Emma Geller-Green was more than just another character on Friends — she was the product of one of TV’s most iconic couples.
Born during the season eight finale after a one-night stand between Ross Geller and Rachel Green, her arrival marked a huge turning point in the series.
Ross and Rachel welcomed their daughter at the conclusion of season eight. Credit: Warner Bros. Television/Getty Images
Emma became a symbol of Ross and Rachel’s deep — if chaotic — connection, adding emotional weight to their rollercoaster romance in the final seasons.
The baby may not have had lines ("gleba" doesn't count), but her presence gave fans a reason to root even harder for Ross and Rachel’s happily-ever-after.
What fans didn’t know at the time was that Emma was actually played by multiple sets of twins — a common practice in Hollywood to meet child labor laws. Among them were Alexandra and Athena Conley, who stepped into the role during a string of episodes in 2003. And now, two decades later, those same twins are back in the spotlight.
Baby Emma was played by three sets of twins during the show. Credit: Warner Bros TV (Screenshot)
The Conley sisters have resurfaced as TikTok stars — and some social media users are only just discovering their link to one of television’s most beloved shows. From viral videos to NFL sidelines, their journey from sitcom baby to social media icons is catching fire fast.
“Told Him I Was a Baby on TV”
In a viral TikTok video, Alexandra told her followers she’d casually mentioned to a guy that she was once on TV as a baby. His guess? Commercials. But she followed it up with a bombshell swipe photo of her with Friends co-stars Aniston and Schwimmer in full parental mode.
The response online was instant. One fan wrote: “NO WAAAAYYYYYYY I DIDNT know this was you as a beeeebeeee.” Another commented: “This is such a flex,” while someone else joked: “I would make this my entire personality.”
One commenter even summed up what many were thinking: “But why do you look like you could be their actual kid?”
Influencers and NFL Cheerleaders
Both Alexandra and Athena now share their lives on TikTok, appearing together frequently in glamorous outfits and tongue-in-cheek videos. Alexandra boasts more than 40,000 followers and posts content ranging from fashion and lifestyle to nostalgic Friends throwbacks.
Meanwhile, sister Athena has taken her talents to the NFL — as a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos.
The twins also graduated from university and have fully embraced their dual identities as both childhood TV stars and modern-day influencers.
A Little Friends History: More Than One Emma
While Alexandra and Athena played Emma between January and March 2003, they weren’t the only ones to take on the role of Ross and Rachel’s daughter.
Twins Cali and Noelle Sheldon also portrayed Emma throughout seasons 9 and 10, appearing in eight episodes in total.
You might remember the infamous moment in The One With The Cake when Chandler records a message for baby Emma: “Hi Emma, it’s the year 2020. Are you still enjoying your nap?”
Noelle Sheldon leaned into the joke years later, posting in January 2020: “Just woke up from the best nap of all time, happy 2020!!”
The Sheldon twins also continued acting, landing roles in Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror hit Us, and attending UCLA.
Cali and Noelle in 2019's Us. Credit: Universal (Screenshot)
Though they don’t remember their Friends days (“Nope sadly I can't remember anything,” said Cali in an Instagram Story), they’ve maintained a soft spot for their iconic role and frequently allude to the show on their respective Instagram accounts.