Jennifer Coolidge has built a reputation for playing quirky yet deeply human characters, and her latest role in the crime comedy Riff Raff might be her most personal yet. The actress takes on the role of Ruth, a character she describes as “heartbreaking” and “self-destructive,” unlike anything she’s played before.
“I mean, I’ve played women who’ve been dumped and struggle to move on,” Coolidge shared with Deadline, “but this role was so much more layered—I had so much to sink my teeth into.”
Coolidge was especially thrilled to work alongside a stellar ensemble cast, which includes Bill Murray, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson, and Lewis Pullman. She joked that there was no need to convince her to take the role—she was on board the moment she read the script.
“This was a dream. A dream,” she gushed.
The film follows Vincent (Harris), a criminal who seems to have left his past behind for an “ordinary” life with his wife Sandy (Union) and their son DJ (Miles J. Harvey).
But their quiet getaway is shaken up when Vincent’s estranged family members unexpectedly show up:
- Rocco (Pullman), his other son
- Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), Rocco’s pregnant girlfriend
- Ruth (Coolidge), Vincent’s incapacitated mother
What starts as a seemingly awkward family reunion quickly takes a dangerous turn, as mobsters Leftie (Murray) and Lonnie (Davidson) have been following their every move.
Reflecting on her experience filming Riff Raff, Coolidge called it a “wild ride.” She admitted she initially feared that the filmmakers might change their minds about casting her.
“I was like, ‘Are you serious? You want me for this killer part?’” she recalled.
However, not everything about the production was perfect—she had one major complaint: filming in freezing cold New Jersey woods.
“That was brutal,” she quipped. “But honestly, if that’s my only complaint, you know it was a great project.”
If you’re eager to catch Coolidge in action, Riff Raff is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
