In fact, the human face, voice and bearing that constitute “Flo” are associated far more strongly with Progressive than with the 53-year-old woman who provides them: Stephanie Courtney.

In a new interview with the New York Times, Vayntrub, 36, recalled Courtney, 53, reaching out to her in the summer of 2020 when she started reappearing in AT&T’s ads for the first time since 2017.