It turns out, playing the iconic character has had a significant impact, beyond just her acting career.
Yet, it’s her knack for bringing characters like ‘Stifler’s mom’ to life that has left an indelible mark, especially among millennials who instantly recognize the reference.
Stepping into the shoes of Jeanine Stifler in 1999, Coolidge portrayed the quintessential attractive older woman who becomes the object of her son’s friends’ affections.
Coolidge believes that her role as Stifler’s mom significantly spiced up her love life, a confession she made during a 2022 interview with Variety.
“I mean, there would be like 200 people that I would never have slept with,” she explained.
Despite the fame and experiences her role brought, Coolidge reflected on the downside of being typecast in comedic roles during her conversation with Variety.
She voiced concerns that Hollywood pigeonholed her, limiting her opportunities to tackle more serious roles.
“If I’m not getting great roles, I come to the conclusion that people think I’m incapable of that.”
Thankfully, her portrayal of Tanya McQuoid in HBO’s “The White Lotus” has not only revitalized her career but also led to her first Emmy nomination, a testament to her versatile acting skills.
“If Mike was never successful, and we just did White Lotus as a play in a little theatre where everyone paid 10 bucks to see it, it would still be one of the greatest things that ever happened to me.”
“Because it was a killer job that no one else thought I could do,” she said.
