Jennifer Coolidge got emotional while recalling a childhood anecdote during her acceptance speech at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild awards.
The White Lotus star, 61, won for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Tanya on season 2 of the hit HBO series.
As she accepted the honor the actress first thanked the show’s creator, Mike White, before getting emotional while talking about her ‘amazing parents’ and how they inspired her to act.
‘I had these amazing parents. And they had this incredible gift. It was impossible for them to lie,’ the blonde bombshell explained.
‘They just couldn’t do it. Never, they just never lied,’ she went one, before sharing how one day her father broke his rule and took her out of school after making up a fake excuse, so that he could take her to the Charlie Chaplin film festival.
Emotional win: Jennifer Coolidge got emotional while recalling a childhood anecdote during her acceptance speech at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild awards
‘The school principal came to my first grade class and said that I needed to be called to the office. And I went to the office and she said, “Your father is here”‘ the star shared.
‘My father was sitting there and saying “Yeah, Jenny, we have to go,”‘ Coolidge recalled.
‘And the principal said, “Jennifer, get well” and I didn’t know what that meant,’ she said as the audience laughed.
‘And then I got in the car with my dad and he was driving and he said, “I’m never going to tell a lie again, but we’re going somewhere really cool.”
Coolidge then explained that her dad took her to the festival, which left quite a big impression of her and inspired her love of acting.
‘I swear to God, seeing Charlie Chaplin for the first time, and having that experience – it’s my love of film, it’s my love of actors, all of that came from my first grade.’
The Legally Blonde star also thanked White, saying: ‘Mike White, you can give money to friends … and people like money. The best gift you can give to someone is change their perspective. And that’s what Mike White did for me.’
At the end of her speech she hilariously thanked her friend and date for the night, actor Tim Bagley, 65. ‘My wonderful date Tim Bagley is my date tonight, he’s my best bud for like 20 years. Thank you, you’re a wonderful date tonight, I can’t wait until we get home,’ she said to a roar of laughter from the audience.
Winner: The White Lotus star, 61, won for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Tanya on season 2 of the hit HBO series
Honored: As she accepted the honor the actress first thanked the show’s creator, Mike White, before getting emotional while talking about her ‘amazing parents’
Her parents’ gift: ‘I had these amazing parents. And they had this incredible gift. It was impossible for them to lie. They just couldn’t do it,’ the blonde bombshell explained
Sweet: She then shared how one day her father broke his rule and took her out of school after making up a fake excuse, so that he could take her to the Charlie Chaplin film festival
That’s how it all started: ‘I swear to God, seeing Charlie Chaplin for the first time, and having that experience – it’s my love of film, it’s my love of actors, all of that came from my first grade’
Hilarious: At the end of her speech she hilariously thanked her friend and date for the night, actor Tim Bagley, 65
Spicy: ‘Thank you, you’re a wonderful date tonight, I can’t wait until we get home,’ she said to a roar of laughter from the audience (pictured with Tim)
SAG Awards 2023 WINNERS: AT A GLANCE
FILM
Cast in a Motion Picture: Everything Everywhere All At Once
Male Actor in a Leading Role: Brendan Fraser – The Whale
Female Actor in a Leading Role: Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All At Once
Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All At Once
Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All At Once
How sweet it is: Everything Everywhere All At Once nearly swept the film categories including top honor Cast in a Motion Picture
TELEVISION
Ensemble in a Drama Series: The White Lotus
Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Abbott Elementary
Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Sam Elliott – 1883
Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Jessica Chastain – George & Tammy
Male Actor in a Drama Series: Jason Bateman – Ozark
Female Actor in a Drama Series: Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart – Hacks
Coolidge stunned in a low-cut, figure-hugging gown at the ceremony.
The beauty looked like a pin-up doll with a voluminous blowout hairstyle while wearing the floor-sweeping black dress that highlighted her figure as she posed on the red carpet.
