Helen Baxendale, who played Emily Waltham in Friends, revealed her discomfort with the fame that came with her role, feeling like it turned her life into a "gilded prison." She expressed how her privacy was invaded due to her role in the show, making it impossible for her to lead an ordinary life.

Despite the challenges, she acknowledges the opportunities the show brought her. Baxendale left Friends due to her pregnancy after appearing in fourteen episodes. She continued to build her career with appearances in TV shows and movies in the 2000s and 2010s, further establishing herself in the industry.