Jennifer Coolidge’s status as a sex symbol was firmly cemented when she played Stifler’s Mom in the 1999 film, American Pie. At the time, she was 37 years old and one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood. Little did she know that 22 years later, her personal life would get a second boost and change her sex life forever.
“Look, I got a lot of benefits out of Stifler’s Mom — believe me,” Coolidge told The Sunday Times about her romantic life. “They might be over now, but once in a while you still get a Stifler’s Mom thing.” While Gen Z might not have any inkling about that iconic role, they certainly know about her work in The White Lotus.
Coolidge starred in Seasons 1 and 2 of the hot HBO series as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, the heiress seeking inner peace after the death of her mother. It was clear from the get-go that the 63-year-old actress was going to be a scene stealer anytime she was onscreen. Coolidge described her character as a “complete weirdo,” but that hasn’t stopped “cute guys” from approaching her.
“And this is far better than American Pie because people were really sad about Tanya falling off a boat,” she admitted. “These men like you better because they feel that you went through something. That show really upped my game!” Coolidge revealed that all types of men are “sweeping” her off her feet these days and she believes that “White Lotus changed that for me.”
Still, Coolidge was reluctant to tackle of the role of Tanya when she was offered the project. It was just after the lockdown period of the pandemic, and she wasn’t feeling physically fit. “I wanted to look a certain way when you’re on film … I was not ready for this cool opportunity. It goes to show, you should always be in the best shape because you just don’t know,” she revealed to People in November 2021.
It took a friend to convince her not to turn down the role because Tanya was such a multi-dimensional character — something Coolidge was skilled at delivering. “It’s a miracle that happened. What a fluke, you know?” she admitted. “I just can’t believe it.” That role went on to win her two Emmys in the supporting actress category.
Coolidge has always embraced her sexuality in a healthy way. “American Pie was just — it helped my dating life in a way that I can’t ever explain,” she told Entertainment Weekly in December 2022. “If I hadn’t had that movie, I don’t think… Well, let’s just say it would’ve been a very dull decade. But it did sort of open up the world to a much broader group of handsome men — and younger men.”
Let’s hear it for Coolidge being open and honest about sex in every season of life.
Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have opened up about their sex lives.
