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A Night at the Roxbury, 1998
Paramount
In her 2023Golden Globe Awardsacceptance speech,The White LotusstarJennifer Coolidge thanked"some of the people in this room … that kept me going for, you know, 20 years with these little jobs."
After scoring a handful of bit parts on television and movies in the 1990s, a 37-year-old Coolidge was credited as “Hottie Cop” in the 1998SNLspin-off filmA Night at the Roxbury.
02of 22Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, 1999New LineCoolidge also milked her moment in 1999 as “Woman at Football Game” in the secondAustin Powersfilm.
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Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, 1999
New Line
Coolidge also milked her moment in 1999 as “Woman at Football Game” in the secondAustin Powersfilm.
03of 22American Pie, 1999GettyIt was her now-iconic role as Stifler’s Mom in theAmerican Piefilms that catapulted Coolidge into the pop culture stratosphere.In a 2022 interview withVariety,she said, “I got a lot of play at being a MILF and I got a lot of sexual action fromAmerican Pie. There were so many benefits to doing that movie.“She also talked about the film in her 2023 Globes speech, saying, “I’ve milked that to death. I’m still going for six or seven [films], whatever they want.” (So far it’s been four.)
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American Pie, 1999
Getty
It was her now-iconic role as Stifler’s Mom in theAmerican Piefilms that catapulted Coolidge into the pop culture stratosphere.
In a 2022 interview withVariety,she said, “I got a lot of play at being a MILF and I got a lot of sexual action fromAmerican Pie. There were so many benefits to doing that movie.”
She also talked about the film in her 2023 Globes speech, saying, “I’ve milked that to death. I’m still going for six or seven [films], whatever they want.” (So far it’s been four.)
04of 22Best in Show, 2000Doane Gregory/Online USACoolidge joined the Christopher Guest canon in the off-the-wall spoof on dog shows, playing spacey dog owner and partner toJane Lynch, Sherri Ann Cabot.“It was a gift, and so much fun to make because Guest lets you come up with everything,“Coolidge told Ariana Grandein a 2022 interview forEW. “He gives you your name and a rough outline of who you are, but you get to come up with your look, you improv all the dialogue.“Grande, a longtime fan of the actress,dressed up as herBIScharacter for Halloween in 2022and included her in her 2018 “thank u next” music video, a move Coolidge called the “instigator” for her 2020s career renaissance.
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Best in Show, 2000
Doane Gregory/Online USA
Coolidge joined the Christopher Guest canon in the off-the-wall spoof on dog shows, playing spacey dog owner and partner toJane Lynch, Sherri Ann Cabot.
“It was a gift, and so much fun to make because Guest lets you come up with everything,“Coolidge told Ariana Grandein a 2022 interview forEW. “He gives you your name and a rough outline of who you are, but you get to come up with your look, you improv all the dialogue.”
Grande, a longtime fan of the actress,dressed up as herBIScharacter for Halloween in 2022and included her in her 2018 “thank u next” music video, a move Coolidge called the “instigator” for her 2020s career renaissance.
05of 22Legally Blonde, 2001Jennifer Coolidge, Reese Witherspoon.The year 2001 brought the role many first met Coolidge in: that of down-on-her-luck manicurist Paulette. In herEWchat with Grande, the actress called the role “a gift from god,” and thanked Reese Witherspoon in her 2023Golden Globesspeech.In 2003, she reprised the role inLegally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blondeandhas dropped some hintsabout the long-discussed third film.
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Legally Blonde, 2001
Jennifer Coolidge, Reese Witherspoon.
The year 2001 brought the role many first met Coolidge in: that of down-on-her-luck manicurist Paulette. In herEWchat with Grande, the actress called the role “a gift from god,” and thanked Reese Witherspoon in her 2023Golden Globesspeech.
In 2003, she reprised the role inLegally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blondeandhas dropped some hintsabout the long-discussed third film.
06of 22Zoolander, 2001ParamountBlink and you might miss her, but Coolidge joined the all-star cast ofZoolanderin 2001 as she was also hitting the silver screen inLegally BlondeandAmerican Pie 2.
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Zoolander, 2001
Blink and you might miss her, but Coolidge joined the all-star cast ofZoolanderin 2001 as she was also hitting the silver screen inLegally BlondeandAmerican Pie 2.
07of 22
Women vs. Men, 2002
Showtime
08of 22A Mighty Wind, 2003Everett CollectionCoolidge’s next foray into the world of Christopher Guest was in the musical mockumentaryA Mighty Wind,alongside stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, as well as Larry Miller (pictured). She went on to appear in Guest’s 2006 filmFor Your Consideration,and 2016’sMascots.
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A Mighty Wind, 2003
Everett Collection
Coolidge’s next foray into the world of Christopher Guest was in the musical mockumentaryA Mighty Wind,alongside stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, as well as Larry Miller (pictured). She went on to appear in Guest’s 2006 filmFor Your Consideration,and 2016’sMascots.
