Becoming ... Jennifer Aniston

Though she bid a tearful adieu to Friends, Jennifer Aniston has plenty to smile about. The actress says she's looking forward to her next project: starting a family. See the defining moments in the life of PEOPLE's Most Beautiful cover girl. By Serena Kappes

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DRAMA QUEEN

Starring in the indie drama The Good Girl (with Jake Gyllenhaal, left) was an opportunity to "prove, to myself most of all," she told PEOPLE, "that I could maybe try something different." The risk was worth it: Her portrayal of a small-town sales clerk had her on critics' good sides.