The Legally Blonde star made her first appearance as the rich, needy, and self-absorbed Tanya McQuoid in the acclaimed comedy drama in its first season back in 2021.
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Tanya quickly became a fan-favouriteand returned for the show’s second season with some unforgettable lines, including the forever-memed quote: “These gays, they’re trying to murder me.”
But in a new interview, Jennifer has admitted that she almost didn’t accept the part.
Speaking to British GQ about how she felt after landing the role, Jennifer admitted: “I was, like, not in the mood.”
“I was depressed,” she added. “I was very depressed.”
Luckily, Jennifer had a change of heart and committed to the show.
Her efforts were subsequently rewarded as she picked up an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Tanya, putting her career in a completely new direction.
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Jennifer Coolidge with her two SAG Awards
FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images
The White Lotus is a satirical anthology series created by former School Of Rock star Mike White, with each season set in a different branch of a luxury hotel resort chain.
The second series arrived in November 2022 and, set in Sicily, Italy, followed the demise and eventual death of Jennifer’s character.
Divulging what she had hoped the most recent season would have in store for her, Jennifer added to the publication: “I had encouraged Mike to tell an Italian story, I said I would love to be in Italy or something, riding around on a Vespa with all these men reaching out and trying to light my cigarette.
“That’s my fantasy. But then I guess that suggestion got me killed.”
It was announced last year that The White Lotus would be returning for a third series, with reports claiming that it will be set in Thailand.
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In April, it was confirmed that Natasha Rothwell – who played Belinda Lindsey on the first season – will be reprising her role.
Seasons one and two of The White Lotus are streaming on NOW in the UK.
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Jennifer starred as the lovably loony Tanya McQuoid-Hunt in the first two seasons of The White Lotus. She recently scored her first Golden Globe and her first Emmy for her role in the series, which has led to a massive career resurgence for the actor.
At the end of season two, many viewers were shocked and upset after Jennifer’s character narrowly escaped death, only to die a silly accidental death later.
After Tanya was killed off, fans quickly flooded Twitter with some pretty noteworthy plot ideas for how to resurrect her in the show’s upcoming season.
theres no white lotus without jennifer coolidge like they have to bring her back as tanya’s twin or something next season
they could literally just bring tanya back for season 3 of white lotus and nobody would bat an eye. like mike wouldn’t even need to justify it plot-wise, nobody would question it. or give us her identical twin who got the other half a billion
While Coolidge was speaking with ET’s Denny Directo alongside her co-star, Jon Gries (who plays Greg Hunt), Gries tossed out the idea that “Jennifer play Jennifer’s sister.”
However, Jennifer rapidly turned down the idea. “I don’t think Mike’s going to allow that,” she said, referring to the show’s creator, Mike White.
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When ET told Jennifer about Twitter’s viral campaign to get Pamela Anderson on the show, she seemed to enjoy the idea of the Baywatch icon joining the cast as Tanya’s sister.
“I just recently saw Pam’s documentary and I called 100 people to watch it. And I swear to God, we all had the same reaction. It’s amazing,” Jennifer said, gushing about Anderson’s recent Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story. “You finally get the real story, and she’s got this huge comeback.”
Though plot details are still under wraps for the forthcoming season of The White Lotus, Pamela reacted to mounting fan requests to see her cast on the series during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show earlier this month.
Sharing that she’s “up for anything,” the star cautiously added, “I think that would be an incredible challenge, but like I said, I’m not an ambitious person. I just like to go with the flow.”
Pamela continued, “So, I don’t really know what’s next, but I know I haven’t really had the opportunity to see what I’m capable of on film yet.”
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In the Unpacking S2 E7 clip at the end of the White Lotuss season two finale, White hinted that season three could take place in Asia and focus on “death and Eastern religion and spirituality.”
“The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex,” Mike White said. “I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”
The good news? We’ve made it through January, congratulations one and all. The bad news? We’ve still got February to get through.
Fortunately, if the thought of four more weeks of cold wintery nights ahead is filling you with dread, we’re happy to report that Netflix has some great programming coming up to keep us entertained until spring is here.
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Here’s a selection of the shows and films coming to the streaming giant in the next month…
Girls5Eva
Peacock via Getty Images
Streaming from: 1 February
What’s it about? When a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 1990s gets sampled by a young rapper, its members reunite to give their pop star dreams one more shot ― this time while balancing spouses, kids, jobs, debt, aging parents, and shoulder pain.
Originally airing on the streaming service Peacock, it has now been picked up by Netflix for its upcoming third run after its original home cancelled it.
Gunther’s Millions
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Streaming from: 1 February
What’s it about? Multi-millionaire Gunther VI lives in the lap of luxury: He travels on private planes, eats gold-flaked steaks for dinner, and surrounds himself with a glamorous entourage of spokesmodels and entertainers. He is also a German shepherd.
