Source: Instagram | @jennifercoolidge
We’ve entered the golden age for our favorite rich madame stereotype.
Despite her continuous career in both films and movies, it feels like we’ve been introduced and reintroduced to character actor Jennifer Coolidge many times, starting from the late 90’s. Depending on your age, you might have first seen her as either:
Stiffler’s Mom in the 90’s (American Pie)
Reese Witherspoon’s vibe check-in (Legally Blonde)
Hillary Duff's evil stepmother in the 2000’s (A Cinderella Story)
Or even The White Lotus’ favorite patron, Tanya McQuoid, a role that earned her an Emmy.
We all know someone like the characters she’s typecast as, and they’re often not as likable. One common thread with her portrayals is Jennifer’s willingness to exude a special type of American exuberance. She’s always high class and yet trashy, rich yet in poor taste. No matter how low her characters go- we are HERE for it because she is committed. Jennifer infuses even the smallest roles with humor and personality. Her style is the ultimate form of self deprecation, and if you know that female comics often have to “look funny” to succeed, she’s owned this terrible fact in the most perfect way. We can always see more from our favorite hyper fixations, so we recommend checking out the following lesser-known movies to scratch your Jennifer-shaped itch (and see her do something dramatic!):
"Like a Boss" (2020) - Where Jennifer plays a struggling entrepreneur trying to keep her cosmetics company afloat. While the film is primarily a comedy, Coolidge's performance adds emotional depth to the character and her desires.
"American Dreamz" (2006) - Jennifer plays the ambitious mother of a talentless contestant on a singing competition show. Her character's desire for fame and fortune is played for laughs, but Coolidge's performance adds depth to the character's desperation and vulnerability.