Jennifer Coolidge facts for kids

Jennifer Coolidge (born August 28, 1961) is a famous American actress. She is well-known for her funny roles in many movies and TV shows. Jennifer has won several important awards, including a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2023, she was even named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

You might know Jennifer from her roles in the American Pie movies (where she played "Stifler's mom") and the Legally Blonde films. She has also worked with director Christopher Guest on several funny movies like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. Other popular movies she's been in include A Cinderella Story (2004), Click (2006), and Promising Young Woman (2020).

On TV, Jennifer has appeared in sitcoms like Joey and 2 Broke Girls. She received a lot of praise for her role as Tanya McQuoid in the HBO series The White Lotus. For this role, she won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

Early Life and School

Jennifer Coolidge was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 28, 1961. She grew up in a town called Norwell. When she was a kid, she played the clarinet and went to orchestra camp for three summers.

She went to Norwell High School and then the Cambridge School of Weston. After that, she studied at Emerson College in Boston and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. When she was in college, Jennifer wanted to be a serious actress like Meryl Streep. However, she soon found out she was really good at playing funny characters. While studying acting, she even worked as a waitress with another future famous actress, Sandra Bullock.

Acting Career

Starting Out (1993–1999)

Jennifer started her career by playing small roles in comedy movies and TV shows. Her very first TV appearance was in an episode of Seinfeld called "The Masseuse". She also had small parts in movies like A Night at the Roxbury. She even voiced a character named Miss Kremzer on the cartoon King of the Hill. Jennifer also worked with a comedy group called The Groundlings in Los Angeles, where she practiced improv and sketch comedy.

Big Roles in American Pie and Legally Blonde (1999–2006)

Coolidge in 2005

In 1999, Jennifer got a huge role playing Jeanine Stifler, also known as "Stifler's mom," in the movie American Pie. This movie was a big success, earning over $235 million around the world. She played the role again in American Pie 2 (2001) and American Wedding (2003).

In 2001, she also had a memorable role as Paulette Bonafonté Parcelle, the manicurist, in the movie Legally Blonde. This film was also a hit, making $96 million in the U.S. Jennifer returned for the sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, in 2003.

In 2004, she played the funny, self-centered stepmother in the romantic comedy A Cinderella Story, starring Hilary Duff. She also voiced Aunt Fanny in the animated movie Robots in 2005. Jennifer was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2005, which is a big honor in the movie world. In 2006, she appeared in the comedy film Click with Adam Sandler. She also continued to work with director Christopher Guest on his funny mockumentary films like Best in Show and For Your Consideration.

More Comedy and TV Roles (2006–2019)

Jennifer continued to appear in many comedy films, including Date Movie (2006) and Epic Movie (2007). In 2008, she guest-starred in the TV show The Secret Life of the American Teenager, playing a frequently recurring character. She also took on a more serious role in the 2009 film Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.

In October 2011, Jennifer joined the cast of the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls. She played Sophie Kaczyński, a Polish neighbor, and became a main character from the second season until the show ended in 2017. She also lent her voice to animated movies like The Emoji Movie (2017). In 2018, she made a fun appearance in Ariana Grande's music video for her song "Thank U, Next", reprising her role as Paulette from Legally Blonde.

The White Lotus and Recent Success (2020–Present)

In 2020, Jennifer starred in the comedy film Like a Boss and had a supporting role in the critically acclaimed movie Promising Young Woman.

In October 2020, Jennifer was cast as Tanya McQuoid in the comedy-drama series The White Lotus. She played a wealthy woman on vacation who was a bit insecure. The show became very popular, and Jennifer received huge praise for her performance. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for the first season. She returned for the second season of The White Lotus and won another Emmy Award, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She also won a Golden Globe Award for this role.

In 2021, she starred in the Netflix Christmas romantic comedy Single All the Way. In 2022, Jennifer also appeared in the Netflix mini-series The Watcher.

Personal Life

Jennifer Coolidge bought a house in New Orleans in 2005, a city she loved to visit.

She is also known for her charitable work. Jennifer supports groups that help people with AIDS and those that work for animal rights. She tries to follow a plant-based diet and was even named PETA's "Vegan Queen" in 2023. She adopted a dog named Chuy, who was rescued from a meat factory in Korea.

Awards and Honors

Jennifer Coolidge has received many awards for her acting. Here are some of her most notable wins:

• Golden Globe Awards:
  • 2023: Best Supporting Actress – Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film for The White Lotus
• Primetime Emmy Awards:
  • 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The White Lotus
  • 2023: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The White Lotus
• Screen Actors Guild Awards:
  • 2023: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for The White Lotus
  • 2023: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for The White Lotus
• Critics' Choice Television Awards:
  • 2022: Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television for The White Lotus
  • 2023: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The White Lotus
• MTV Movie & TV Awards:
  • 2023: Most Frightened Performance for The White Lotus
  • 2023: Comedic Genius Award
• Teen Choice Awards:
  • 2005: Choice Movie: Sleazebag for A Cinderella Story

Images for kids

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  Jennifer Coolidge in 2005

See also

In Spanish: Jennifer Coolidge para niños