Legally Blonde fan-favourite Jennifer Coolidge revealed that during lockdown she consumed up to “Six pizzas a day”. The actress confessed that she was so self-conscious about the extra 40 pounds she gained during the pandemic that she nearly backed out of her role in The White Lotus – HBO’s new comedy-drama series.
Revealing her insecurities, Coolidge admitted “I just didn’t want to be on camera that fat because of my excessive eating during COVID.” Explaining the reasoning for her change in eating habits, the star stated, 'I thought we were all going to die, I really did, so I was just eating myself to death. Vegan pizzas, sometimes five or six in a day.”
Jennifer Almost Declined 'The White Lotus' Role Due To Weight Gain Insecurities
Thankfully Coolidge claims that, just as she was about to decline director Mike White’s role offer, a friend of hers convinced her otherwise. The actress recalled the conversation, relaying that after telling said friend she was “Fat right now,” her confidant responded "Jennifer this is all you have! What the f***?" She was like, "These opportunities don’t come around, you idiot!"
Jennifer was clearly grateful for the honesty, uttering to the press “We all need these friends.” The Hollywood veteran then went on to say, “A lot of actors make huge mistakes, I don’t know why, we want a great moment to happen but then when it comes along we somehow talk ourselves out of it, I think that’s very typical of an actor, to screw it up for themselves but I had a great friend that stopped me from doing that.”
Coolidge Concluded That None Of Her Colleagues Even Noticed Her Curvier Physique
Reminiscing about her body woes, Coolidge concluded that none of her The White Lotus colleagues even seemed to have noticed her weight gain. “I was always kind of pudgy anyway so what’s another 40 pounds,' the actress declared. 'It’s all in our head. I’m just glad I had a good friend who talked me off the ledge and didn’t blow a really cool gig. If I had watched White Lotus and realized I [could have done it] I would have jumped off a bridge.”
The heartwarming relatable star will be playing a lady mourning the recent loss of her mother in the new comedy-drama series. HBO describes the show as ‘A sharp social satire following the exploits of various employees and guests at an exclusive Hawaiian resort over the span of one highly transformative week.’