Courteney Bass Cox (born June 15, 1964) is an actress, producer, and director from the United States. She rose to prominence for her role as Monica Geller on the NBC comedy Friends (1994–2004), for which she got seven Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and one win. Her role as Gale Weathers in the horror film franchise Scream (1996–present) earned her even more fame. She also played Lauren Miller in the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1987–1989), Lucy Spiller in the FX drama series Dirt (2007–2008), and Jules Cobb in the ABC/TBS sitcom Cougar Town (2009–2015), for which she received Critics' Choice Award and Golden Globe nominations.