A few years ago, car insurance (or any kind of insurance, really) wasn't a very attractive topic. But today? Insurance spokespeople are fast becoming celebrities.
After all, everyone wants to know who Flo from Progressive is, and whether she's actually an actress, or just a spokesperson. And fans were bummed when the original State Farm spokesperson was replaced.
The thing is, while State Farm has its Jake to rely on for most commercials, there's one that was a hit without him. Viewers will recall the "She Shed" commercial as a pretty entertaining masterpiece that showed up on sitcom breaks starting in 2018. But who is Cheryl, the veritable star of the commercial, and what is she doing now?
Who Played Cheryl In The 'She Shed' Commercial?
Given all the buzz about Cheryl and her she-shed after State Farm's commercial aired, it's not hard to figure out just who the actress is. And yes, she is an actress.
Unlike State Farm's OG Jake, who was later replaced, as fans will recall, 'Cheryl' was an actress from day one. Nicole J. Butler auditioned for the role after receiving an email inviting her to the opportunity.
Since the debriefing for the audition mentioned the premise of the commercial, Nicole explained that she googled the term "she shed" and spent some time skimming Pinterest for background.
By the time she arrived at the audition the next day, Butler knew what she was doing. Or, so she thought. At the audition, she was paired up with a candidate for Cheryl's husband "Victor" (Reggie Currelley), and both wound up nabbing their respective parts.
What Happened To Cheryl After The She Shed?
Though Nicole elaborated on her time spent auditioning, and the fact that the final commercial was pieced together with some editing magic and special effects (she was never really close to a burning she-shed), she didn't even know how the end result would turn out.
So when the commercial went viral (about 1M views on YouTube), Nicole was pleasantly surprised. She'd long been an actress, but now she was being recognized all over the place.
While she may not make quite as much money as Flo from Progressive, Nicole basically became the face of State Farm for a while.
The actress related that people would yell "she shed!" at her on the street, and people recognize her all the time.
What Is Cheryl Doing Now?
Since she's finished being "Cheryl," what is Nicole doing now? She's still acting. After appearing in many commercials (including one for Progressive, but also Walmart, Target, and even Pizza Hut), Nicole is getting more time in the spotlight than she bargained for. And yet, it's just a progression of her career in a way.
To date, Nicole has appeared in over 70 roles, including commercials, but spanning everything from 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' to a recently completed series called 'Sister President' (she produced the series, too). Not too shabby for the she-shed star!