1
Apr
Talent vs. Looks: Which Matter More in Hollywood?
by Ashley Thill
0 Comments | Posted by thatgirl in Uncategorized
Image courtesy of Huffingtonpost.com
Gabourey Sidibe is truly the Cinderella story of this past awards season. She was a newcomer nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, had Oprah backing her up, and a whole lot to look forward to. Or so it seemed.
Sidibe’s weight has always seemed to be a topic since she hit the scene. Now, after the fairy-tale glamour and glitz, Sidibe’s future in acting is coming cruelly into focus.
Just a few weeks ago, radio host Howard Stern took to the airwaves on his Sirius satellite radio channel and blasted the 26-year-old actress. He openly and harshly criticized Sidibe’s weight.
“There’s the most enormous, fat black chick I’ve ever seen,” Stern said. “She is enormous. Everyone’s pretending she’s a part of show business and she’s never going to be in another movie.”
A weight loss company has even reached out to the actress saying they will give her a year’s supply of their product for her to endorse it ― if she loses the weight.
What does this say about the Hollywood industry and what is has come to? We live in a world where how you look on the silver screen trumps the way you act on it. Even the late starlet Marilyn Monroe would seem “pudgy” (she was reportedly a size six) compared to the likes of Hollywood glam girls today like Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie, Keira Knightley and others.
Maybe the tides are starting to turn, however. Sidibe is praised for her outstanding personality, charm and confidence. Those in the business also recognize how much she put into her role in Precious. Her resume before was nothing more than a few college plays. She also didn’t come from a background even remotely close to the one she had to portray.
In an interview, Robert Ulrich, a Hollywood casting director, said there is a trend for different roles and characters in Hollywood.
“We hear over and over to think outside the box. I’ve been in the industry a long time, and it’s never been as open to people being something different than now,” Ulrich said. “I work on ‘Glee,’ and those actors never would have been cast on network television a few years ago. It’s a show about diversity, and it’s a hit.”
What it comes down to is the work Sidibe has done. With an Oscar nomination already under her belt and obvious skill, she will undoubtedly have writers and directors seeking her out.
In fact, Sidibe has another movie coming out where she will star opposite Zoe Kravitz and a role in The Big C, a new Showtime series. (Heads up Howard Stern!)
Vivian Cannon, executive producer of Sidibe’s show, says, “Gabby can play whatever she wants to play ― she’s that good. I’m hard-pressed to see anyone else like her.”
There may be room for the size of Sidibe’s talent in Hollywood after all.