Jennifer Coolidge Jokes She Nearly Did Not Present at 2023 Golden Globes Over Fear of Mispronouncing Names
11.01.2023 - 05:51
/ usmagazine.com
Buongiorno, awards season! The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge was one of the first presenters of the night at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, but her appearance nearly did not happen.
“You know, somebody called Cara Bishop called me and said, ‘Jennifer, we would like you to present at the Golden Globes this year.’ And I said, ‘Oh, my God, that is such an honor, thank you, I would love to,’ and I hung up on her,” Coolidge, 61, said during the Tuesday, January 10, broadcast. “And then, I thought about it for a little bit and I had a complete anxiety attack.”
Explaining that she got “very, very nervous” about speaking in front of a room full of her Hollywood peers, the A Cinderella Story star called Bishop again to change her mind. “‘There’s no way I’m going to make it from behind the curtain to the podium without breaking my skull,’” she recalled, thinking about walking in high heels. “I just can’t do it.”
Bishop, for her part, then offered the helpful suggestion to “just wear a pair of Crocs.” Coolidge — who took the stage in a black Dolce & Gabbana gown — was not convinced, explaining that she was also nervous about matching her speaking pace to a teleprompter.
“I think my biggest nightmare is just the pronunciation of people’s names,” the Emmy Award winner added on Tuesday, name-dropping past instances where she struggled with Billy Nighy and Kaley Cuoco‘s last names. “I said, ‘I can’t do it. Once I say someone’s name the wrong way, I’m screwed.’”
Coolidge ultimately got over her fears and noted that she “hasn’t screwed up yet” while she presented the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — Musical or Comedy. She jokingly announced, “And the Oscar goes to,” as she opened up the category envelope but corrected