How Friends Filmed Phoebe & Ursula’s Twin Scenes — And the Surprising Role of Lisa Kudrow’s Sister

When fans watched Lisa Kudrow brilliantly switch between quirky Phoebe Buffay and her distant, often rude twin sister Ursula on Friends, few questioned how the scenes were pulled off. But behind the seamless delivery was a combination of creative filming techniques, editing tricks, and unexpected family support.

Lisa Kudrow Played Both Phoebe & Ursula — But She Had Help

Phoebe and Ursula Buffay, while identical twins on screen, were portrayed solely by Lisa Kudrow. The challenge of filming scenes with both characters interacting was met using several visual effects strategies. Among them was the traditional split-screen method, where Kudrow would film one side of the scene as Phoebe, then switch roles and film as Ursula. The two takes would then be combined during editing to create the illusion of the twins sharing the frame.

However, in many shots where both characters appeared but one had their back to the camera, a body double was used. That double was none other than Lisa Kudrow’s real-life sister, Helene Marla Kudrow, who resembled her closely enough in height and build to maintain the illusion. Thanks to this family collaboration, interactions between Phoebe and Ursula looked believable without relying on CGI or high-budget effects.

Kudrow Wasn’t Comfortable Acting With Her Sister

Despite how smooth the final product looked on screen, filming those twin scenes wasn’t easy for Lisa Kudrow. In a 2019 interview, Friends director Kevin S. Bright revealed that Kudrow found the experience awkward and emotionally complicated:

“Lisa really did not have a good time doing them… she did not like acting with a double, and in a way, she might have made it more difficult for herself because her double was her actual sister.”

Bright added that Kudrow was likely concerned about the pressure she was placing on her sister, which made the filming process “a little bit tricky.” Nevertheless, when the shots were edited and finalized, they became some of the more memorable and technically impressive scenes in the series.

The Origin of Ursula Buffay: A Sitcom Crossover

Some fans may wonder why Friends gave Phoebe a twin at all, especially considering Ursula only appeared occasionally. The explanation lies in a unique crossover with another 1990s NBC sitcom — Mad About You.

Before Friends, Lisa Kudrow had already been playing Ursula Buffay as a recurring character on Mad About You, which aired from 1992 to 1999. When Kudrow landed the role of Phoebe in Friends, the creators decided to maintain continuity between the two shows. Since both characters lived in New York and shared the same actress, they made Ursula Phoebe’s twin sister.

Kudrow later explained in an interview that the decision was rooted in scheduling convenience. She was still active on Mad About You when she joined Friends, and NBC aired both shows back-to-back. It became necessary to clarify that the same actress appearing in both time slots was not a mistake, but a deliberate narrative choice.

The Two Ursulas: Different Personalities in Two Shows

Interestingly, Ursula’s personality differed significantly between the two shows. On Mad About You, she was portrayed as a spaced-out but harmless waitress working at Riff’s Bar. In contrast, Friends reimagined her as more of an antagonistic figure — cold, rude, and often dismissive toward Phoebe.

From pretending to be Phoebe in adult films to selling her twin’s birth certificate, Ursula was often used to stir tension or comedic chaos in Friends. Yet, despite their stark contrast, both versions of Ursula played a role in building the shared universe between the two sitcoms.

What seemed like simple twin scenes on Friends were actually the result of clever editing, thoughtful planning, and a surprising bit of sibling teamwork. Thanks to Lisa Kudrow’s dedication and her sister Helene’s behind-the-scenes support, the show was able to convincingly deliver one of its most intriguing character dynamics.

It’s just another reminder that even in a sitcom filled with laughter and romance, a lot of technical precision and creativity goes into making every scene feel real.