Jennifer Coolidge Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Bend and snap! Jennifer Coolidge has been a Hollywood staple for years — but her role on The White Lotus reinforced that the “Jenaissance” is officially here.
The Watcher star, 61, first rose to fame in the early 2000s starring in a string of cult-classic comedies including the American Pie franchise, where she portrayed Stifler’s mom. She also landed roles in 2001’s Legally Blonde and Zoolander, 2004’s A Cinderella Story and more.
Coolidge officially reached A-lister status, however, when she nabbed the part of Tanya in season 1 and 2 of HBO’s The White Lotus, which premiered in 2021. The Promising Young Woman actress earned multiple awards and nominations — including her first-ever Emmy in 2022 as well as a 2023 Golden Globe and two 2023 SAG Awards — for her portrayal of the fan-favorite character.
While the comedian has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, there’s so much you don’t know about her. Coolidge exclusively told Us Weekly 25 fun facts about herself — including the president she’s related to and how she lives in a haunted house.
Did we get your attention? Keep scrolling to find out more that you might not know about Coolidge:
1. My favorite flowers are peonies.
2. I went on vacation and dated two guys who knew each other. I told them I had an identical twin and went out with both of them.
3. When I was 10, I made [a] remake of Jaws. My dad swam with a fin on his back and my sister was the shark victim.
4. I’ve always loved film. I begged teachers to let me substitute movies for papers.
5. I love animals. My dog Chuy was rescued from a meat factory in Korea, thanks to The Animal Rescue Mission.
6. I probably have more costumes than regular clothes.
7. I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts.
8. I was born without any energy so everyday involves at least 12 shots of espresso.
9. My house in New Orleans is 150 years old. Some say it’s haunted.
10. In my first serious play, my family didn’t recognize me because I was playing a man.
Jennifer Coolidge and Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde Tracy Bennett/Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock
11. I get along with most of my exes.
12. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
13. If I can’t find a hair tie [for] a ponytail, I just use my underwear.
14. The best gift I ever received was a trip to Africa from my friend Mike. We slept in tents on the Serengeti. I would search the tent for hours looking for snakes [but] never saw one.
15. I used to be able to run really fast.
16. I was once locked out of the house and I jumped the fence but didn’t know the gardener had put a new stake in the yard. I got impaled. It was a bloody mess. I’m lucky to be alive.
17. If I wasn’t an actor, I would [want to] be a billionaire that gave away money to people and animals that deserved it.
18. In second grade, we had a contest for who could name the six guinea pigs in the classroom. I named one Bell Bottoms. I can’t believe they went for it. Even I knew it was lame.
19. Also in second grade, my teacher asked us all to write a flattering paragraph about our moms for Mother’s Day. I found the book recently. [My] opening sentence was: “My mother has soft brown eyes like a cow.”
20. I went to an orchestra camp for three summers. I played the clarinet. I thought I might do it for a living.
21. I’m the only person I know that has become less intelligent as they’ve gotten older.
22. I am related to President Calvin Coolidge. I’m his sixth cousin twice removed.
23. Sometimes I try to figure out how many pieces of gum I can put into my mouth at once.
24. If I was stranded alone on an island, I would bring a tweezer, a magnifying mirror and some espresso.
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25. I’ve always looked old for my age. I bought a case of beer when I was 11 with my neighbor’s wig.