Jennifer Coolidge Shares Theory About How A Safari Trip With Mike White Inspired Her ‘White Lotus’ Character’s Love Life

etcanada.com:

Jennifer Coolidge recalled a vacation story with “White Lotus” writer-director Mike White, which she believes inspired her character Tanya’s hookup in season 1 of the HBO comedy-drama.

At the HBO anthology series’ FYC event at the DGA Theater in L.A. on Saturday, the actress explained how White “had a big trip planned with a lover, and then the lover couldn’t make it, so I got it!” READ MORE: Jennifer Coolidge Reveals She Almost Landed A Hot Dog Sponsorship Thanks To ‘Legally Blonde 2’ Coolidge joined the filmmaker on a safari in Africa, which she described as “such a cool thing,” given that the two share a bond over their love of animals, something they realized when they first worked together on the 2009 film “Gentleman Broncos”.

However, the actress quickly realized how much the trip was planned for romantic partners. “We stayed in these tents on the Serengeti, in Tanzania, and what I didn’t realize was that the intimate trip is in a tent with someone you’re intimate with.

So you’re sleeping right next to the other person, you know, which was supposed to be someone else,” Coolidge explained. “So I was very worried about how this trip was gonna go because there’s just no hiding any problems or anything you have.