As the legend goes, Gunther’s great-grandfather was originally owned by a mysterious countess whose son died tragically. Having no heirs, the countess bequeathed her considerable fortune to her beloved dog, and placed him in the care of her son’s close friend, an Italian pharmaceutical heir and aspiring impresario named Maurizio Mian.
“Over the past 30 years, Mian has built an empire on behalf of his canine boss, including glamorous real estate purchases, controversial social experiments, and one of the biggest tax fraud schemes of all time. It’s a fairy tale both beautiful and bizarre, and naturally, questions abound.”
You (season four)
Streaming from: 9 February (part one)
What’s it about? One of Netflix’s most gripping originals is back for a fourth run, and after the jaw-dropping events of season three, Joe (played by Penn Badgley) arrives in London where he soon adopts a new identity and, of course, wastes no time in looking for “love”.
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Excitingly, a new location means a brand new cast, with Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat, Feel Good) and Lukas Gage (Love Victor, The White Lotus) joining the fun this time around, which sees the tables being turned on our anti-hero.
As with a number of their hit shows, Netflix has split the new season into two halves, the first of which is coming in February, with the second following in March.
Dear David
Streaming from: 9 February
What’s it about? An Indonesian teen romance.
A straight-A high schooler’s life is turned upside down when her risqué blog about her crush is leaked to everyone at school.
Your Place Or Mine
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Streaming from: 10 February
What’s it about? Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon star in this romantic comedy arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Debbie and Peter are best friends and total opposites. She craves routine with her son in LA; he thrives on change in NY. When they swap houses and lives for a week they discover what they think they want might not be what they really need.
In Love All Over Again
CARLA OSETCARLA OSET/NETFLIX
Streaming from: 14 February
What’s it about? September 2003. Irene comes to Madrid aiming to conquer the world and to become a film director. She will meet her best friends there as well as Julio, who would be the perfect lead role for her films and her life. But life has other plans.
In Love All Over Again is a romantic comedy. A gleaming story with a dash of nostalgia about the love and friendship that blooms during college years and the need to find your place in the world.
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African Queens: Njinga
Joe Alblas/Netflix
Streaming from: 15 February
What’s it about? From Executive Producer Jada Pinkett Smith comes a new documentary series exploring the lives of prominent and iconic African Queens.
The first season will cover the life of Njinga, the complex, captivating, and fearless 17th century warrior queen of Ndongo and Matamba, in modern day Angola. The nation’s first female ruler, Njinga earned a reputation for her blend of political and diplomatic skill with military prowess and became an icon of resistance.
Ganglands (season two)
Sofie Gheysens/Netflix
Streaming from: 17 February
What’s it about? Return of the French action crime thriller series. Mehdi, a qualified robber, and Liana, an apprentice thief, get involved in a turf war between drug dealers, and have to collaborate in order to save their loved ones.
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We Have A Ghost
Streaming from: 24 February
What’s it about? Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin’s family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest go rogue to investigate the mystery of Ernest’s past, they become a target of the CIA.
This family comedy stars Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge, Stranger Things’ David Harbour, Marvel star Anthony Mackie and comedian Tig Notaro.
Too Hot To Handle: Germany
Too Hot To Handle: Germany
Streaming from: 28 February
What’s it about? The hottest German-speaking singles come together in a tropical paradise for what they think will be the most exotic and erotic time of their lives — but there’s a twist. These commitment-phobes who love a casual hook-up, will have to give up all sexy touching for the entire retreat if they want to win the €200,000 grand prize.
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No kissing, no heavy petting, and no self-gratification of any kind. With every slip, the prize money goes down.
In this luxury no-bone zone, will the serial singletons be able to form deeper emotional connections? Or will the temptation simply be too hot to handle?”
Just when you thought you couldn’t love Jennifer Coolidge any more than you already did.
The White Lotus star has joined TikTok and gifted us all with a truly iconic debut clip featuring a (ahem) “poem” and one seriously A-list cameo.
“Hi, this is my first TikTok,” the Legally Blonde star begins.
“And I was trying to think of something cool to do, and I think I’m just gonna do a poem that I like.”
And no, Jen didn’t choose Shakespeare…
Jennifer and J-Lo’s appearance in the TikTok clip comes as the two stars promote their new rom-com, Shotgun Wedding.
Speaking to ET about working with the recent Emmy and Golden Globe-winning star on the film, J-Lo said “iIt was one of those things where everything came together.”
Their co-star Josh Duhamel was also full of praise for the American Pie star, admitting he was a “huge fan”.
“She is a wonderful person to have around the set. She’s very chill,” he said.
“What I’ll never forget about working with Jennifer was that we didn’t know if she was like, doing it on purpose or if it was like part of her thing ― it’s almost like an Andy Kaufman thing,” he said of Jennifer’’s oddball character choices.
“It makes everybody feel like we need another take, and she’s like, ‘No, I’m good.’ And then you see it, and it’s brilliant… She’s one of those enigmas.”
