they kept bringing her back

[@AndrewRBX]

She's great. One of the most iconic "secondary" characters in Friends. You can tell she's got great acting skills.

[@MagnificentMalapparambakkaran]

The way she still goes on and off the "Janice" voice is jawdropping.

[@tssnmm]

Maggie Wheeler aged so good. She looks gorgeous! Janice was such a mood.

[@crossstreeter]

She is the 7th friend.

[@uscman]

Mike Hannigan would like a word with you

[@jjmargolis3305]

The 8th, before her is Gunther

[@hd591]

Gunther: '...am I a joke to you...'

[@felixchristianjr5509]

@@uscman Janice was there since season one unlike Mike whom first appearance was in season eight.

[@JAY-uy1ck]

Okay then, let’s ignore Regina Phalange

[@nirachien2274]

I loved Janice. The fact that she just kept popping up over the 10 year span of the show was great.

[@allme2547]

I'm glad she held her own and didn't allow them to interrupt and talk over her... as it seems every interviewer wants to do these days

[@hsd287]

Actually she was called to talk about friends so that wasnt happening at all

[@emk120]

She was literally one of the best running jokes in television history! I love her so much!

[@millennialdisposition]

I absolutely love her switching back and forth between her regular voice and her Janice voice

[@robinm537]

Maggie is awesome. So funny and down to earth. very humble and so appreciative of being on Friends. OMG, just luv Janice!

[@laurenbeckerman1985]

oh my god its Maggie Wheeler from friends , I have to say I really like her shirt and she is amazing actress as Janice and Maggie is excellent on friends .

[@gracepolley8376]

I adore her! I’ve always had a special liking for Janice, but Maggie is so elegant and lovely! This interview made me so happy ☺️

[@megansampson5445]

I loved her character so much

[@hsd287]

She was so underrated she also deserved to be famous 😅😍

[@miranda23ize]

Omg I love her haha shes great. And she looks amazing too! Im glad Friends kept her on cuz she was deff a huge part of the show.

[@90sblinklifeforlife40]

OH MY GAWD, this interview is so awesome!😂❤️

[@gretageanina7811]

I love Janice! She is one of the sweetest and funniest character. And so real and caring 🥰

[@debadityadasgupta2189]

she has such a beautiful voice....just love her

[@marie-tc1re]

Maggie Wheeler is a sweetheart. I adore Janice 💕 She deserved her own spin-off 👏

[@chelseagreer6264]

For someone who only had a part for 1 episode she did well! Such a memorable character!

[@Varaidzo1]

But she had many parts as she kept returning

[@bartikyan]

She is so awesome! Truly talented people were gathered in Friends and after so many years they keep the ball rolling! 👍

[@candidlyjazsy]

Janice was such an iconic character in the whole sitcom universe. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@clarajays]

She remembers the show so much. Real fan

[@deborahconkle6822]

Oh my gosh,loved Janis character so much! Especially how they kept bringing her back when we least expected it ❤️

[@collidingforces9589]

Nasal voice: OH. MY. GOD! It's Janice!!!!!!!!! I LOVEEEEEEEEEE MAGGIE WHEELER! She is hilarious! FANTASTIC ACTRIZ. She is one underrated actor that needs to be hired in comedy and comedy movies.

[@FitnessGramPacerTest]

She low key looks like Amy Winehouse and Imogen Heap. 😂

[@mrscookie1517]

I always thought that too!!

[@violeta2780]

She's a grown up version of Camila Cabello

[@marshafauzi7129]

Yeahh I can really see amy in her

[@MortenLongbottom]

I always think about Amy, also she looks a little like Cher

[@hazeldecker622]

Now I'll never be able to unsee it.

[@totalrise1811]

Shes definitely the 7th friend! Her dynamic with the other friends was great! Plus shes in all the seasons.

[@leenajamsh9963]

Plus she has an amazing voice naturally 😍😲

[@pam6670]

I just love Janice and she’s seems so cool in life too!

[@miminyoongeee9247]

When we say every character in Friends makes the show, we mean it. 💜 I miss Friends again :(

[@user-wp3zv8gg2r]

Who still watches Friends 🙋🏻‍♀️ I know I do 😁 Love that show 😊

[@Vulpox]

Janice always reminded me of Fran Drescher lol

[@rainbowstarmced191]

The nannyy

[@marianamartinezjimenez7145]

Yes the same here

[@theusersam]

Yes, that's where they got the whole idea of Janice, through Fran Drescher / The Nanny! They copied that. She even wore some of Frans actual clothes.

[@Jacksabbath44]

it's an obvious reference, Fran was already doing the jewish girl types before the nanny was a hit, maybe she doesn't want to name her because Fran does embrace a lot of her own personality on her characters

[@theusersam]

@@Jacksabbath44 I think they were friendly with each other and they had Frans consent

[@markryanmacahis1470]

I love her character as Janice in the FRIENDS show! 😊❤

[@hadassahdheming1578]

Yes!!! Please!! What do we have to do to have a reboot?! Even just one or two episodes of “where are they now” would be amazing!!

[@sakuragihanamichi7415]

She's so talented!

[@terrymckay9776]

She played a camp counselor in The Parent Trap. She and Polly Holiday had a scene where they went in Lindsey Lohans cabin and got covered with chocolate syrup and feathers. What a mess.

[@charlene.n.m.]

Terry McKay That’s her! I knew I recognized from somewhere.

[@Geothoven]

I’ve seen the parent trap a million times and never could’ve linked that character with her, i was always bugged by the fact that i knew that woman but couldn’t remember from where!

[@reneeg4817]

Wow. That was her.lol

[@kayenavales4880]

She did the Janice voice a little too in that movie.

