She was last seen plummeting head first into the Mediterranean, but The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge appeared to be back on dry land as she attended a fashion show on Wednesday. 

Those in attendance as Italian brand Diesel unveiled their latest ready-to-wear womenswear collection in Milan were convinced the popular actress had graced them with her presence as a familiar looking figure swept in and occupied a front row seat. 

But the old adage about appearances being deceiving proved to be true, at least on this occasion, because Coolidge, who plays emotionally insecure Portia in The White Lotus, was actually 6,043 miles away from Milan on Wednesday evening. 

Indeed, while the real Coolidge attended the premiere of new Netflix comedy-horror We Have A Ghost in Los Angeles, drag queen Alexis Stone was impersonating the actress in the Italian fashion capital. 

Using a portrait photo of the actress as a guide, the British performer, real name Elliot Joseph Rentz, transformed into Coolidge with the use of a lifelike prosthetic mask, wig and false teeth. 

Is that who I think it is? Those in attendance as Diesel unveiled their ready-to-wear womenswear collection in Milan on Wednesday were convinced Jennifer Coolidge had graced them with her presence

Is that who I think it is? Those in attendance as Diesel unveiled their ready-to-wear womenswear collection in Milan on Wednesday were convinced Jennifer Coolidge had graced them with her presence

Lifelike: But the old adage about appearances being deceiving proved to be true, because it was actually drag queen Alexis Stone pretending to be the American actress

Lifelike: But the old adage about appearances being deceiving proved to be true, because it was actually drag queen Alexis Stone pretending to be the American actress

A four minute video tutorial posted on YouTube shows the painstaking, step-by-step process required to turn Stone into a remarkably believable doppelgänger. 

Making his way onto the red carpet after completing his transformation, Stone managed to pull off the star’s trademark pout and shoulder shake while posing for photographers. 

Dressed in a latex denim jacket and silver cargo pants, he even found time to accost actress Haley Richardson, best known for her role as Portia’s overworked and underappreciated assistant. 

Stone opted to portray Coolidge – who is currently enjoying a career renaissance – after pulling off more than 250 similar stunts at a variety of high-profile events. 

The performer as previously cosplayed the likes Madonna and Cher and Dolly Parton, with his convincing transformation into country star winning him a front row seat for Balenciaga show’s New York Stock Exchange. 

He managed a similar feat in 2022, this time occupying a front row seat for Balenciaga’s Haute Couture show after arriving as cosmetically enhanced socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein.

There she is: The real Jennifer Coolidge was 6,043 miles away from Milan on Wednesday evening as she attended the premier of Netflix horror-comedy We Have A Ghost in Los Angeles

There she is: The real Jennifer Coolidge was 6,043 miles away from Milan on Wednesday evening as she attended the premier of Netflix horror-comedy We Have A Ghost in Los Angeles

Ain't nothing like the real thing: Jennifer Coolidge greets photographers on the red carpet

... while Alexis Stone dupes onlookers at the Diesel show in Milan

Ain’t nothing like the real thing: Jennifer Coolidge greets photographers on the red carpet (L), while Alexis Stone dupes onlookers at the Diesel show in Milan (R)

Greetings! Alexis got a hug from Diesel designer Glenn Martens during the fashion show on Wednesday evening

Greetings! Alexis got a hug from Diesel designer Glenn Martens during the fashion show on Wednesday evening 

Coolidge is coming off one of the biggest years of her career, earning both the acclaim of fans and critics alike for her portrayal of Tanya McQuoid in HBO’s The White Lotus.

The 61-year-old actress’ character, a bizarre wealthy heiress, was the only character to return for Season 2 of the series.

She earned her first Emmy, Golden Globe, back-to-back Critics Choice Awards and she’s up for her first Screen Actors Guild Award this coming weekend.

The actress has also taken home a Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year award, and starred in a Super Bowl commercial for e.l.f. Cosmetics.

Coolidge recently opened up about her resurgent career in a wide-ranging interview with People, where she admitted why she thinks she’s become so beloved of late.

Fancy meeting you here! Dressed in a latex denim jacket and silver cargo pants, Stone found time to accost Haley Richardson, best known for her role as Coolidge's overworked and underappreciated assistant in The White Lotus

Fancy meeting you here! Dressed in a latex denim jacket and silver cargo pants, Stone found time to accost Haley Richardson, best known for her role as Coolidge’s overworked and underappreciated assistant in The White Lotus

Painstaking: A four minute video tutorial posted on YouTube shows the painstaking, step-by-step process required to turn Stone into a remarkably believable doppelgänger

Painstaking: A four minute video tutorial posted on YouTube shows the painstaking, step-by-step process required to turn Stone into a remarkably believable doppelgänger

Detailed: Using a portrait photo of the actress as a guide, the British performer, real name Elliot Joseph Rentz, transformed into Coolidge with the use of a lifelike prosthetic mask

Detailed: Using a portrait photo of the actress as a guide, the British performer, real name Elliot Joseph Rentz, transformed into Coolidge with the use of a lifelike prosthetic mask

‘I think people liked that I was the underdog. played a lot of strange women, and people were amused by the comedies I’ve done,’ she said.

‘Then [show creator] Mike White put me in The White Lotus and it was a drama and comedy at the same time — I never really had that.’

She added: ‘Something happened this awards season. I don’t know if they just played clips of me so many times on the Internet or Instagram, but it doesn’t matter what disguise I have on, I can be wearing a frog costume with a helmet and people know it’s me.

‘I was recently walking in the North End in Boston, and I couldn’t make it down the street. I think it’s so interesting. I guess it’s the Internet. I don’t know — or maybe I have a weird walk.’ 

New gnashers: The drag queen gave the look an added touch of authenticity by wearing a set of false teeth

New gnashers: The drag queen gave the look an added touch of authenticity by wearing a set of false teeth 

All set: A long blonde wig completed the look as Stone transformed in to Coolidge ahead of the Diesel event on Wednesday evening

All set: A long blonde wig completed the look as Stone transformed in to Coolidge ahead of the Diesel event on Wednesday evening 



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