'Settle for fat girl parts': Kate Winslet recalls early-career body-shaming
What's the story
Academy Award-winning actor Kate Winslet recently opened up about the body shaming she faced as a young performer. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, she revealed that a drama teacher once told her to "settle for the fat girl parts" if she wanted to break into the industry. "I was a little bit stocky...and she said to me, 'Well, darling, you'll have a career if you're ready to settle for the fat girl parts.'"
Resilience
Winslet's response to body shaming and bullying
Winslet, who recently made her directorial debut with Goodbye June, added, "Look at me now. It's appalling the things people say to children." She also revealed that she was teased at school for her size and called names like "blubber." Despite these challenges, Winslet remained determined to pursue acting. "I learned to have a pretty thick skin pretty early on," she said.
Body image issues
Winslet's struggles with body image and diet
The bullying Winslet faced in her youth contributed to her developing body image issues. She admitted to being on-and-off diets from the age of 15 to 19, a period she described as unhealthy and one she regretted. At 19, she was barely eating due to these pressures. Despite this, Winslet threw herself into acting and creative pursuits outside of school, refusing to let the bullying affect her career trajectory.
Advocacy
Winslet's advocacy for body positivity and gender equality
Winslet has long been an advocate for authentic body image. In 2003, she protested against a cover of GQ, which she claimed "digitally altered" her appearance. During her Desert Island Discs interview, she also highlighted the need to unlearn certain attitudes toward women in film. "So they might say things like, 'Don't forget to be confident in your choices.' If [there's] one thing I haven't ever lacked, actually, it's exactly that. That person wouldn't say that to a man."