Christina Pickles (born 17 February 1935) is an English movie, stage, and television actress, best known for her long-running role of Nurse Helen Rosenthal in the hospital drama "St. Elsewhere", for which she was nominated for four Emmy Awards. Pickles is also known as for playing Ross Geller's mother (alongside Elliott Gould) in the hit comedy sitcom "Friends". She was born in Yorkshire, England. She is currently not married.