When Thin Actors Play Fat Characters
Which narratives require thin actors to wear fat suits — and why?
“Fat suits are never necessary.”
I had made a bold claim in the wake of the premiere of Netflix’s Insatiable, and I knew it. The statement was, clearly, provocative for many. Fat people and survivors of eating disorders silently retweeted and liked, quietly assenting in droves.
A smaller number of people—who largely didn’t identify as fat or as people with eating disorders—wrote emails and response tweets. The vast majority began with “But what about…”
What about when a character goes through a significant weight change?
What about if it’s just a prop? Can’t it be a neutral tool to tell stories?
What about local theater? I work in a small theater company and our cast is our cast—we have to make do with what we’ve got.
What about Big Momma’s House?
What about Austin Powers?
What about Weird Al’s “Fat” video?
What about Monica in Friends?
What about Shallow Hal?
What about
What about
What about
