Actress Kat Dennings talked about the tough body image criticism she faced as a young actor and how Hollywood has changed in the last twenty years to become more inclusive and helpful.
In an interview with People magazine, Dennings, who starred in 2 Broke Girls and will appear in the new show Shifting Gears, talked about the harsh comments she received from casting directors when she started her career. When she was just 12 years old, she was told she “wasn’t pretty enough” and was “fat.” These words, passed on by her manager after the auditions, made a strong impact on her.
“Thinking about it was pretty crazy,” Dennings said. “I’m wondering how someone can say that about a young child.” “This is crazy.” The actress started her career in the early 2000s on the WB sitcom Raising Dad, a time she says was not as accepting as the industry is now.
Despite the tough criticism, Dennings thanks her parents for their constant support, which helped her stay strong. “For some reason, it didn’t hurt my feelings.” She said, “I thought, ‘I’ll prove them wrong.'” “Props to my parents because they were like, ‘They’re stupid. Ignore what they say. I thought, “They’re fools, but I’m not.”
After over 25 years in the entertainment industry, Dennings says she has seen a big change in Hollywood’s culture. She said that today’s environment is “much softer” and “kinder” compared to the “completely crazy” atmosphere when she started her career. She complimented the industry’s greater attention to body positivity, diversity, and representation, saying it’s a big difference from the “really bad” treatment she faced as a child.
Dennings’ story highlights the difficulties that young actors have often encountered in Hollywood. She also notes how the industry has improved in dealing with issues of body image and acceptance during this time.
