US Markets Loading... h m s
Newsletters
Advertising
Mallory Russell
2012-02-27T18:33:00Z
Take off the trademark headband and wash away a pound of makeup, and you might not recognize Flo, the super-peppy insurance cashier for Progressive.
Advertisem*nt
Her real name is Stephanie Courtney, a comedian and actress from Los Angeles who has taken the insurance world by storm.
As Flo she was an overnight hit when Progressive introduced her in 2008. Four years later, she is one of the most recognizable characters in advertising. But did you know that you have probably seen her before?
We looked behind the white name badge to find out a little more about America's favorite female insurance character.
Advertisem*nt
She just celebrated a birthday!
Stephanie Courtney was bornFeb. 8, 1970, inStony Point, N.Y.Her mother is a singer and her father is a retired high school history teacher.
And in case you were wondering, this is what she looks like without all that makeup on.
Advertisem*nt
She's a Bearcat
Courtney graduated from Binghamton University (home of the Bearcats)in New York in 1992.
While numerous sources report that her degree was in criminology,she had an interest in acting while in college since she played Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. “I was never tortured over whether I wanted to become an actor,” Courtney told her alma mater's magazine. “There was never another option in my mind.”
The school is very proud of its famous alumna and features her prominently on its admissions site.
Advertisem*nt
She worked for Smith Barney
After graduating, Courtney moved to New York City. There she took classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse, a school where Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton also studied.
Since studying theater doesn't pay much, and neither did acting, she made ends meet by working as the evening secretary for Robert S. Greenhill, then chairman of Smith Barney.
Her roommate at the time was, now author and L.A. Times columnist, Megan Daum.
Advertisem*nt
But Tinseltown was calling!
After living in New York for some time, Courtney headed out to the other coast and started doing stand-up (there's a clip below).
In Los Angeles, she and her sister, Jennifer Courtney, who is also an actress, moved in together. They also wrote a play, called "Those Courtney Girls," that they performed in L.A. and at the Aspen Comedy Festival, where it attracted the attention of some television studios (although nothing has yet come of that).
Advertisem*nt
She's a Groundling
After moving to L.A., Courtney joined The Groundlings, a skit and improve troupe that that counts Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Kristin Wiig and Lisa Kudrow in its alumni.
She met Scott Kolanach, the lighting director, while performing with the group and married him in 2008. "Every crazy old lady character I ever walked out as on that stage had beautiful, peachy gem lighting because he liked me," she told People.
Advertisem*nt
Flo is lucrative
Courtney has filmed more than 50 commercials as Flo since 2008 and some sources estimate that she earns $500,000 a year playing the character.
According to an interview she did with The Daily Beast, her favorite commercial is this one, featuring the guy with the man bag.
Advertisem*nt
But commercials didn't always pay so well
Courtney's first big break in commercials was a Bud Light Super Bowl spot (below) that paid only $38,000 before tax and agency fees.
Her other commercial roles include ads for Skittles, Glade, General Mills, and Weinerschnitzel.
Yes, that is really her behind the counter.
Advertisem*nt
She's not just in commercials
Courtney has also appeared in a number of TV shows and movies, including Blades of Glory, The Heartbreak Kid, House, and The United States of Tara.
She even had a recurring role on our favorite drama, Mad Men, as Madge the telephone operator.
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
She made Flo so popular that people dress up like her for Halloween.
Courtney is often quoted saying that she knew Flo was catching on when people started dressing up like her for Halloween. It's such a popular costume that Progressive now sells it on their website.
“It’s a pretty cheap costume to make—all you need is a white polo shirt, white jeans, blue Chuck Taylors, and a white apron,” Courtney told The Daily Beast. "So it’s a nice, non-slu*tty Halloween costume.”
Advertisem*nt
She does not use a Bumpit
Courtney is all natural and there are no enhancements used to create that hair. In fact, Flo's hair ritual, which includes a lot of back-combing and teasing—takes a full hour. Her trademark face of makeup takes another full hour.
Advertisem*nt
Flo is based on her mom
Judging by her stand-up, the whole bubbly act is just that, an act. So Courtney drew inspiration from close to home.
"Nobody is naturally that perky! They'd strain something. I'd say at times Flo is like my mom when she's at her most chipper," she is quoted saying onIMDB.
She clarifies in an interview with Cleveland.com, that Flo is just "avery positive version of my mom. But, of course, amped up to 1,000."
Advertisem*nt
She has a crush on the caveman
Despite the legions of male fans and Facebook groups dedicated to Flo, Courtney still doesn't think that Flo is sexy. This despite the fact that one blogger waxes on about her "kissable red lips" in his article titled "The Cult of the Progressive Insurance Chick."
She told Adweek, "The way I play her, she's pretty much the most asexual thing on TV right now. I think the Geico lizard puts out more sexual vibes than Flo does. But I do think the cavemen are totally crushable."
Seems like there's no bad blood between competitors here.
Now take this quiz to see if you can identify the celebrity voices in these ads >>
Read next
NEW LOOK
Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.
Advertisem*nt
