While Hollywood continues to promote thinness and tighten beauty standards instead of loosening them, some actresses are raising the average height on set. While the world knows Irish actress Nicola Coughlan from "Bridgerton," one of her colleagues is also advocating for more inclusive cinema: Megan Stalter. Discovered in the Netflix series "Too Much," where she plays a slightly more eccentric version of herself, she is bringing curves back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n
Under the bright lights of film sets, thinness is a key selection criterion. According to casting calls, you need prominent collarbones, visible bones, and a BMI bordering on deficiency to land major roles. This is the typical profile regularly touted on screen: that of a willowy woman without a single roll of fat. In these Hollywood "star silhouettes," fat is only tolerated in the d\u00e9colletage.<\/p>\n
For the past few months, with the rise of Ozempic and the decline of the self-acceptance movement, several renowned actresses have been showcasing their weight loss as a personal achievement. Rebel Wilson, once hailed as a body-positive icon and proclaimed the official representative of curvy women<\/a> in film, has succumbed to this pressure to be thin<\/a> disguised as an "aesthetic trend." Actresses with so-called "generous" figures, who refuse to settle for a simple apple for a meal and to transform themselves solely to land a role, are relegated to stereotypical characters: the "funny best friend," the "clumsy woman," or the "tormented character" whose entire plot revolves around her weight. These consolation prizes speak volumes about the pervasive fatphobia.<\/p>\n In "Too Much," Megan Stalter, on the contrary, is the main character in a progressive romantic comedy, far removed from the usual idyllic storylines. Her love story isn't presented as exceptional or improbable because of her appearance. She's simply a fully realized romantic heroine, but more unconventional and authentic than those who came before her in this saccharine genre. Her body, curvier than what Hollywood usually shows, is, in fact, a non-issue. <\/p>\n\n