The Hollywood star on almost saying no to her new hit HBO drama White Lotus, doing sex scenes in her 50s – and pretending to be a Hemingway
Boston-born Jennifer Coolidge, 59, trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and joined improv comedy troupe the Groundlings. She’s a regular in director Christopher Guest’s mockumentary films, including Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. She broke into mainstream Hollywood comedy with American Pie and Legally Blonde, while her TV roles include sitcoms Joey and 2 Broke Girls. She now stars in HBO drama The White Lotus, which comes to Sky Atlantic on 16 August.
You’re talking from your house in New Orleans. The decor is quite unusual, isn’t it?
From my movies, people assume it’ll be all pink couches and fluffy rugs. They’re surprised I live in this very old, dark house with creepy oil portraits on the walls. It’s gloomy and cavernous. I have an antique automaton called Signor Blitz. When people come round for the first time, they feel like they’re on a haunted house tour or a fairground ride. Sofia Coppola shot [southern gothic film] The Beguiled here. I throw a Halloween party every year. But hey, it’s good to confound expectations.