Jane Sibbett Says She Was Ready to ‘Battle’ Over Carol’s Storyline on ‘Friends’ (Exclusive)

The 90s were unforgettable in the world of pop culture, and Jane Sibbett, known for her groundbreaking role as Carol Willick on Friends, was at the center of it all.

The Herman’s Head actress originally auditioned to play the role of Ross’s (David Schwimmer) future love, Rachel Green, back in 1994, but with her second pregnancy in full swing, fate had other plans, leading her to the role of Ross’s ex-wife Carol.

“I auditioned for Rachel originally, I left there and my agents and manager [were like], ‘They love you, they love you,’ ” Sibbett, 69, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I said, ‘Did you tell ’em I’m pregnant?’ So they went back and said, ‘We love Jane, we love her [but] no, the timing won’t work out for that character, but we’ll think [of her] for another one.’ ”

Little did she know, Carol Willick would become a queer icon, breaking barriers for the LGBTQ community as the first lesbian character to marry on primetime television.

In the episode, “The One with the Lesbian Wedding” — Season 2, Episode 11 — Carol and her partner, Susan Bunch (Jessica Hecht), tied the knot, marking a monumental moment in TV history.

The episode not only showcased a same-sex wedding but also featured Candace Gingrich, a gay-rights activist, officiating the ceremony, which was an incredibly bold statement at the time.

When asked if she’d ever imagine this being such a pivotal moment in history, she admitted to having an inkling but was more focused on the significance of the work she was doing at the time.

Reflecting on her role in this groundbreaking moment, Sibbett shares the highs and lows of being a part of a storyline that sparked bold conversations and controversy.

“I was doing the rounds on talk shows and having to go toe to toe with people who were thumping their bibles at me,” Sibbett tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I was defending for context because I was raised in that world. I wasn’t raised in a judgmental world. I was raised in knowing why you believe what you believe. So I was ready to go. I was ready to go to battle for what I love.”

Sibbett expresses gratitude for the opportunity to this day, but still emphasizes how much it “shatters” her to witness the way “people distorted such beautiful messages.”

“I wish that I could do more currently, I wish that I could have done more then,” she says. “I wish we could have had our kiss because it’s beautiful to see a kiss,” she adds, referring to the iconic wedding scene.