09of 22Friends, 2003NBCLike many a star, Coolidge had a one-episode moment onFriendsas a former pal of Monica and Phoebe. Calling the cast “nice and friendly,” she also said she “was very intimidated because they were all so attractive and had it going on,“according to a 2019 BuzzFeed News article.
09of 22
Friends, 2003
NBC
Like many a star, Coolidge had a one-episode moment onFriendsas a former pal of Monica and Phoebe. Calling the cast “nice and friendly,” she also said she “was very intimidated because they were all so attractive and had it going on,“according to a 2019 BuzzFeed News article.
10of 22Sex and the City, 2003HBOThe actress made her one-episode storyline onSATCa memorable one, playing purse designer Victoria, an old friend of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.
10of 22
Sex and the City, 2003
HBO
The actress made her one-episode storyline onSATCa memorable one, playing purse designer Victoria, an old friend of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.
11of 22A Cinderella Story, 2004Ron Batzdorff/Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockThe actress joined the teenage dream pairing ofHilary DuffandChad Michael Murrayin the re-telling of Cinderella, playing evil stepmother Fiona. The role earned her her sole Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Sleazebag.
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A Cinderella Story, 2004
Ron Batzdorff/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
The actress joined the teenage dream pairing ofHilary DuffandChad Michael Murrayin the re-telling of Cinderella, playing evil stepmother Fiona. The role earned her her sole Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Sleazebag.
12of 22Joey, 2004Richard Cartwright/Warner Bros./NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyCoolidge re-joined theFriendsuniverse for 46 episodes of the spin-offJoey,playing Matt LeBlanc’s character Joey’s manager, Roberta “Bobbie” Morganstern.
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Joey, 2004
Richard Cartwright/Warner Bros./NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Coolidge re-joined theFriendsuniverse for 46 episodes of the spin-offJoey,playing Matt LeBlanc’s character Joey’s manager, Roberta “Bobbie” Morganstern.
13of 22The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 2008Everett CollectionCoolidge appeared on 35 episodes ofThe Secret Lifebetween 2008 and 2012, coming on as a prostitute named Betty who eventually marries (and divorces) Ben’s dad Leo.
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The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 2008
Coolidge appeared on 35 episodes ofThe Secret Lifebetween 2008 and 2012, coming on as a prostitute named Betty who eventually marries (and divorces) Ben’s dad Leo.
14of 222 Broke Girls, 2012Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty ImagesIn the second season of the CBS sitcom, Coolidge joined the cast as Max and Caroline’s neighbor Sophie Kachinsky, in a partDeadlinereported was created just for her. She appeared on 124 episodes of the show, up until its end in 2017.
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2 Broke Girls, 2012
Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images
In the second season of the CBS sitcom, Coolidge joined the cast as Max and Caroline’s neighbor Sophie Kachinsky, in a partDeadlinereported was created just for her. She appeared on 124 episodes of the show, up until its end in 2017.
15of 22Austenland, 2013EverettThe hilarious 2013 Sundance favorite about a woman obsessed with Jane Austen (Keri Russell) featured Coolidge in a boisterous role in which she “improvises up a storm,“IndieWire.comwrote in a review.
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Austenland, 2013
Everett
The hilarious 2013 Sundance favorite about a woman obsessed with Jane Austen (Keri Russell) featured Coolidge in a boisterous role in which she “improvises up a storm,“IndieWire.comwrote in a review.
16of 22Glee, 2015FOX Image Collection via GettyIn the final season ofGlee,Coolidge came on for a handful of episodes as Heather Morris' character Brittany’s mom, Whitney S. Pierce, opposite Ken Jeong as her dad.Cast member Billy Lewis Jr.toldHollywood Lifethat"watching the two of them work is like gold. It’s like a comedic masterclass. The way they come up with new lines on the spot and make each other laugh constantly. It’s just gold.”
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Glee, 2015
FOX Image Collection via Getty
In the final season ofGlee,Coolidge came on for a handful of episodes as Heather Morris' character Brittany’s mom, Whitney S. Pierce, opposite Ken Jeong as her dad.
Cast member Billy Lewis Jr.toldHollywood Lifethat"watching the two of them work is like gold. It’s like a comedic masterclass. The way they come up with new lines on the spot and make each other laugh constantly. It’s just gold.”
17of 22Promising Young Woman, 2020Merie Weismiller Wallace/Focus FeaturesCoolidge played mom to Carey Mulligan’s Cassie in Emerald Fennell’s critically acclaimed film. “I believe it was a really brave film,“Coolidge toldGQ.“It was so expertly told and I’m so glad that [Emerald] was at the helm.”
