She might have lost to Sandra Bullock at Sunday night’s Oscars, but Gabourey Sidibe, star of “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire,” isn’t licking her wounds, but quickly moving on to her next project, a new Showtime comedy, “The Big C.”
“Precious” was Gabby’s feature film debut, and she relished her first Academy Awards appearance, quipping on the red carpet that if fashion were porn, her blue crystal adorned Marchesa dress would be the money shot.
Gabby – who weighs somewhere between 335 and 400 – is one of the precious few weighty actress (think Ricki Lake, “Hairspray,” 1988) in an industry where lithe, lovely young women are the standard.
Sidibe, 26, was never, as she puts it, a “small girl,” going on her first diet at age 6. She spent years feeling bad about herself.
But Sidibe had had enough with lamenting her size. Now she exudes confidence and contentment – a lesson we can all learn from, as women who typically gripe and groan about body shape and size.
Where does all this confidence come from?
“It’s something I had to work at,” Sidibe says. “I was always dieting. One day I had to sit down with myself and decide that I loved myself no matter what my body looked like – and no matter what other people thought of my body.”
She adds, “Your body is your temple. It’s your home.”
My reaction? Quite simply — I love it. I love that Sidibe has such a healthy attitude about herself. It’s what I wish for all young people struggling with their body image.
Let’s hope Gabby’s moment in the spotlight isn’t over, but that she has opened the door for imperfection in Hollywood. Doubtful, but we can always hope.
No Comments so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.