I don’t know if the movie Precious even has a chance against The Hurt Locker and Avatar at tonight’s Oscar Awards. I do know that Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique were incredible in their roles. I also know that director Lee Daniels is a talented man for being able to get Mariah Carey to act and not make me throw up.
I heard Lee Daniels speak bluntly about the actress he was looking to cast in the lead for Precious at the Vancouver Film Festival: “a black, 300lbs girl.” Out of the hundreds that came for open auditions Gabourey was chosen because she best fit the role. I don’t know if that’s a good thing.
Anyone who has ever seen Gabourey has realized that she is completely opposite of the character she portrayed. Gabourey comes across as an educated, articulate and confident person. I personally don’t know if it is possible for someone in Hollywood (where white and bright is always right and being thin is what’s in) to have the type of self confidence that she exudes. I'm not saying she’s being fake but when she says stuff like “one day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl,” it makes me wonder. Does she realize she is in Hollywood?
Queen Latifah is big. Mo’Nique is big. Gabourey is (I’ll be nice)... bigger. I'm not taking away from her talent or anything but I just wonder if her confidence is truly legit or if she is just saying what should be said.
Mo’Nique has based her comedic career on hating on skinny people (Exhibit A - her book: Skinny Women Are Evil) and has professed being big and beautiful but has recently lost over 40lbs. That’s not a lot but what was her reason for losing weight now? She said her husband motivated her but I think that Hollywood got to her. Now, she didn’t go all Star Jones and lose over 150lbs but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did soon because that’s what Hollywood makes people do.
I’ve been watching Gabourey since early 2009 and every time I see her I wonder why she hasn’t lost weight. She’s got a little money now, she can get a trainer and maybe a chef. What is taking her so long? As soon as I ask myself the question I see another quote from her saying that she thinks she’s beautiful the way she is. Even when Vanity Fair passed on her for their "young hollywood" cover (and every other black actress for that matter) Gabourey was still all smiles, saying she was “excited to be mentioned anywhere.”
Let’s be real: Gabourey knows what time it is. She has several strikes against her as is—being black in Hollywood, being dark-skinned at that (both are a whole other topic). Add being over 350lbs to the mix and I feel like Gabourey only has another year in the business before she expires (hopefully not literally).
Tonight Gabourey is up against the likes of Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock for best actress in a film. As she is now, I don’t know if there will ever be role that will garner her as much acclaim as her lead in Precious. Even if she loses tonight I'm sure her “confidence” will lead her to believe that there will be plenty of other roles for her in Hollywood.
I agree with the article. I commend Gabourey but I do wonder how authentic all this self confidence is. I think a lot of these 'big' actresses are realizing thought that being a 'big' girl is all good but what about your health. How long can you be that big without having serious health problems?? I commend them for trying to take better care of themselves...on that note Starr Jones transformation was a little scary and too extreme. I would like to see more Gabourey in future films and I would like to see her shape up for health reasons. Right now 64% of American adults are overweight and 57% of American children are overweight...not cool especially for a country without a public health care option. I think Gabourey could encourage young people to be as healthy as they can at any size.
Good article, although, I would have to agree more toward what Nicole is saying (above comment). "How long can you be that big without having serious health problems?? . . . not cool especially for a country without a public health care option." If being skinny is what Hollywood makes people do, then, ultimately, that's a good thing. I'm sure most actors/actresses feel obligated to but they also consider their lifestyle and way of living. Also, its more of getting people in shape, not necessarily skinny. Hollywood isn't all about the supermodels and body building figures. I feel that with shows such as Tyra Banks talk show, there's a new trend that Hollywood wants to show that "big is beautiful". With Tyra's latest and upcoming show called, "Fiercely Reel" which is focused on a teen model search exclusively for the plus size teen aged females, this could be that confidence stain that becomes difficult to wipe off in overweight people, like Gabourey. All in all, everyone has their choice of how to live their life, and in some cases opinions don't really matter to others.
she does needs to do it for her health...i think if more people were honest to her about her weight, she might change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVzv-SmPtbU
I agree with everything Howard Stern is saying...
I will say one thing I love about her (besides her acting): she's one of the few actors in Hollywood I actually want to hang out with. Just watched her on Kimmel and she's hilarious. Fun, funny, self-deprecating, doesn't take herself seriously, prone to making faux pas. She's real. Love her.
I admire Gabourey's confidence, but you're right. Hollywood is superficial (well, we're all a bit superficial), so her "shelf life" if we can call it that may be short if she doesn't shed some weight. And she shouldn't just do it to advance her career, but for her own health. Obesity isn't exactly a healthy thing.