From being typecast to becoming a late-career icon, Coolidge opens up about fame, dating, and life after Tanya in The White Lotus.
Washington [US], March 24: Actress Jennifer Coolidge is living proof that it’s never too late for reinvention. In a candid conversation with Variety, the Emmy-winning star of The White Lotus revealed how the hit HBO series not only resurrected her acting career but also unexpectedly revived her dating life—at age 63.
“Even though I play a complete weirdo in White Lotus, cute guys come up to me,” Coolidge joked. “This is far better than American Pie because people were sad about Tanya falling off a boat. These men like you more because they feel that you went through something. That show really upped my game.”
The actress, long remembered for her role as Stifler’s Mom in American Pie, endured a difficult period in Hollywood after her early 2000s successes. Typecast and often overlooked, she admits she struggled for years to find meaningful roles.
“I got very odd jobs — I had no guidance at all,” she shared. “Casting agents just thought, ‘Oh, she plays rich, over-the-top women. That’s her thing.’”
Everything changed when longtime friend Mike White wrote the character of Tanya McQuoid with her in mind, inspired by Coolidge’s eccentric behavior during a shared African vacation.
“Do I think any other director would’ve chosen me for Tanya? Probably not,” Coolidge admitted.
While promoting upcoming projects like the thriller Riff Raff—where she stars alongside Bill Murray and Pete Davidson—and the animated Minecraft Movie (releasing April 4), Coolidge reflected on her career resurgence with awe.
“I’ve been around a long time and just cannot believe the people I’ve gotten to work with these past few years,” she said. “People I never imagined sharing a cast list with.”
Coolidge also opened up about life after Tanya, her fan-favorite character who was killed off in Season 2 of The White Lotus. Watching Season 3 as a viewer now feels surreal.
“It’s eerie, creepy. I’m worried for everyone,” she said, adding cheekily, “Greg is in the first episode! I hope something bad happens to him.”
When it comes to romance, Coolidge remains refreshingly candid—and humorous.
“European men like the idea of sleeping with an older woman more than Americans do,” she quipped. “I think I have to go overseas then.”
From breakout comedy star to dramatic darling and unexpected sex symbol, Jennifer Coolidge’s second act is not just a comeback—it’s a cultural reset.