Kate Winslet, who won her third BAFTA for her role in Steve Jobs, dedicated her award to young women who doubt themselves or struggle with insecurity. Winslet recalled a teacher’s words when she was young, words or a variation of what many other young women, no doubt, still hear now:
When I was only 14, I was told by a drama teacher that I might do OK, if I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts. [whispers] Look at me now, look at me now.
So what I feel like saying in those moments is — to any young woman who has ever been put down by a teacher, by a friend, or even a parent, just don’t listen to any of it, because that’s what I did. I didn’t listen and I kept on going and I overcame my fears and I got over a lot of insecurity. And just keep doing it and keep believing in yourself. You know, that’s what I felt like I really had to dig deep and do, so I would dedicate it to the young women who doubt themselves, because you shouldn’t be doubting — you should just be going for it.
It was super messed up for Winslet’s teacher to tell her to settle for “fat girl parts” because, well, separating “fat girl parts” from the implied “skinny girl parts” is a pretty shitty thing to do.”Fat girl parts” are, or should be, any role. Implying that women who aren’t skinny can’t be leading ladies, and leading ladies can’t be fat, can be really discouraging to talented girls. It’s also not how the world looks! (Period dramas that assume standards of beauty match up with current ones have always really annoyed me.)
This isn’t the first time Winslet’s been vocal about body image and honest representations. Last year she made a deal with L’Oréal, becoming the face of their campaign on the condition that they’re not allowed to digitally retouch her photos. Winslet makes it clear that women shouldn’t settle, period.
(via The Hollywood Reporter)
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