Jennifer Coolidge References ‘Legally Blonde’ in Iconic Graduation Speech

Jennifer Coolidge recently provided some inspirational words for new college graduates, calling back to an iconic line from Legally Blonde.

On Sunday, May 11, the 63-year-old famed actress delivered the commencement speech for the class of 2025 at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. The White Lotus alum was once a student at the private college but dropped out to pursue acting.

“I’m excited that I’m speaking with some very excited gay students, some less excited hetero students, and hopefully some very eligible widowers,” Coolidge told the crowd.

The Massachusetts native ended her speech by referencing a scene from the 2001 rom-com Legally Blonde, where she starred alongside Reese Witherspoon. At the end of the movie, Witherspoon’s character, Elle Woods, tells the graduating class at Harvard Law School, “We did it!” Coolidge echoed those words in her speech.

“And now I really just want to say to the great class of 2025, congratulations. And as Elle Woods, my co-partner in crime would say, we did it!” she exclaimed.

The American Pie actress delivered many other memorable moments in her 18-minute speech, including when she told students to “just friggin go for” their dreams.

Coolidge also gave insight into the rejection she has dealt with in Hollywood. Following her roles in the early 2000s, the comedian’s career seemingly plateaued until she was cast to play Tanya Mcquoid in The White Lotus, for which she snagged two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

“And despite all of the hideous rejection, it just went on. I mean, I got turned down — I would go in for an audition where my only line was to get into elevator and just saying, ‘going up,’ and they didn’t want me,” she admitted.

Despite her stardom, Coolidge admitted she still faces rejection.

“I say take the rejection. You can handle it. And it looks like it’s easy for me to say that now, but it was really hard. I have to say it was. And it still is hard,” she remarked.

The graduation speech was posted to the school’s YouTube page, where fans took to the comment section to express their love for Coolidge and her words of wisdom.

“Best commencement speech ever! Raw, funny, vulnerable, loving, kind and very entertaining. From one of the gays….What an icon!” one person wrote.

Someone else commented, “Truly genuine and heartfelt. Love her!”

“I wish I had this kind of send off when I graduated, genuine and from the heart and is a reminder to not take life so seriously,” another individual penned.