Superstar singer Ariana Grande interviewed her “queen” for Entertainment Weekly’s 2022 Entertainers of the Year and discovered that actress Jennifer Coolidge credits Grande for boosting her career.
Entertainment Weekly featured the two famous stars as they chatted with one another about their careers and the many influences that have contributed to their mutual success. Coolidge played one of Jerry’s flings in a 1993 episode of “Seinfeld” and Stifler’s mom in “American Pie” and recently rose to prominence for her award-winning role as Tanya McQuoid in HBO’s “The White Lotus.”
Despite her rightful claim to fame, Coolidge thanked Grande for casting her in a music video at a time when her career was “flatlining.”
There’s something ironic and funny that undoubtably one of the greatest entertainers of all time is doing me this honor!
Thank you to the amazing #ArianaGrande for interviewing me, and to @EW for having me as one of your #EntertainersOfTheYear 2022! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/3AUMxN3nv4
— Jennifer Coolidge (@JENCOOLIDGE) December 12, 2022
Grande, a self-proclaimed superfan, was thrilled to be interviewing Coolidge and was having a fangirl moment over being part of the interview experience, according to Entertainment Weekly. The ladies gushed about their friendship and the close bond they share despite their 32-year age gap. The pair complimented one another’s work and revealed that they plan vacations together.
Grande described having Coolidge’s friendship as “an absolute gift,” according to Entertainment Weekly.
Coolidge then told Grande how much she appreciated being cast in her music video for 2018’s “Thank U, Next” and what it did for her career. “But anyway, I’m embarrassed because I just didn’t have high hopes of things like this, you know what I mean?” Coolidge said. “My life had been sort of flatlining for quite a while, so this is above and beyond, and it’s a thrill,” Coolidge said. (RELATED: ‘I Definitely Feel More Free To Create’: Taylor Swift Opens Up About Her Creative Process)
Ariana Grande and Jennifer Coolidge in new photo together. pic.twitter.com/6J8dwDHXFA
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 12, 2022
“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 said. “I mean, from there I got ‘Promising Young Woman,’ and this whole thing. You were sort of the instigator. I really believe that,” 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,” Coolidge said, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“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,” Coolidge added.
Grande replied by matching that love. “That is a very kind but wildly untrue thing to say. I love you so much. I think the timing was just so beautiful, and you just deserved the entire world,” she said.