I went in for an audition eight years ago for a 'big box store employee,' and I put on my polo shirt and put my hair in a ponytail and showed up," she says. But Courtney had more than just the look that Progressive wanted. "What they were looking for was basically a friendly neighborhood waitress; she is super friendly and nice, almost to the point of madness, and I was like, 'I can do that.' I went straight to my mom and I credit her with Flo's personality," Courtney says, adding, "I said, 'Yes, I can become Jane Courtney!'"
A Broadway performance of "The Pirates of Penzance," a Christmas gift from her parents, is what turned Courtney on to theater. "There was Kevin Kline, who was incredible. He could sing and sword fight and he was like 30 years old at the time. I realized it takes time to be that amazing. The more you're around it, you realize it's not magic.