"Flo" - Progressive Car Insurance Girl
Wondering who the girl that plays “Flo” in the Progressive car insurance commercial is? Lots of different companies have spokespersons that help deliver a message, but not all of them become memorable. Flo, the Progressive car insurance girl, has become one of the more memorable characters captivating people nationwide. Flo, the often loved but sometimes hated Progressive Superstore cashier, is portrayed by Stephanie Courtney. Courtney has been an actress for well over 20 years; but, it is only more recently that she began her career as the perky Progressive car insurance girl. Flo has become the Progressive spokesperson and has done an amazing job! To compare quotes from top companies like Progressive side by side with many competing companies simply enter your zip code in above to start comparing car insurance!
Stephanie Courtney, the Actress
So now we can answer the question, “Who is Flo?” Stephanie Courtney is an actress who was born on February 8th, 1970, in Stony Point, New York. She began her acting career in the first grade and fell in love with it immediately. Her sister, Jennifer Courtney, is also an actress. On November 25, 2008, Stephanie Courtney married Scott Kolanach, who is the lighting director for The Groundlings.
The Groundlings is a Los Angeles improv theater where Courtney is a main company member. Courtney still performs improv at The Groundlings, but she originally started doing stand up in New York. After graduating from the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City and doing mostly free theater, Courtney moved to Los Angeles where there were more acting opportunities. It only took six months of stand up comedy before she was discovered by her still current manager.
Her first movie role was that of Kate in “Sweet Bird of You” in 1988. In that same year she appeared in the television show “Mr. Show with Bob and David.” In 2000, Courtney’s television career started to gain momentum and by 2003 she was making more feature films. In 2007 she played Gayla in “The Heartbreak Kid” along with Ben Stiller. You may have seen her in big television hits such as “Angel,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “ER,” and “Without a Trace.” She has also done multiple episodes for series such as “Tom Goes to the Mayor” and “Mad Men.” Her latest movie was in 2009, where she played Karen Balsac in “Coco Lipshitz: Behind the Laughter”. Most recently, Courtney appeared on Jay Leno.
In total, she has had more than sixty movie and television appearances, which does not include all of her commercials or live shows. Courtney was awarded the Copper Wing Award in 2003 for Best Ensemble Acting. She shared the award with her co-stars of “Melvin Goes to Dinner.”
Flo, the Progressive Car Insurance Spokesperson
The character of Flo the Progressive girl was born sometime in 2007 and is played by Stephanie Courtney on a series of television commercials for Progressive car insurance. Flo’s role is that of a cashier selling Progressive car insurance in a bright, white insurance retail store. Capturing the attention of viewers everywhere, Progressive was happy to sign another contract for 12 commercials with Courtney back in 2008 and then again in 2009.
After two hours of getting her hair teased and her makeup applied, Courtney is transformed into her character of Flo. Although the Progressive car insurance girl is a scripted character, Courtney is allowed to add some improvisation to the role, letting the silly side of the actress spill onscreen a bit.
It seems the big debate about Flo is WHY she is so appealing. She has been described as cute, perky, comical, and sexy in a naughty schoolgirl way. She has also been blasted as dumb and annoying. However, statistically, the latter group is in the very low numbers and most people are quite fascinated with her.
The debate is mostly what makes Flo so attractive and likeable. Some attribute it to her appearance, with the retro look and stark contrasts. Others think her bubbly personality is charming enough to be appealing. Perhaps the combination of the two is what makes her a growing sensation on the media. Whatever the reason is, the majority of people are mesmerized and want to see more of her.
For those of you concerned with Flo being overworked in her virtual world Superstore, do not worry because she will soon be getting an assistant. For those of you fascinated by her, get excited because you could be chosen to be her assistant. Progressive is holding a contest to find someone to star along with Flo in a national ad for Progressive car insurance.
If you want to be featured with the Progressive car insurance girl, you need to audition by video before March 21st, 2010. In-person auditions already took place in New York and Florida and will be in California on March 11th and 12th. Ten people will then be chosen, in part based on charisma and screen personality, to be presented to America via the web for a vote. People will choose the three semi-finalists who will be flown to Los Angeles for a live screen test with the real Flo. One lucky candidate will become Flo’s assistant at the Progressive TV-made Superstore.
Flo’s Television Commercials
Stephanie Courtney is the current spokesperson for Progressive car insurance, and can be seen on the Progressive car ads both on television and the internet. In her character role, Courtney plays Flo, a cashier that works in a Progressive insurance retail store. With her outgoing personality,she is also known as the Progressive car insurance girl!
While most of the commercials with Flo are behind the cash register or in the store, there is also one that takes Flo on the road. One Progressive commercial features Flo on a motorcycle, selling Progressive as the number one motorcycle insurance company. Other “in-store” commercials also stress that in addition to motorcycle insurance, Progressive offers boat insurance and homeowners insurance.
Although Courtney’s commercials featuring Flo are delivered with comical intent, the underlying slogan for Progressive is, “Caring for you and your loved ones.” Other selling points include shopping less and saving more, saving more while getting more, shopping on your terms, freedom to name your price, free quotes, savings that everyone can enjoy, easy to use, great deals, and multiple discounts. Hopefully this helped in answering the question, “Who is the progressive girl?”
Progressive has been selling insurance since 1937. In addition to car insurance, they also sell boat insurance, commercial auto insurance, motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, snowmobile insurance, and truck insurance. They also offer homeowners insurance as well as condo insurance, renters insurance, and umbrella insurance.
In 2008, Progressive launched their Name Your Price® plan, letting people set their insurance budget and customizing an insurance package to meet that price. The plan takes into consideration various coverage options along with limits and deductibles to offer a policy suited to a price that is affordable for you. Once a ballpark range is determined, a sliding scale is used to help custom tailor the package for the client. In addition, Progressive offers MyRate(SM), which was also introduced in 2008. MyRate(SM) is an optional plan that offers customized rates to drivers based on their driver safety, rewarding drivers who drive safely with lower rates and less expensive car insurance.
Innovative, Progressive has added Segway insurance to their product line, insuring you and your Segway HT. A Segway HT can go up to 12.5 miles per hour and is very cost effective, taking up no more room than the width of an average person. The batteries are rechargeable and a nickel of energy cost will get you two hours of use. It is a novel form of alternative transportation and Progressive offers novel insurance for it. The only states where Progressive does not offer Segway HT insurance is in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Whether you are looking for Segway insurance, auto insurance, or other insurance, you can get a free quote online now by simply following the steps on this site. Enter your zip code above to start comparing car insurance!
