NBC's  has been off the air since 2004, but that hasn't stopped people from watching and rewatching the much-loved sitcom. It's hard to imagine watching the show without the original six cast members in their iconic roles, but there was almost other actors filling up seats at Central Perk.  wasn't the studio's first choice to play Rachel Green. Here is a list of six actresses who almost played everyone's favorite waitress-turned-fashion savant.

1. Téa Leoni

These days you might recognize her as the lead on the CBS drama but actress Téa Leoni was one of NBC's top choices to play Rachel, according to . She turned down the role to do a show called  that was canceled after only three seasons.

2. Jane Krakowski

Jane Krakowski is best known for roles like Jenna Maroney on  and Jacqueline White in Netflix's . Like many actors at the time, she also auditioned for the role of Rachel Green. However, she explained to the  that she didn't get very far in the audition process.

3. Tiffani Thiessen

 alum Tiffani Thiessen is also  of actresses who almost played Rachel Green. According to , Thiessen believes she didn't get the role because of her age, as she explained, “I was just a little too young. I was a little too young to the pairing of the rest of them.” She would have been the youngest of the six main cast members, with Thiessen being only 20 when premiered.

4. Lisa Whelchel

 actress Lisa Whelchel also got a script for after NBChad already shot the pilot and wanted to recast Rachel. Even though she thought the script was funny, Whelchel still turned the role down, as she  to Oprah Winfrey in a "Where Are They Now?" segment.

5. Elizabeth Berkley

 actress Elizabeth Berkley also auditioned for the role of Rachel, according to , but she eventually lost the role to Aniston. It's a good thing, too, because she never would have landed her role in !

6. Courteney Cox

Could fans  any more surprised? As we , the role of Rachel Green was first offered to Courteney Cox. However, Cox was more drawn to Monica's character and despite having competition for the part, she was eventually cast in the role of her choice.