Which actress played Phoebe Buffay’s twin sister Ursula on Friends?

Lisa Kudrow played Phoebe Buffay’s twin sister Ursula on Friends.

Kudrow performed both Phoebe and Ursula, using contrasting personalities to distinguish the sisters. Phoebe is eccentric but generally warm and loyal, while Ursula is portrayed as detached, self-centered, and frequently dishonest. Their scenes allowed Kudrow to create comic tension between two characters played by the same actor.

Ursula originally appeared as a character on the sitcom Mad About You, where Kudrow played a waitress. Friends incorporated that character as Phoebe’s twin sister, creating a notable crossover connection between two NBC sitcoms. Ursula’s appearances on Friends remain separate from Phoebe’s identity despite the shared performer.

Kudrow was one of Friends’ six lead actors and received multiple award nominations for playing Phoebe. She also won the 1996 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role.