In the ongoing conversation about the representation of women in Hollywood, for every moment of Amy Schumer proudly displaying her Annie Leibovitz portrait on Facebook, there’s another bracing reminder of the challenges that still remain to be overcome in Hollywood. And even a blockbuster surrounded by warm fuzzies like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is unable to escape some bad practices.
Speaking with Good Housekeeping, Carrie Fisher reveals she was not spared that standards Hollywood imposes on women when asked to gear up again to play Leia. “They don’t want to hire all of me — only about three-quarters! Nothing changes, it’s an appearance-driven thing. I’m in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that’s how easy it is,” she said, noting she was pressured to lose thirty-five pounds for ‘The Force Awakens.’
“We treat beauty like an accomplishment and that is insane. Everyone in LA says, ‘Oh you look good,’ and you listen for them to say you’ve lost weight. It’s never ‘How are you?’ or ‘You seem happy!’,” Fisher added.
It’s certainly a sobering reminder that there are still long, long strides that need to made, particularly in an industry that so often thinks of itself as progressive.
Meanwhile, in lighter news surrounding the sequel, director J.J. Abrams recently dropped by “The Howard Stern Show” and recalled his experience showing ‘The Force Awakens’ to Disney executives for the first time (without finished FX), while Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Harrison Ford are all doing the morning talk shows, sharing their reactions to finally seeing the completed film. Plus, Entertainment Weekly has dropped a couple of featurettes about BB-8 and Rey’s speeder.
Not any different than 90% of the mentally Defective populace (male or Female) who lead off EVERY time they meet someone with "What do you do"? "Huh"?, is what I say. "What do you mean" ? Do. "About What"?
I have never once asked someone I didn\’t know a personal question like that. And who would care anyway (I Know, I know – I\’m in the absolute Minority here. Everyone is judged by "What they Do").
Myself – couldn\’t care less.
I think she looks great!! damn she is twice my age and looks way better hahah im trying tho ethosien diet and swimming 30lbs down in 3 months
You\’re tone deaf.
Geez, this is not a big deal. Look at all the actors that lose weight for roles. How else are you going to convincingly play a insomniac, an AIDS patient, a desert islander? You\’re telling me if the producer told Tom Hanks he was gonna have to lose weight for Cast Away, anyone would bat an eye? Actors gain weight too. Like Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones Diary. Is that the same as losing weight when a female is asked to do that?
And yet she did it, showed up, and cashed the check. It couldn\’t be that hard for a person of conviction opposed to this directive to just turn the whole offer down. Does she have a point? Yes. But the way to rid society of its ills isn\’t to play along when there\’s no good reason to.
They\’d no doubt be asking any of the returning cast to drop a few. Even Hamill made a point to say he was losing weight for it, so it\’s likely they said something to him as well.
She\’s right about all of that, but I have to say, if Harrison Ford were huge when they were casting this, he would be asked to lose weight just the same.
Not any different than 90% of the mentally Defective populace (male or Female) who lead off EVERY time they meet someone with "What do you do"? "Huh"?, is what I say. "What do you mean" ? Do. "About What"?
I have never once asked someone I didn’t know a personal question like that. And who would care anyway (I Know, I know – I’m in the absolute Minority here. Everyone is judged by "What they Do").
Myself – couldn’t care less.