Washington [US]: Actress Jennifer Coolidge revealed that her Emmy-winning role in The White Lotus not only revitalized her career but also improved her dating life at 63.
“Even though I play a complete weirdo in White Lotus, cute guys come up to me,” Coolidge shared. “This is far better than American Pie because people were sad about Tanya falling off a boat. These men like you better because they feel that you went through something. That show really upped my game,” she told Variety.
The actress, who has been in Hollywood for decades, spoke candidly about the long period of being overlooked before Mike White cast her in the hit HBO series. Between 2006 and 2021, before The White Lotus, Coolidge struggled with being typecast.
“I got very odd jobs—I had no guidance at all,” she admitted. “I didn’t know how to play the game.” Casting agents primarily associated her with her famous role as Stifler’s Mom from American Pie. “I played a lot of highly strung rich women, and people thought, ‘Oh, that’s just what she does.'”
Coolidge credited her friend, Mike White, the creator of The White Lotus, for giving her a chance. He wrote the role of Tanya McQuoid after a trip they took together, during which she displayed what he called “eccentric” behavior.
“Do I think any other director would have chosen me for Tanya? Probably not,” Coolidge admitted.
Despite her newfound success, she revealed that she still struggles with self-confidence. Even while promoting her upcoming thriller Riff Raff, starring Bill Murray and Pete Davidson, she found it surreal to be part of such a high-profile cast.
“I’ve been around a long time and just cannot believe the people I’ve got to work with over the past few years,” she said. “People I never thought I would be included on a cast with.”
Coolidge also discussed her upcoming role in A Minecraft Movie, set for release on April 4. She expressed mixed emotions about watching The White Lotus Season 3, since her character was killed off in Season 2.
“It’s eerie, creepy, I’m worried for everybody,” she said. “Greg is in the first episode!” she added, referencing her character’s husband. “I hope something bad happens to him.”
On the topic of dating in her sixties, Coolidge humorously noted that she might need to explore international options.
“European men like the idea of sleeping with an older woman more than Americans do,” she remarked. “I think I have to go overseas then.”