• The actress, 61, spoke candidly about how she would use “awful things.”
• Coolidge stated how playing obnoxious customers had benefited her in numerous ways “You eliminate it from your body.
• The White Lotus actress, who most recently won prizes at the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe Awards.

The actress, 61, spoke candidly about how she would use “awful things” customers said to her during her days as a waitress for hilarious performances when she was named Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year on Saturday.

At the beginning of her career, Coolidge would spend part of her free time at the Groundlings, a Los Angeles improvisation and sketch comedy theatre, adding, “It was my salvation.”

She said, “I was a waitress for a very long period… and waitressing was really hard. I began recording all the awful things they said to me.

Added Coolidge: “I didn’t add any of my own stuff. I wrote down everything and I would perform the scenes at Groundlings, and it was life-changing to [mock] all the people who were so cruel and mean and play them on stage.”

Coolidge stated how playing obnoxious customers had benefited her in numerous ways “You eliminate it from your body. I don’t even care that they weren’t pleasant, you say.”

The most inspirational thing, she remarked, “was that the folks I worked for gave me such beautiful characters.

The White Lotus actress, who most recently won prizes at the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe Awards, adding that making fun of the diners inspired some of her best writing.

“I mean, my favorite characters were wretched people, some of them, and the greatest stuff comes out of that,” she said.

Coolidge participated in a parade that crossed Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge as part of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year celebration.

Her faux leopard print wrap was layered over a white coat, and she accessorized with an oversized pink faux fur hat, black leggings, and black heeled boots. Hundreds of the star’s followers lined the area to wave and cheer her on.

Later, Hasty Pudding Theatricals roasted Coolidge, who had to complete a number of challenges in order to receive the coveted pudding pot, including singing like a dolphin. “I’m loving it so much. I’ve met a lot of students who are far smarter than I am, “added the star.

Coolidge is the latest successful actress to get the Woman of the Year award. Jamie Lee Curtis, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore, Viola Davis, and Jennifer Garner from the previous year are some of those that came before her.

At Harvard earlier this week, Bob Odenkirk received the Hasty Pudding Theatricals Man of the Year award.

Also Read

Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Coolidge celebrate ‘January’ for ‘Shotgun Wedding’

Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Coolidge elevated the song "Jenuary." The film tells...