Stephanie Courtney told Cosmopolitan that her first big break came when she got on with Theatreworks USA performing for children, which allowed her to get her equity card to qualify for better pay and health insurance. She switched to comedy, and eventually, she and her sister moved to Los Angeles, changing the trajectory of her career. Courtney spent years auditioning and learning with lots of opportunities in L.A., including a spot with The Groundlings Theatre & School in Los Angeles. Through those experiences, she improved while holding down several "day jobs." Her first national commercial for Bud Light played during the Super Bowl in 1999. By the mid-aughts, she was also working on television in shows like "Mad Men" and "The Comeback." Before she booked Progressive, Courtney got roles in big-name commercials like Skittles and Toyota, which boosted her confidence. 

Courtney's thoughts when she auditioned for the character of Flo were, "She'll love them to a fault where she's walking the line of crazy. It's like the love just spills over and becomes a tiny bit inappropriate." Her character creation paid off, and Progressive hired her. She filmed her first Flo commercial in December 2007, just before she turned 38. "You have to audition for a thousand 'nos' so you can get a 'yes,'" Courtney said. At 51, after nearly 14 years as Flo, Courtney is proof that hard work and determination can pay off.