Jennifer Aniston auctions off 1995 nude portrait to raise funds for coronavirus charity

Photographer Mark Seliger said he knew Friends actor was going to be a ‘star’

Jennifer Aniston has put a nude portrait of herself up for auction to help raise money for coronavirus relief.

On Monday, the actor announced the news on her Instagram account by sharing a video of photographer Mark Seliger working in a dark room on the now-iconic portrait, which he took in November 1995.

The black-and-white image, which shows Aniston posing nude with her legs crossed, was captured by Seliger after he was assigned to photograph the cast of Friends, which aired its very first episode the year before.

So far, the highest bid on the image stands at $6,500 (£5,200).

“My dear friend @markseliger teamed up with @radvocacy and @christiesinc to auction 25 of his portraits - including mine - for COVID-19 relief,” Aniston wrote on Instagram alongside the clip.

“100 per cent of sales proceeds of this portrait will go to @NAFClinics, an organisation which provides free coronavirus testing and care nationwide to the medically underserved. Thank you again to Mark for allowing me to be part of this.”

Aniston’s post, which has since received more than one million likes, has been inundated with messages of support from her followers and celebrity friends, including actor Rita Wilson who wrote: “Beautiful photo! Beautiful babe”.

Jennifer Garner added: “So great, thank you.”

Speaking to Christie’s about the auction, which will see 25 of Seliger’s celebrity portraits go up for auction, the photographer said that he knew Aniston was going to be a “star”.

“The first time I met Jennifer Aniston I knew she was going to be a big star. It was uncanny — you thought you knew her, or at least wished you knew her,” he said.

“I was given an assignment to photograph the cast of Friends and they were still a little stunned at how quickly the show had taken off. There was a wonderful stylist, a massive ball of energy, named Chris McMillan who was responsible for the famous “Rachel” cut.

“Immediately after the shoot I recommended Jennifer for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, which of course she got. Since then we’ve worked together many times — she’s incredibly loyal and still as lovely as the first time I met her.”

The photographer has partnered with Red Carpet Advocacy (RAD) and Christie's as part of the RADArt4Aid campaign to hold a virtual auction, with proceeds from the sale of each print going to the charity of the famous subject's choice.

Other celebrity portraits in the auction, which ends on 12 June, include Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Billie Eilish and Lenny Kravitz.