James Devaney/Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImageWondering how Gwyneth Paltrow scored an invite to Jennifer Aniston's holiday party over the weekend?
It turns out the actresses actually have a few things in common besides both being exes of Brad Pitt!
Aniston, 44, and Paltrow, 41, actually know each other because both are very close to pal Robert Downey Jr., E! News has learned. Paltrow, of course, stars with Downey Jr. in the blockbuster Iron Man franchise while Aniston is close to the actor and his wife Susan Downey off screen (both Aniston's man Justin Theroux and Gwyneth attended Susan's big 40th birthday bash in San Francisco last month).
Additionally, Aniston and Paltrow are both represented by Hollywood publicist Stephen Huvane.
The A-list actresses also have the Brad Pitt connection. Paltrow dated him from 1994 to 1997. They even got engaged but called off their engagement. Aniston began dating Pitt in 1998. They married in 2000 before divorcing in 2005.
Meanwhile, other stars who attended Jen's big holiday bash on Sunday included Courteney Cox, Chelsea Handler, Paltrow's hubby Chris Martin, Downey Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher and Will Arnett.
"It's definitely Jennifer's favorite party of the year and something she looks forward to," a source told E! News of the soiree, which Aniston has hosted at her Beverly Hills home for the past three years. "The house was decorated beautifully and all of the white lights were stunning. Jennifer made sure every detail was perfect."