
The 'White Lotus' actress Jennifer Coolidge reflects on her career downturn and the challenges she was facing before making a comeback with her role in the 'White Lotus'.
- Mar 24, 2025
AceShowbiz - Jennifer Coolidge, known for her comedic prowess in films like "Legally Blonde" and "American Pie", candidly revealed the challenges she faced in her career before the "White Lotus" gave her career resurgence.
The 63-year-old actress reflected on her disappointing downturn after playing the iconic role of Stifler's Mom. Despite appearing in over 129 productions, Jennifer found herself in a series of unimpressive "odd jobs" post-"American Pie: Reunion" in 2012.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Jennifer confessed, "I had no guidance at all. I didn't know how to play the game."
She added that she was often typecast as "highly strung rich women," which pigeonholed her talents. "I wasn't aggressive enough - if someone didn't like me or think I was talented, I took their word for it," Jennifer explained.
The turning point came with her role as Tanya McQuoid in HBO's satire, "The White Lotus". Jennifer's portrayal of the naive yet lovable Tanya received critical acclaim and earned her awards at the Golden Globes, Emmys, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards. Her performance resonated with viewers, making her an indispensable part of the show's success.
However, the third season of "The White Lotus" has faced harsh criticism for its slow pacing, with critics like Joyce Carol Oates calling it "agonisingly slow" and lamenting the lack of humor that characterized the previous seasons.
In a series of posts on X, Oates noted, "White Lotus is certainly roiling with subplots & back stories while moving with glacial slowness in the present."
Despite these criticisms, many fans and critics came to the show's defense, suggesting that the nuanced storytelling requires patience and a deeper appreciation.
Calls for Jennifer's return in future seasons have been loud, with many missing her over-the-top antics as Tanya, which brought a much-needed levity to the show's cerebral satire.