Fat Actresses & Size Acceptance

Gina’s post about fat actors yesterday is a perfect prelude to mine today about fat actresses.  Actually, I’m not saying who’s fat and who’s not, but just remarking on who thinks she is and probably doesn’t like it, and who seems to revel in her size.

In the first case, I’m specifically referring to Meryl Streep, who at the Academy Awards show remarked that her dress size matches the number of times she’s been nominated for an Oscar.  I was so dismayed when I heard that.  To me, it sounded like this wonderfully accomplished actress is hung up about her size, something that we rarely see actors get caught up in as they age and, much of the time, naturally grow larger.  Then top that comment off with Meryl’s outfit, which looked like she was trying to hide her body.  Sort of speaks for itself, at least in this day and age.

Contrast that to newcomer Jennifer Hudson, who said in this week’s Parade magazine that although she looks slimmer that she used to, she’s not trying to lose weight, that she really wants to keep her ‘jelly.’  Clearly a different attitude about weight and weight loss than the usual. (Be sure to check out the link on Jennifer above -- it's a story about how Vogue magazine is putting her on the cover without asking her to lose weight -- a milestone!)

I vote for Jennifer’s attitude – size and self acceptance at its best.  She’s not wasting her time and considerable talents trying to get to a size that’s probably not in her genes. 

Tags: self acceptance , size acceptance , Meryl Streep , Jennifer Hudson