Despite playing a stripper for her latest role, Jennifer Aniston still can't seem to shake off that 'good girl' image.

But she's not going to let it bother her. SUSAN GRIFFIN reports

As one of the world's most famous women, Jennifer Aniston is used to being hounded by the paparazzi. But the hotel where we are meeting for her to promote her new film, We're The Millers, appears to be paparazzi-free.

Despite her status, Aniston arrives on time - a rarity among megastars - and there she is, everybody's favourite 'Friend', looking radiant and really not so different from her Rachel Green days, despite the television series ending almost a decade ago.

"Well hi," says Aniston, extending her hand for me to shake - another rarity among Hollywood's elite, most of whom prefer not to make actual contact.

Now 44, she is slim and tanned with an impressive sparkler on her left hand from her engagement to actor Justin Theroux, 42, last year.

The shoulder-length, sun-kissed hair is, of course, immaculate, but then Aniston does not travel anywhere without hairdresser Chris McMillan, her long-time friend, and the man behind 'that' Rachel cut.

As a gentle opener, I ask whether she had fun at the film's premiere recently.

"Oh, I had a great time," the actress replies politely. What everybody wants to know, of course, is whether those wedding and pregnancy rumours are true but, as suspected, Aniston is tight-lipped and we remain in the dark, though I can confirm there is no hint of a bump.

We're The Millers is a crude comedy about a small-time drug dealer called David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) who is forced to head to Mexico in a motorhome to collect a "smidge" of drugs for his boss.

Believing the best way to make it over the border without being searched is to pretend he is on a normal family holiday, he enlists the help of his neighbours - a stripper called Rose (Aniston), a teenage nerd called Kenny (British star Will Poulter) and a moody runaway called Casey (Emma Roberts).

Together they become 'the Millers', and the dysfunctional 'family' embark on a road trip that involves a pornographic game of Pictionary, a hash 'baby' and a rather disturbing spider bite on Kenny's nether regions.

On collaborating with her close pal Sudeikis, Aniston says: "We were trying to find something for a while and it just so happened after Horrible Bosses (a previous film) that the same studio had Millers. I read the script and thought it was a funny concept and a fun ride."

Sudeikis might be relatively new to playing leading men but he is heralded as one of America's funniest, thanks to his stint on the iconic American sketch show Saturday Night Live.

"Jason's improvisational skills are fantastic, just masterful. That led to some awesome volleying back and forth between the two of us," says Aniston.

Despite a wide variety of roles, from 2002's dark indie The Good Girl to the 2005 stylish thriller Derailed with Clive Owen, and gentle romcoms like Marley & Me - and, let's face it, the odd bomb such as 2010's The Bounty Hunter - Aniston's girl-next-door image continues to reign supreme.

That is why there has been such a to-do over her role as a stripper in this movie - though she only gets as far as her underwear in the strip stakes.

"I didn't mind, honestly, that didn't bother me," she says of her character's profession.

"The main concern was trying to ensure I had enough to do. The female character was a little underwritten, so that took a bit of work, and continued to do so all the way through shooting, because that sometimes happens."

She stresses that Rose only reluctantly accepts David's proposal to be his 'wife'.

"She doesn't initially agree to sign up for his adventure because, despite being a stripper, she has morals, she has boundaries, and breaking the law is not something she's willing to do," Aniston says. "But she is broke. And David has offered her a lot of money, so she feels she has no choice."

Aniston admitted recently she relishes playing bad girls, and apparently kept all Rose's stripper clothes.

And the yoga enthusiast confesses she notched up her fitness regime in preparation for filming the strip scenes, allowing herself the odd kale chip by way of a treat.

"I was having fun with my choreographer in the studio, doing the routine from top to bottom, having a ball and loving it.

Then, the next thing you know, you are on the set, there are crew members, it's technical and you have to do each part over and over again!" she says. "But you just have to go for it."

Much of the movie is based in Mexico, where the actress is known to be a regular visitor, but she is almost offended at the suggestion she only flies to the most exclusive resorts on the coast.

She says: "Have I gone over the border? Of course I have. I brought my dog over that border. Should I be saying that?.

"And my friend takes care of this orphanage in Tijuana. It's a beautiful place to visit."

But could she really see herself heading off in a motorhome like the Millers?

"I think it would be a lot of fun. It would be a great way to escape, if possible, and just disappear." That must feel like a pipe dream for one of the world's most famous women.

Leaving the hotel, word of Aniston's presence is out and the paparazzi is closing in. For her sake, let's hope it's not long before she can hit the highway.

l We're The Millers is in cinemas now.