[@ohamberboo]

Terry McKay oooh my word!!!! Yes! I can’t believe I never made that connection before.

[@AndySaenz924]

WOW, Maggie’s real voice sounds totally different than Janice’s voice on the show! She’s a great actor! She even came up with Janice’s voice all on her own, and they just approved it. She has kept herself very busy with so many different projects since FRIENDS ended. I would love to see more of her work.

[@SultryNeoSoul]

Friends best show ever!!!💕

[@jamiesmiles8312]

We always got just enough of Janice. There was always a long enough break that when she came back we were surprised and loved it, and, she wasn't there so much that we were irritated by her. The best one was when Rachel was in labor and she came through the door in labor, too. Thought I would absolutely die!!!!! Perfect timing - never saw it coming!!!!

[@justmyemotion]

Janice is super iconic. Her OH....MY....GOD CHANDLER BING? is still surprising me sometimes 😂

[@saimaahmed4258]

She’s such a nice person. Accepting of people, kind and generous.

[@adamhanscom6804]

They should have given Janice her own spin off show instead of Joey!

[@narcisavillon]

I always wanted a Jack Geller spin off :(

[@adamhanscom6804]

@@narcisavillon Rachel's Sisters would have been funny

[@Marklee-lx7cd]

@@adamhanscom6804 yeah

[@kamalshrestha3963]

In my opinion, spin-off was too early. Everycharacter has it's own uniqueness so there's no instead but there should have been time gap.

[@jiskevanburen9960]

H

[@pamelalagree-kanotz6845]

LOVE Janice and her Bingaling!

[@joannaf6387]

“15 Yemen Road Yemen” oh myyy god that was funny 😂 Edit: 😂 that pun was unintentional

[@nikkinicole5588]

She was my favorite person on Friends..

[@santiagocarreno5881]

Her actual voice is a great voice

[@UnknownPerson-ub8ox]

Omg I loved it when Janice showed up she was so cute and hilarious ❤

[@vin2629]

I was like Oh My God when I heard real voice..

[@sophiepedersen2990]

Vinay Chanumolu OH... MY... GOOOOD

[@Monica-eh5dq]

She us so humble, she plays a huge part in frnds

[@yeetus_dafeetus5323]

Can I just say that she is a beautiful absolutely gorgeous lady?

[@gustamanavo]

I love Janice!!!

[@marinazhang9568]

she is so beautiful!

[@claremurphy12]

Super talented, hard working,beautiful woman.She was a real gem on friends, yes would love it if a friends sequel happened, with all the original cast.The whole world would go crazy for it.

[@grenouillerjeanette777]

What a lovely person !!! And of course so talented having created that unforgettable voice of Janice ❤

[@thenightingale580]

My gosh she is stunning!!!

[@michellegulden1052]

Oh my god! I adore Maggie Wheeler. She added so much to Friends. I missed her when she wasn't there.

[@diegocomilon1691]

she's amazing, class act and down to earth, gotta love her. If there were a reunion, she should definitely be given more room to fully develop Janice's potential, same with Gunther and other regulars. Obviously, Friends cannot take off where it finished, many dramas and coming of age scenarios would now be unfitting or dull. However, they could amp it up on the farcical side of it all, more laughs, more silliness...It's about being connected with those characters you struggled along with, for whom you rooted, who got you through sad situations, or at least, kept you company as you grew up (and dare I say it: old). It's about being loyal to one's past and simpler, more innocent times, an era that won't return.

[@keilablizzard5623]

OMG I love Janice she is so pretty and she never aged 🤗

[@SatyamKumarMishra-kl6yq]

Janice was the funniest😂, I always die laughing when she says "OH MY GAWD"😂

[@GerrardBuckley-rj9wf]

OMG, I always loved Janice

[@mimiwako4301]

I love Janice and her voice!!

[@nirajg.c.5623]

I love her even more now ❤️❤️

[@kdramasaspis1899]

She's just so telented 😍😍😍

[@martine8867]

Maggie is soo sweet!

[@nicoleyonamine1787]

I can’t imagine her without Janice’s voice!!!

[@pattylee9921]

One of my fav characters on Friends

[@ks-ws7te]

She ages better than any of the women from the main cast 🤭

[@MichalBreslau]

Or Chandler.

[@sassymouth2056]

No one ages better than Aniston. What a silly thing to say.

[@ajaclyn8303]

@@sassymouth2056 Aniston has a lot of fillers, botox and has no child.

[@Elizalustof]

Omg YES! I just said this to my friend. She looks amazing and very natural. 💖💖 I love the friend’s actresses but Janice came out on top lol xx

[@vaskylark]

Lisa Kudrow has aged well.

[@jamesposter1924]

I met her in a Gelson's once about 5 years ago, and she was so sweet and personable. loved her!

[@ZombieALX]

My reaction when I first heard her talking.. OH. MY. GOD.

[@whostosay3256]

She will go down in history what a great character! Glad to see she’s doing well - thanks for the mighty laughs Maggie

[@vindhyagamage4030]

omg she s such a lovely person. naturallypretty

[@maryannegunter115]

I love Maggie Wheeler, she is so talented and funny, and beautiful, inside and out. Love to see her in more shows/movies😊

[@flora6488]

Who is this woman pretending to be Janice?😂

[@noecases5940]

The actress?

[@Hii1Hii]

Noe Cases She is joking...

[@mishellrockeg7926]

@@noecases5940 😂🤣 you didn't get it? 🤣

[@noecases5940]

@@mishellrockeg7926 a few months I hot it. Only a few months...

[@kevinlucas8437]

It's one of my favorite characters ever !!!! She's brilliant !!!!❤