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Promising Young Woman, 2020
Merie Weismiller Wallace/Focus Features
Coolidge played mom to Carey Mulligan’s Cassie in Emerald Fennell’s critically acclaimed film. “I believe it was a really brave film,“Coolidge toldGQ.“It was so expertly told and I’m so glad that [Emerald] was at the helm.”
18of 22Single All the Way, 2021Philippe Bosse/NetflixChad Hodge created what was billed as Netflix’s first gay holiday rom-com, and wrote the part of Aunt Sandy with Coolidge in mind — before she ever agreed to be in the film. “That’s something I have never done in 22 years of writing,“he toldEWof the move.
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Single All the Way, 2021
Philippe Bosse/Netflix
Chad Hodge created what was billed as Netflix’s first gay holiday rom-com, and wrote the part of Aunt Sandy with Coolidge in mind — before she ever agreed to be in the film. “That’s something I have never done in 22 years of writing,“he toldEWof the move.
19of 22The White Lotus, 2021Jennifer Coolidge, Sydney Sweeney and Brittany O’Grady in The White Lotus.Mario Perez/HBOCoolidge reached a new fan base in 2021 with the HBO smashThe White Lotus,in which she played rich damsel in distress Tanya McQuoid.She won an Emmy Awardfor her scene-stealing work.“ThisWhite Lotusthing wasn’t supposed to be anything, really. I mean, look, I think [creator] Mike White is a genius, but I didn’t think it was going to be this incredibly … this wave you can ride and get these opportunities that just keep showing up. Just, my mind is blown,“she told theLos Angeles Times.
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The White Lotus, 2021
Jennifer Coolidge, Sydney Sweeney and Brittany O’Grady in The White Lotus.Mario Perez/HBO
Coolidge reached a new fan base in 2021 with the HBO smashThe White Lotus,in which she played rich damsel in distress Tanya McQuoid.She won an Emmy Awardfor her scene-stealing work.
“ThisWhite Lotusthing wasn’t supposed to be anything, really. I mean, look, I think [creator] Mike White is a genius, but I didn’t think it was going to be this incredibly … this wave you can ride and get these opportunities that just keep showing up. Just, my mind is blown,“she told theLos Angeles Times.
20of 22The White Lotus Season 2, 2022Jennifer Coolidge in The White Lotus.HBOThe actress' star could not rise higher than it did following the dramatic conclusion of the Sicily-set series, which [SPOILER] saw her character killing her would-be kidnappers before tragically dying herself. Coolidge receivedGolden GlobeandCritics Choice Awardsfor her work, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.“My life had been sort of flatlining for quite a while, so this is above and beyond, and it’s a thrill,“Coolidge toldEW.
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The White Lotus Season 2, 2022
Jennifer Coolidge in The White Lotus.HBO
The actress' star could not rise higher than it did following the dramatic conclusion of the Sicily-set series, which [SPOILER] saw her character killing her would-be kidnappers before tragically dying herself. Coolidge receivedGolden GlobeandCritics Choice Awardsfor her work, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
“My life had been sort of flatlining for quite a while, so this is above and beyond, and it’s a thrill,“Coolidge toldEW.
21of 22The Watcher, 2022Eric Liebowitz/NetflixCoolidge returned to her flighty ways as realtor Karen Calhoun inthe Ryan Murphy Netflix thriller.“You sort of dream of playing people like Karen Calhoun because it’s not that much fun to just play someone who’s extremely obedient and ordinary,“Coolidge said in a Q&A with Netflix. “I mean, she’s sort of a wild card. She’s definitely someone that you have no idea what’s going to come out of her. [She] knows what she wants and she’s extremely ambitious. I think when people get ambitious, something can just take over sometimes and things can really run amok.”
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The Watcher, 2022
Eric Liebowitz/Netflix
Coolidge returned to her flighty ways as realtor Karen Calhoun inthe Ryan Murphy Netflix thriller.
“You sort of dream of playing people like Karen Calhoun because it’s not that much fun to just play someone who’s extremely obedient and ordinary,“Coolidge said in a Q&A with Netflix. “I mean, she’s sort of a wild card. She’s definitely someone that you have no idea what’s going to come out of her. [She] knows what she wants and she’s extremely ambitious. I think when people get ambitious, something can just take over sometimes and things can really run amok.”
22of 22Shotgun Wedding, 2023Jennifer Coolidge inShotgun Wedding.Ana Carballosa/LionsgateNext up,Coolidge, now 61, joinsJennifer Lopez,Josh DuhamelandLenny Kravitzin the comedy thrillerShotgun Wedding,expected to drop on Jan. 27.
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Shotgun Wedding, 2023
Jennifer Coolidge inShotgun Wedding.Ana Carballosa/Lionsgate
Next up,Coolidge, now 61, joinsJennifer Lopez,Josh DuhamelandLenny Kravitzin the comedy thrillerShotgun Wedding,expected to drop on Jan. 27.
source: people.com
