Chaotic scenes unfolded at Bondi Beach on Tuesday afternoon as Hollywood megastar Jennifer Coolidge was spotted (checks notes) wheeling a shopping trolley through the streets. Casually strolling with a bright orange cart and matching headphones, The White Lotus icon, 64, brought fans to a standstill.
Onlookers did a double-take, unable to believe the award-winning actress was just casually running errands like a local.
But was she actually?
News.com.au can confirm Coolidge was in town to shoot a campaign for digital bookstore and streaming app, Audible, to kick off a new experience where shoppers will be able to listen to audiobooks through shopping trolleys while they go about doing their supermarket shop.
The new feature will roll out at Harris Farm Bondi from Friday 31st July to Monday 3rd August.
After shadowing her every quirky move, which at some points included her struggling to control her trolley as she walked up the path in North Bondi, the star sat down with news.com.au to talk about her quick trip Down Under.
She hinted that almost tipping the trolley off the footpath was intentional after a long day shooting.
“Well, ‘cause I felt like [if] I was injured, we’d have to take a break,” she laughed.
This is the American Pie star’s third time in Australia, which is surprising given she loves catching up with the locals so much. She stopped many times in between takes to chat with school children, joggers and even a group of policemen (who mostly likely recognised her as Stifler’s mum).
“I also came for an escape… from my tedious life,” she laughed.
“This is my third time here. I’d like to be invited more often… by someone unexpected,” she hinted.
“I’ve been meeting some wonderful policemen. Oh my God, they’re so charismatic and handsome…”
She drifts off.
When asked if doting on servicemen is a thing in the states as it is in Aussie culture, she paused before grinning: “Well, I definitely need to be serviced! There’s something very pure about them. How cool is that they’re rescuing people all day long? You’re doing [something] important. I’m very impressed with that.”
Getting pleasantly distracted is something the Emmy award winner has built a hugely successful career on and meeting her in real life is no different.
“I’m not over prepared and the energy it would take to be prepared. I don’t think I have it,” she said.
“Sometimes I just think… I wasn’t made well. I have a problem with being able to execute anything.”
It’s the perfect combination for a campaign that is essentially about getting lost in your own world while out doing something mundane like grocery shopping.