AFTER A CAREER of hugely popular secondary comedy roles in era-defining hits like Legally Blonde and Best In Show, Hollywood apparently decided that was all Jennifer Coolidge could do. More fool them, because in recent years she’s shown huge dramatic ability in Mike White’s sunbaked, satirical The White Lotus on TV, and now in Todd Stephens’ gay road movie Swan Song. The film sees Udo Kier play a former hairstylist who emerges from retirement to style a late client for her funeral; Coolidge plays his nemesis. During a break in shooting the second season of The White Lotus, she reflected on this bold new phase.
Udo Kier’s character, Pat, in Swan Song finds such joy in life even when times are tough. What was it like playing off that energy?