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“Stranger Things” Actor Shannon Purser Got Real About How “Fat Actors” Are Cast In Hollywood
“They want a big name star.”
If you’re a Stranger Things fan, you definitely know Shannon Purser. She played infamous internet fan-favorite Barb in the Netflix hit’s first season.
Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection
And you’ve probably also seen her appearance in Riverdale, too.
Diyah Pera / CW Network / courtesy Everett Collection
Earlier this week, Shannon took to Twitter to talk about Hollywood’s casting practices, and who gets left out in the process.
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In the tweet, Shannon said that Hollywood doesn’t hire “fat actors for iconic fat characters because they want a big name star.”
they’re not hiring fat actors for iconic fat characters because they want a big name star. there are almost no fat big name stars because fat actors aren’t allowed upward mobility. we aren’t allowed upward mobility because the industry sees us as two-dimensional set pieces.
“There are almost no fat big name stars because fat actors aren’t allowed upward mobility,” she wrote.
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“We aren’t allowed upward mobility because the industry sees us as two-dimensional set pieces.”
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While Shannon didn’t issue any further comment on the subject, it’s likely her tweet was inspired by Emma Thompson wearing a fat suit in the upcoming Matilda movie musical. You can watch the trailer below:
View this video on YouTube
Actors wearing fat suits for roles is a practice that’s come under scrutiny in recent years. In particular, Sarah Paulson faced backlash last summer for her portrayal of Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story.
Tina Thorpe / FX Networks / courtesy Everett Collection
“It’s very hard for me to talk about this without feeling like I’m making excuses,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “There’s a lot of controversy around actors and fat suits, and I think that controversy is a legitimate one.”
Tina Thorpe / FX Networks / courtesy Everett Collection
Read more about the controversy here.
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