Jennifer Coolidge urges Emerson graduates to ‘just friggin' go for it' in commencement speech
Coolidge, who earned her degree at Emerson in performing arts, spoke to a lively sea of purple and black Sunday morning at Agganis Arena for the college's 145th commencement ceremony.
The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress is known for her iconic roles in 'American Pie', 'Legally Blonde', 'Best In Show', 'Promising Young Woman,' and the critically acclaimed series 'The Watcher,' according to an earlier statement from Emerson College announcing her speech. She recently garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of the fan-favorite character Tanya McQuoid in HBO's 'The White Lotus.'
Coolidge, 63, was born in Boston and raised in Norwell. Growing up, she said she had an 'unrealistic belief in [herself] and what was possible.' Coolidge was recently recognized as
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'When you find the thing that you want to do, I really want to highly recommend, just friggin' go for it,' Coolidge said. 'You really have to psych yourself up into believing absurd possibilities, and you have to believe that they are not absurd.'
Coolidge, who has sparked rumors online about her sexuality, started her speech by saying she's excited to be 'speaking with some very excited gay students,' which was met with thundering applause, along with 'some less excited hetero students,' she said to the laughing crowd.
Coolidge also gave credit in her speech to Emerson for helping students start their journeys.
'Emerson has ignited these seemingly unattainable possibilities for you that now can be your reality,' Coolidge said. 'It is your ability to convince yourself you really can make it, because you have to be your own champion.'
'You can't perfectly plan it out from the beginning, and part of directing your life is just letting it unfold,' Coolidge said.
Coolidge received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the ceremony. She said success in her career did not happen 'for a very long time,' and she endured 'hideous rejections.'
In one instance, Coolidge recalled auditioning for a part where she had to get into an elevator and say, 'Going up?'
'They didn't want me,' Coolidge said.
Coolidge reminded graduates that 'it's OK to be sensitive' and to 'feel things profoundly.'
And as Elle Woods — protagonist of the Legally Blonde films — would say, Coolidge told graduates: 'We did it!'
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