Patricia Arquette on Losing Weight for Medium
Actress Says No to Hollywood for her Character to be Skinnier
Aug 22, 2006
Hollywood has been both fighting and reveling in the attention given to the way it seems to choose thin actresses over real talent. But producers of the TV show Medium have been publicly challenged for their request of their leading lady to lose more weight after giving birth to her daughter.
Patricia stated, "I felt like saying, 'I don't want to do this job then,' because, to be honest with you, I'm trying to make little changes in the world." Ironically, the role she plays on the television show is a mother of 3 children. "If [losing weight] made any sense for this part- if this part was a supermodel or anorexic- then okay," Arquette explained. "But DuBois is a mother of three in a long-term marriage. It doesn't make sense."
Indeed, it doesn't usually make sense. Why do the majority of the lead actresses in major motion pictures have to be thin? If the breakdown says "Young Woman in her early 20's, girl next door look, attractive," that in no way means "skinny." There are plenty of attractive women in the world who don't wear a size 0.
If every actor who had the power to make statements such as the ones Patricia Arquette has and actually stood up for themselves, maybe they wouldn't have to dedicate so much time and money working out with the best trainers, eating only certain foods and using only the best products.
It would also give audiences a more realistic look at their fellow citizens without leaving a theatre determined to follow their diet more rigidly so they can lose 10 more pounds.
Bravo Patricia Arquette.
