Rebel Wilson Made a ‘Conscious Decision to Look Ugly’ for Roles

[hewontgo]

Rebel Wilson Made a ‘Conscious Decision to Look Ugly’ for Roles: ‘I Knew I Wouldn’t Be Taken Seriously Like a Cate Blanchett’ https://t.co/1mtAofa8ex
- IndieWire (@IndieWire) April 1, 2024
Rebel Wilson made herself “ugly” in the early parts of her acting career because it was the best way to get comedic roles. She was “degraded” due to her

Comments

[ginainabottle]

While her point on having to degrade herself for parts very much stands, let's no delude ourselves that homegirl is anywhere close Cate-Nicole levels of acting talent. She was smart in the sense that she worked with what she got - whatever that cost - but had she not done it, she'd likely be just yet another unremarkable white actress whose name most people can't remember.

[elphie84]

I remember reading an interview with Helen Mirren years ago, where she talked about her starting roles.

She knew that she was not pretty enough when she was young (not delicate pretty as her peers iirc, her words) but she had curves and didn’t mind nudity, so she used that to her advantage and took the parts that the others wouldn’t dare to take.That opened up the road for her. So, I guess she knew the business and made it her bitch

[ginainabottle]

Yeah, and it’s wild to think Helen wasn’t perceived as beautiful just bc she wasn’t as delicate as her peers, but you know how we say shit like we can’t buy someone in a period piece bc they look like a person who’s seen an iphone ? Helen was very that lol she had a modern, ahead of its time type of beauty dull Hollywood simply wasn’t ready for, so she played the game to carve a name for herself.

[skeetertuskin]

That’s a very short sighted way of viewing things. How would we even know if she had any dramatic chops since she was never given the opportunity to be considered for those kinds of roles in the first place. She realised quickly that casting agents only viewed her as a clown so she willingly went along with it and played the part. Besides I don’t think she’s saying she could have been as good as them, only that the Hollywood would have never taken her seriously because of her weight.

[angriest_girl]

Is she saying fat people are ugly? Because she was fat, but she was never ugly; even in her early TV roles in Australia when she was always playing some variation of “fat bogan”, she was still fairly conventionally attractive.

Anyway, I’m sure people in her industry have been awful to her and that’s shit. But whatever hardships she has endured, I will still always hate her for her whinging during lockdown.

[sarahvma]

Further down in the quote she implies that she willingly participated in humiliating scenarios -- ie. costumes that emphasized her fat or wearing no makeup.

But... short answer is basically yes.

[h_wyatt]

Yeah I think she’s using ugly as a euphemism for being fat.

Which, I understand what she is trying to articulate, but it is still pretty messed up.

[ginainabottle]

I took it as her saying she'd emphasize things that people see as flaws (like her "gut hanging out") instead of hiding them, and while some of those things happen to be about her weight, she also talks about not wearing make up. Reminds me of how Lena Dunham said she wore spanx during fittings but didn't wear them to filming so the clothes wouldn't fit as well/look as flattering. That said, considering the whole deal about her clothing line not having inclusive sizing, it's also very much possible that fatphobia did a number on her and she's perpetuating, however discreetly, the awful shit she was once a victim of.

[chasethesun]

I'd say it's more a symptom of how things are that she was made to feel that way. And of course she was. Fat has always denoted 'ugly', 'gross' or 'funny' in Hollywood. It's why women still feel that way about themselves, no matter their size.

[therearewords]

I've had a lovely weekend and am completely sated and relaxed. Beep me if this turns into a mess.

[erin805]

Aw I’m glad you had a great weekend you deserve it 😘

[therearewords]

I did, thanks! <3

[anterrabre]

So far, so good as no one seems to be taking the bait.

[sanditar]

another non bright individual