The American Pie alum also took to Instagram to show off her getting ready ahead of making her red carpet appearance.
Later, the White Lotus star was joined by her castmates as the hit HBO show is Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in the drama series category.
She paired her busty number with a black headband and shimmering diamond jewelry.
The comeback queen wore a pair of dangling diamond earrings and the matching tennis bracelets over the sleeves of her dress.
She carried a black, rectangular clutch as she posed on the red carpet.
For makeup, she looked glamorous in a sultry makeup look with an emphasis on cat-eye liner and full, fluttering eyelashes.
Winner! She proudly posed with her awards backstage. The star also won for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in the drama series category
Thrilled: The beauty beamed a happy smile while posing for the shutterbugs at the event
Celebration: Later, the White Lotus star was joined by her castmates as they celebrated their victory
Having a blast: The actress was pictured having a blast at the ceremony
Mingling: She was snapped with Eugene Levy who looked handsome in a navy suit
Belle of the ball: She was the belle of the ball, posing with Paolo Camilli, Bruno Gouery, and Francesco Zecca in another shot
She added a little pop of color with a coral blush and a pink, glossy lip.
In a short clip she shared to her Instagram Story, Coolidge said ‘I’m at the SAG Awards. I’ve never been invited before. ‘It’s my first time,’ she continued. ‘And I’m excited.’
Some of her costars were also spotted posing on the red carpet, including: Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Theo James, and Leo Woodall.
Everything Everywhere All At Once nearly swept the film categories at the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night as Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ke Huy Quan were all recognized with Brendan Fraser enjoying his comeback moment with a tearful speech as he earned a top honor.
The American absurdist comedy-drama film also earned the top award of the night Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the star-studded event which took place place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, California.
The film beat out star-studded casts including: Babylon, The Banshees Of Inisherin, The Fabelmans, and Women Talking.
Yeoh, Curtis, and Quan all gave brief speeches before allowing ‘patriarch and friend’ James Hong to take the mic for most of the final acceptance speech.
The 94-year-old acting legend said: ‘I got my first SAG card 70 years ago. My first movie was with Clark Gable but back in those days I have to tell you the leading role was played by guys with their eyes taped up and they talked like this because the producer said Asians are not good enough and they are not box office, but look at us now, huh?
Award season darling: Coolidge stunned in a low-cut, figure-hugging gown at the ceremony
Blonde bombshell: The star looked incredible as she posed up
First time: The American Pie alum also took to Instagram to show off her getting ready ahead of making her red carpet appearance and said ‘I’m at the SAG Awards. I’ve never been invited before’
The White Lotus Queen: She earned her first Golden Globe nomination last year for her performance in the first season of the show
Squad goals: The White Lotus was the biggest winner on the television side as the HBO series earned Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in addition to a Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series win for Jennifer Coolidge
‘We’re not all Chinese but Jamie Lee is a good Chinese name… I feel very akin to her and I’ve never had such a good time as I did with these jerks on the movie.’
The film is centered around a middle-aged Chinese immigrant named Evelyn Wang (played by Yeoh) who is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
Yeoh, 60, became the first ever Asian actress to earn Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role as she triumphed over: Cate Blanchett -Tar, Viola Davis – The Woman King, Ana de Armas – Blonde, and Danielle Deadwyler – Till.
Earlier in the night Jamie Lee Curtis, 64, planted a big smooch on Yeoh shortly after her name was announced as the winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.
Curtis won over an impressive field including: Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Hong Chau – The Whale, Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin, and Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Meanwhile castmate Ke Huy Quan earned Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for the same American absurdist comedy-drama film.
The 51-year-old actor got emotional as he revealed that he was the first Asian male actor to ever win the award.
Though Everything Everywhere All At Once earned four of the main five film awards, Brendan Fraser continued his comeback tour in emotional fashion as he earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for The Whale.
