Two times a charm for Jennifer Coolidge, who won the Emmy on Monday for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Tanya McQuoid on HBO’s The White Lotus. After nabbing the prize in 2023 for the first season, Coolidge reprised her role as eccentric resort guest Tanya and dug even deeper in the acclaimed show’s Sicilian-set sophomore installment.
Accepting the award from Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli, she had to put it down because she “didn’t have the strength,” which drew laughter from the audience.
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Keeping track of time, she thanked director Mark White and producer David Bernard, and then said, “I want to thank all the evil gays!” The line harkened back to a specific episode of White Lotus that was memefied into the pop-culture lexicon.
Somehow topping audience expectations, Coolidge expanded her emotional range as Tanya while maintaining the character’s signature tragicomic neuroses. Whether mourning a fresh romantic disaster or embarking on yet another quest for purpose, Tanya remained a highlight of the increasingly anticipated show. With her second Emmy win, the veteran actress informed fans that “Tanya is definitely dead. So I’m just going along with it. ”
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Trying to get the words out before being played off by the orchestra, Coolidge ended her speech tonight with a message of encouragement to all dreamers out there.
“I had a little dream, in my little town, and everyone said was impractical and far-fetched, but it did happen after all,” she said. “So don’t give up on your dreams.”