The White Lotus star Jen Coolidge conceded she “doesn’t work out and can’t hold it that long” when asking the audience if she could put her first-ever Golden Globe down, as she gave a speech accepting the award and declaring your “giant ideas” get “fizzled by life”, but key supporters can bring them back to life.
Coolidge’s speech was described as ten out of ten by some on social media. She was funny, graceful, vulnerable, honest and very, very gracious.
And she delivered plenty of inspiration for anyone thinking of giving up on their career dreams.
Coolidge played Tanya in The White Lotus, the only actor to feature in both seasons of the multi award-winning show. She received the award for best supporting actress in a limited series.
While she long had big ambitions and dreams, she said they’d been fading. “You get older, and you think… Fuck. None of that shit is going to happen.”
She told the audience that there were “like five people” in the room there that kept her going with little jobs of the years, she singled out creators including Ryan Murchy and Michael Patrick King.
I didn’t know anybody. It was just this thing it wasn’t going anywhere. These cute little jobs, it’d just be enough for the next one, the next one. “American Pie I milked that to death, I’m still down for [sequels] six or seven, whatever they want,” she laughed.
The video footage from the speech shows King crying in the audience, as Coolidge said that he had “changed my life in a million different ways” and noted how much of a good person he is.
“My neighbours are speaking to me… I was never invited to one party on my hill, and now everyone’s inviting me.”
Coolidge has previously told reporters she lacks confidence in acting, even after winning an Emmy for her role in season one of The White Lotus. “I want you to know this, my insecurity never wavers, it’s strong, “ she said back in 2022. “It all feels like a fluke.”
Coolidge was born in and raised in Boston, and made her first television appeared in a Seinfeld episode. She appeared in supporting roles in the American Pie (playing Jeanine Stifler or ‘Stilfer’s mum) and Legal Blonde films — both franchises becoming massive and big-earning hits, as well as a number of television series in including Joey, 2 Broke Girls and The Watcher.
Coolidge ended her speech by declaring “This is a fun night.” She’s just the person we need for 2023.
Read Jess Tu’s recent take on the final episode of The White Lotus here (spoilers).