Jennifer Coolidge says career was 'flatlining' before Ariana Grande video

While the oldies out there might best remember Jennifer Coolidge as Stifler’s mum, for many internet users, 1999’s American Pie is an ancient relic.

Any Gen-Zers reading this will probably recognise Coolidge from Mike White’s Emmy award-winning show The White Lotus, which many people have credited with pumping life back into Coolidge’s career.

Apart from Coolidge, that is. The actor recently thanked someone else for reviving her ‘flatlining’ career, and it just so happened to be one of the most famous people on the planet.

Back in 2018, none other than Ariana Grande cast Coolidge in her famous 'Thank U, Next' video, and in a new joint interview, Coolidge was quick to thank the hit-maker.

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When both Coolidge and Grande spoke to Entertainment Weekly this month, the former said: “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.

“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.”

Coolidge went on: “I mean, from there I got [Emerald Fennell film] 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.”

Grande graciously told Coolidge that her comments ‘weren’t true’, but the veteran actor continued: “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.”

Aside from The White Lotus, Coolidge recently scored a role in Ryan Murphy’s The Watcher on Netflix and revealed the ‘weird link’ she had to Murphy.

Back in October, Coolidge told Sky News: “I always wanted to do a creepy story with Ryan.

“He rented my house years ago for an episode of American Horror Story and I kept thinking he would see me in the yard raking leaves or something and go 'Hey Jennifer, I have a part for you in this!', you know?

"But that never happened. Then this weird thing happens...13 years later, here I am.”