Jennifer Coolidge believes she wouldn’t have landed a starring role in The White Lotus if she didn’t star in Ariana Grande’s Thank U Next music video.
The American Pie megastar, 61, has received acclaim for her portrayal of Tanya McQuoid in the drama – which aired its shocking season two finale on Sunday – and her appearance in Netflix’s true-crime The Watcher.
However, Jennifer has credited singer Ariana, 29, for asking her to feature in her star-studded thank u next music video, which dropped in November 2018.
The Jeanine Stifler actress paid homage to her Legally Blonde character Paulette Bonafonte and the breathin’ performer channelled her inner Elle Woods in a nail salon.
‘I do want to say this: I mean, a lot of people say very flattering things to you all the time because you are who you are, and you’re the youngest iconic legend I can think of,’ Jennifer told Ariana during an interview for EW.
She added: ‘I’m curious if you know that when people ask about how my life has changed… Yes, I got to do White Lotus, but I think it really started with you asking me to be in the Thank U, Next video.’
Jennifer even branded Ariana an ‘instigator’ for the opportunities that followed her cameo.
Although Ariana might’ve been flattered, she hailed Jennifer’s claims as ‘untrue,’ but Jennifer replied: ‘I was kind of flatlining, and you got things going for me. I just want to thank you.’
Jennifer accepted the outstanding supporting actress for her role as Tanya during this year’s Emmy Awards.
Despite The White Lotus’ success, Jennifer has opened up about the reservations she first had when she joined the cast.
The actress said she worried she was ‘too fat’ to be on camera, after she gained weight in the Covid-19 lockdowns.
She said: ‘It was Covid, [I was] locked up with this very nice girl that I knew in New Orleans. She was sort of a friend [and] my house sitter.
‘It was just very lonely times, and so she and I got obsessed with these vegan pizzas and we were eating a lot of them each day.’
The White Lotus is available to stream on NOW.
