The White Lotus spoilers follow.
Jennifer Coolidge has explained why her role on The White Lotus was "far better than American Pie".
The actor played self-absorbed heiress Tanya McQuoid on the show and was an instant hit among audiences. Though she was killed off in season two, the role resulted in multiple award wins for Coolidge and has even improved her dating life.
"Even though I play a complete weirdo in White Lotus, cute guys come up to me," Coolidge told The Sunday Times.
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"This is far better than American Pie because people were really 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."
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Following her role as Jeanine Stifler in the 1999 comedy movie, Coolidge's career started to slump. She recalled being overlooked for roles as a casting agents only thought of her as Stifler's Mom from American Pie.
"I got very odd jobs — I had no guidance at all," the actor said. "I didn't know how to play the game." She added: "I played a lot of highly strung rich women — people thought 'Oh, that's just what she does.'"
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The 2021 White Lotus role put Coolidge back in the limelight, as her portrayal of Tanya gripped both fans and critics. The character was conceived by the show's creator (and Coolidge's longtime friend) Mike White, after he shared a tent with the star during an African vacation.
Coolidge apparently behaved "eccentrically" on the trip, becoming the inspiration for Tanya. "Do I think any other director would have chosen me for Tanya? Probably not," she reflected.
Elsewhere in the interview, Coolidge addressed being written out of the series, sharing: "You have to be a good sport about it, but I went 'Oh, really? Really?' I whined and then just let it go."
The White Lotus airs on Sky Atlantic and streams on Sky Go and NOW in the UK, with new season 3 episodes every Monday. The show airs on HBO and streams on Max in the US.
Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
