Jennifer Aniston Talks Struggle With Dyslexia, Not Being Pretty & Wanting Babies
Jennifer Aniston is giving one of her most revealing interviews ever for the latest cover of The Hollywood Reporter, in which the beloved 45-year-old actress makes it clear that despite her current superstar status, life hasn't always been so rosy.
Case in point? Her previously unknown struggle with dyslexia.
"I thought I wasn't smart. I just couldn't retain anything," she recalls. "Now I had this great discovery. I felt like all of my childhood trauma-dies, tragedies, dramas were explained."
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She also didn't have the most nurturing relationship with her mother, whom she admits she didn't speak to for years. These days, she says her family is "all fine."
"She was critical. She was very critical of me," she reveals about her childhood. "Because she was a model, she was gorgeous, stunning. I wasn't. I never was. I honestly still don't think of myself in that sort of light, which is fine. She was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty."
She recalls an incident that's particularly telling of their complicated relationship.
"She had a temper. I can't tolerate that," she explains. "If I get upset, I will discuss [things]. I will never scream and get hysterical like that. [But] I was never taught that I could scream. One time, I raised my voice to my mother, and I screamed at her, and she looked at me and burst out laughing. She was laughing at me [for] screaming back. And it was like a punch in my stomach."
But despite her rocky childhood, the usually very private Aniston reveals that she wants children of her own someday.
"Who knows if it's going to happen?" she says. "It's been a want. We're doing our best."
As for the "we" in that situation -- her fiancé, writer/actor Justin Theroux -- she shares that it was his sense of humor that initially drew her to him. The two met while she was on vacation in Hawaii with Courteney Cox, and have been together for four years now.
"He's the easiest guy to hang around," she gushes. "He was so completely in his skin. It was the first time I remember being so comfortable [with a romantic interest], like with all my gay friends."
The two also share a surprising love for reality TV guilty pleasures, specifically ABC's The Bachelor.
"I'll say it out loud," Aniston laughs. "Last year, [friends] were saying, 'It's The Bachelor, it's premiering tonight! The Bachelor is premiering tonight!' And I was like, 'Oh, guys! Seriously? The Bachelor? That's been on for 15 years or something.' And Justin and I, just for fun, watched -- and two hours later, we were addicted. It was like junk food. We were sad when it ended."
Despite her recent Oscar snub for her critically acclaimed performance in Cake, Aniston is clearly in a good place in her life. She's open about seeing a therapist, adhering to her strict meditation schedule and has absolutely no hard feelings when it comes to her endlessly talked about 2005 split from Brad Pitt.
"Nobody did anything wrong. You know what I mean?" she reflects. "It was just like, sometimes things [happen]. If the world only could just stop with the stupid, soap-opera bullsh*t. There’s no story. I mean, at this point it’s starting to become -- please, give more credit to these human beings.”
"We're not in daily communication," she adds. "But we wish nothing but wonderful things for each other."
VIDEO: Jennifer Aniston Explains THAT Topless Hug Photo
On a similar note, Aniston talked to ET last week about all the chatter about her supposed longtime feud with Angelina Jolie. Watch the video for her surprisingly candid response.