On "Friends," Ross met Julie in China, and she became his girlfriend. Julie, played by Lauren Tom, was Ross Geller’s former graduate-school colleague whom he reconnected with during his trip.
Ross returns from China at the beginning of Season 2 with Julie, surprising Rachel, who had only just realized that she was in love with him. Ross and Julie had known each other before the trip, so their relationship was not simply a random holiday romance. Their reunion quickly developed into a serious relationship once Ross returned to New York.
Julie gets along well with most of the group, including Monica, but Rachel sees her as a rival. Ross’s feelings become complicated when Rachel confesses her love and he must choose between the stable relationship he has with Julie and his long-standing feelings for Rachel. He ultimately ends his relationship with Julie.
Julie later reappears in the episode involving Russ, Ross’s look-alike. She becomes interested in Russ, creating one of the show’s more deliberately absurd romantic coincidences. The character first appears in the Season 2 premiere, "The One with Ross’s New Girlfriend."