Jennifer Coolidge

Jennifer Coolidge

Jennifer Coolidge dated younger men after playing Stifler's Mom in 'American Pie'.

The 52-year-old actress shot to fame playing the seductive mother of Sean William Scott's character in the hit 1999 teen comedy, which spawned the phrase 'MILF', and she reveals life imitated art as she found herself dating men several years her junior after the film was released.

She said: "I did date younger men after that movie. I really dated younger men for the next 10, 15 years. I've been dating someone now for, let's see, about a year and a half. And, you know, he's a very smart, funny guy ... and handsome. He's sort of the whole package."

While 'American Pie' made 'MILF' - which describes an attractive mother - a common turn of phrase, the actress is less than enthusiastic about the word 'cougar', which is used to describe a woman who dates younger men.

She explained to The Guardian newspaper: "I like 'MILF' better. I feel like 'cougar' sounds more predatory. It sounds more like someone seeking out young men and I just like it more when it's their idea. Because with 'MILF', it was really the kid's idea, you know?"

Jennifer also reveals that she is still approached for pictures by male fans of her sexpot character, 14 years after the film's release.

Quizzed about being an object of desire, she said: "I don't know if they think I'm going to rip their clothes off or something!"