Jennifer Coolidge says Ariana Grande helped revive ‘flat-lining’ career with cameo in music video

 Jennifer Coolidge has personally credited Ariana Grande with helping revive her ‘flat-lining’ career with a cameo in her iconic Thank U, Next music video from 2018.

The 61-year-old actress – who stars in highly-popular series The White Lotus which aired its season 2 finale on Sunday – sat down for an interview with the 29-year-old singer.

The sit-down between the two stars was part of Jennifer being named one of Entertainment Weekly’s 2022 Entertainers of the Year.

Bond: The 61-year-old actress – who stars in highly-popular series The White Lotus which aired its season 2 finale on Sunday – sat down for an interview with the 29-year-old singer, they are seen in the Thank U, Next music video from 2018

The two stars are obviously massive fans of each other as they exchanged plenty of pleasantries with the veteran actress telling Ariana: ‘No, really, you’re a superstar, and you know you’re a superstar. 

‘But 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. 

‘I mean, from there I got Promising Young Woman, and this whole thing. You were sort of the instigator. I really believe that. I think if you hadn’t put me in Thank U, Next, and done that imitation, I don’t think I would be here where I am.’

The two stars are obviously massive fans of each other as they exchanged plenty of pleasantries with the veteran actress telling Ariana: ‘No, really, you’re a superstar, and you know you’re a superstar’

Jennifer was referencing a now iconic clip of Ariana doing an impression of her character from Legally Blonde during a 2018 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appearance as she said: ‘I think if you hadn’t put me in Thank U, Next, and done that imitation, I don’t think I would be here where I am’

‘I think if you hadn’t put me in Thank U, Next, and done that imitation, I don’t think I would be here where I am’: Jennifer had reprised her Legally Blonde character Paula – who was Elle Woods’ manicurist and confidant – for the video as they chatted about Ariana’s dating life

Jennifer was referencing a now iconic clip of Ariana doing an impression of her character from Legally Blonde during a 2018 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appearance.

Ariana hit back at the bold comment as she said it ‘is absolutely the most untrue thing I’ve ever heard in my life,’ to which Jennifer replied: ‘No, I really think that.

‘And I think it’s pretty cool. I was kind of flatlining, and you got things going for me. I just want to thank you. I know you’re a very humble person, you wouldn’t admit to it, but I’m just going to thank you.’ 

Jennifer had reprised her Legally Blonde character Paula – who was Elle Woods’ manicurist and confidant – for the music video as they chatted about Ariana’s dating life.

‘No one is more deserving of all of the flowers’: Ariana posted about her Entertainment Weekly interview with Jennifer as she gushed about the star

Her moment: Jennifer has famously starred as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt in HBO black comedy The White Lotus over the past two seasons as she even earned a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category back in September for the role

Of their time filming together, the singer said: ‘I love you so much. I think the timing was just so beautiful, and you just deserved the entire world. 

‘I’m shy, and I just felt so lucky you did that video. Thank you for doing that, by the way. That was one of the most fun days of my entire life.’

After making a cameo in the music video, Jennifer’s career was hotter than ever as she went on to star alongside Carey Mulligan in Emerald Fennell written and directed film Promising Young Woman.

Jennifer has famously starred as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt in HBO black comedy The White Lotus over the past two seasons as she even earned a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category back in September for the role.

Jennifer said her latest run has been rewarding as she explained: ‘You get more screen time to play somebody with all sorts of problems and complications. And someone like Tanya on White Lotus, that was a very sort of complicated, messed up person’

After starring on early 2000s comedy films including Best In Show, American Pie, and Legally Blonde, Jennifer said that she is proud of her more recent work where she has been able to play more dynamic characters.

Along with The White Lotus she has also starred as Karen Calhoun in Netflix series The Watcher which was released earlier this year.

Jennifer said her latest run has been rewarding as she explained: ‘You get more screen time to play somebody with all sorts of problems and complications. And someone like Tanya on White Lotus, that was a very sort of complicated, messed up person. 

‘I’d never been given a part like that, ever. And then creepy Karen in The Watcher. That was someone I had a really good time playing this year. She was sort of the opposite of Tanya, sort of awful. It was just such two great opportunities — actually three, because I got [two seasons of White Lotus]. It sort of completely changed my life.’