Jennifer Coolidge Breaks Down In Emotional SAG Awards Acceptance Speech

The White Lotus star also delivered the perfect raunchy message to her date, fellow actor Tim Bagley.
Open Image Modal
Jennifer Coolidge at the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, California, on Sunday.
VALERIE MACON via Getty Images

Jennifer Coolidge just scored a SAG award — and Twitter couldn’t be happier for the acting queen.

After starring in HBO’s hit drama The White Lotus, the 61-year-old has experienced quite the career resurgence in the past year, including landing her first Golden Globe and her first Emmy for her role as the lovably loony Tanya in the series. 

At Sunday’s 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, Jennifer nabbed yet another win, taking home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her performance in the second season of the beloved series. 

“It’s been a very special year and you know, overwhelming,” she said while delivering her acceptance speech. “And White Lotus and Mike White writing me this great part that went on for two seasons, and just HBO giving me the thumbs up to let me do it.”

“I just want to say,” she continued while tearing up. “I want you all to know that I’m just so grateful. So grateful, because this could be it.”

In a touching nod to the show’s creator, Mike White, Jennifer thanked him for changing her mindset in the industry. 

Speaking to him directly in the crowd, she added, “You can give money to friends and do nice things for them, and people love money, and I do — whenever I can. When your friends are broke, you can give money and stuff, but the best gift you can give someone is to change someone’s perspective for the better, and view life in a different way, and that’s what Mike White did for me.”

Elsewhere in her speech, Jennifer thanked her parents for introducing her to the acting world from a young age, before giving a steamy thanks to her date and longtime pal, fellow actor Tim Bagley.

“My wonderful date — Tim Bagley is my date tonight. He’s my best bud for like, 20 years. Thank you, you’re a wonderful date tonight. I can’t wait till we get home,” Jennifer quipped as the crowd roared in laughter. 

Jennifer’s recent glow-up has been the true definition of a feel-good comeback — and Twitter users didn’t take long to celebrate the fan-favorite’s epic win.

SAG Awards 2023: All The Red Carpet Snaps You Need To See
Ke Huy Quan(01 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
Caleb McLaughlin(02 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Andrew Garfield and Eddie Redmayne(03 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Sabrina Impacciatore(04 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Ariana DeBose(05 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Amy Sussman via Getty Images)
Jenny Slate(06 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Emily Blunt(07 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Amy Sussman via Getty Images)
Hannah Einbinder(08 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Laura Linney(09 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Rooney Mara(10 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:VALERIE MACON via Getty Images)
Jeremy Allen White(11 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
Leo Woodall(12 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Amy Sussman via Getty Images)
Colin Farrell, Kerry Condon and Brendan Gleeson(13 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Myung J. Chun via Getty Images)
Haley Lu Richardson(14 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Myung J. Chun via Getty Images)
Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka(15 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Myung J. Chun via Getty Images)
Bill Nighy(16 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Amy Sussman via Getty Images)
Cara Delevingne(17 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
Kathryn Newton(18 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Amy Sussman via Getty Images)
Adam Scott(19 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Myung J. Chun via Getty Images)
Evan Peters(20 of20)
Open Image Modal
(credit:VALERIE MACON via Getty Images)