Epic: Brendan Fraser enjoyed his comeback moment with a tearful speech as he earned top honor
Golden: The film beat out star-studded casts including: Babylon, The Banshees Of Inisherin, The Fabelmans, and Women Talking
The film is centered around a middle-aged Chinese immigrant named Evelyn Wang (played by Yeoh; center) who is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led
Trailblazing: Yeoh, 60, became the first ever Asian actress to earn Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role as she triumphed over: Cate Blanchett -Tar, Viola Davis – The Woman King, Ana de Armas – Blonde, and Danielle Deadwyler – Till
Bond: Jamie Lee Curtis was elated and kissed co-star Michelle Yeoh on the lips as she won at the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards
The 64-year-old actress was announced as the winner of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for Everything Everywhere All At Once
Leading man: Though Everything Everywhere All At Once earned four of the main five film awards, Brendan Fraser continued his comeback tour in emotional fashion as he earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for The Whale
The 54-year-old acting veteran got tearful during his acceptance speech as he said: ‘I treasure this, but never more than when I treasured what I used to keep in my wallet, which was my SAG card that I earned in 1991. It made me feel like I belonged’
Transformative: In The Whale, Brendan portrays Charlie a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter
The 54-year-old acting veteran got tearful during his acceptance speech as he said: ‘I treasure this, but never more than when I treasured what I used to keep in my wallet, which was my SAG card that I earned in 1991. It made me feel like I belonged.
‘As actors, we all want to belong to a tribe and that’s when I found where I belong. And if you told that guy back then that I’d be standing right here right now, I would not have believed you.’
Fraser triumphed over Austin Butler – Elvis, Colin Farrell – The Banshees Of Inisherin, Bill Nighy – Living, and Adam Sandler – Hustle.
In The Whale, Brendan portrays Charlie a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
2023 SAG AWARD WINNERS – FULL LIST
FILM
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Austin Butler – Elvis
Colin Farrell – The Banshees Of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser – The Whale – WINNER
Bill Nighy – Living
Adam Sandler – Hustle
Comeback king: Brendan Fraser earned Best Male Actor in a Leading Role for The Whale
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett -Tar
Viola Davis – The Woman King
Ana de Armas – Blonde
Danielle Deadwyler – Till
Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All At Once – WINNER
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Paul Dano – The Fablelmans
Brenda Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin
Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All At Once – WINNER
Eddie Redmayne – The Good Nurse
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hong Chau – The Whale
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All At Once – WINNER
Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All At Once
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Babylon
The Banshees Of Inisherin
Everything Everywhere All At Once – WINNER
The Fabelmans
Women Talking
Top honors: Everything Everywhere All At Once won four of five of the film awards
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
The Batman
Avatar: The Way Of Water
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Top Gun: Maverick – WINNER
The Woman King
TV
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Steve Carell – The Patient
Taron Egerton – Black Bird
Sam Elliott – 1883 – WINNER
Paul Walter Hauser – Black Bird
Evan Peters – Dahmer – Monster
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Emily Blunt – The English
Jessica Chastain – George & Tammy – WINNER
Julia Garner – Inventing Anna
Niecy Nash-Betts Dahmer – Monster
Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout
Leading lady: Jessica Chastain won Best Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for George & Tammy
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks – Better Call Saul
Jason Bateman – Ozark – WINNER
Jeff Bridges – The Old Man
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Adam Scott – Severance
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus – WINNER
Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown
Julia Garner – Ozark
Laura Linney – Ozark
Zendaya – Euphoria
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Carrigan – Barry
Bill Hader – Barry
Steve Martin – Only Murders In The Building
Martin Short – Only Murders In The Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear – WINNER
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate – Dead To Me
Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Better Call Saul
The Crown
Ozark
Severance
The White Lotus – WINNER
Bella: The White Lotus earned Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary – WINNER
Barry
The Bear
Hacks
Only Murders In The Building
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
Andor
The Boys
House Of The Dragon
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power
Stranger Things – WINNER
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