Top 10 Celebs Who Were Forced to Lose Weight For Hollywood
We know, it's Hollywood, you would assume being skinny is just part of the job! For these celebs, their roles didn't really require them to look thin but producers felt that they needed to lose a few pounds before appearing on screen for the role. Celebs like Margaret Cho, Amy Schumer, Kate Beckinsale, Hayley Atwell, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence, Jason Segal, Judy Garland and Carrie Fisher were all pressured to lose weight.
#10: Chris Noth
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Throughout most of the “Sex and the City” television series, Chris Noth’s character is simply known as Mr. Big. As Carrie Bradshaw’s primary love interest, Noth portrayed a cool, confident, and powerful man who manages to steam up every room he enters. When the “Sex and the City” film was given the go-ahead, though, Michael Patrick King took issue with the weight he had gained during the interim. The director reportedly told Noth, “Listen dude, we're not calling you Mr. Big because of the size of your stomach, so go lose that before we start.” Noth’s journey towards weight lost consisted of a vegetarian diet, as well as various healthy activities like yoga, hiking, and kayaking.
#9: Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale is one of the trimmest performers in Hollywood, which is only made more apparent thanks to the skintight leather ensembles she sports in the “Underworld” movies. Believe it or not, director Michael Bay reportedly wasn’t thrilled with her appearance when she was up for a role in “Pearl Harbor.” As Beckinsale put it, “I think he was baffled by me because my boobs weren't bigger than my head and I wasn't blonde.” The actress had also recently given birth to her daughter and was told that she’d have to “work out” if given the part. Beckinsale didn’t understand why she had to lose weight to portray a “1940s nurse,” however.
#8: Amy Schumer
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It’s safe to say that this comedian/actress is comfortable in her own skin. Schumer will essentially do and say anything as long as she thinks it might get a laugh. Although Schumer has never been one to follow the rules, she was pressured to meet certain expectations for the 2015 comedy, ‘Trainwreck.” While visiting “The Jonathan Ross Show,” Schumer revealed that she was told women on-screen who weigh over 140 pounds will “hurt people’s eyes.” Being new to the movie scene, she decided to slim down for the role, but stated she’d never do it again. Schumer also joked about the experience during her “Leather Special,” saying she felt she looked “stupid skinny” afterwards.
#7: Margaret Cho
While it was notable for being the first primetime sitcom to center on an Asian American cast, “All-American Girl” was criticized for its stereotypes and crude humor. Though the end credits claimed it was based on her stand-up, Margaret Cho wasn’t responsible for the show’s failure, as she lost virtually any creative control. On top of that, executive producer Gail Berman and others at the network had criticized Cho’s appearance, prompting her to lose 30 pounds in just two weeks. Cho endured kidney failure and suffered from substance abuse following the show’s cancellation. Cho opened up about the ordeal in her concert movie, “I'm the One That I Want,” which saw the comedian’s talents put to much more effective use.
#6: Jason Segel
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Having gone full frontal in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Jason Segel is clearly one of the most confident actors in the business. For “The Five-Year Engagement,” however, the funnyman was instructed to shed 35 pounds. Talking to David Letterman, Segel mentioned that he had to lose the weight so people would believe Emily Blunt’s character was actually attracted to him. Segel was able to joke about the studio’s request and his time with a personal trainer. Considering that Segel has previously acted opposite Alyson Hannigan, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis, though, audiences probably would’ve been willing to accept the idea that he could win over Emily Blunt, with or without the belly.
#5: Jennifer Lawrence
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Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most beloved stars around, which has a lot to do with her down-to-earth persona both on and off-screen. As far as Lawrence is concerned, there’s nothing wrong with chowing down on some pizza, but not everyone in Hollywood shares her mentality. The Oscar-winner was once told that she was fat and had to go on a diet to keep her job. Lawrence was given practically nude pictures of herself, which were supposed to encourage her to lose weight. Although this upset Lawrence, she fired back at body shamers during a Marie Claire interview, stating, “I’d rather look chubby on screen and like a person in real life.”
#4: Margot Robbie
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On the heels of her breathtaking breakout performance in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Margot Robbie didn’t strike audiences as someone who needed to lose weight. As bizarre as it sounds, there are reports that some of the higher-ups in Hollywood wanted the actress to drop 20 pounds so she could reign amongst the A-listers. Robbie went through an intense workout routine to play Harley Quinn in “Suicide Squad,” training for three hours almost every day of the week. Robbie put her foot down when she was asked to go on a diet for “The Legend Of Tarzan,” however, arguing that a 19th century woman like Jane would have bit of weight on her.
#3: Hayley Atwell
Hayley Atwell naturally looks like an actress out of Hollywood’s golden era. That’s just one of the reasons why she was such a perfect fit for period pieces like “The Duchess” and “The Pillars of the Earth,” not to mention her iconic turn as Agent Carter in the MCU. During the production of “Brideshead Revisited,” though, the producers reportedly advised Atwell to lose weight. While Atwell complied at first, the execs got off her back when Emma Thompson caught wind of the situation. Noting in an interview that Atwell “was absolutely exquisite,” Thomas threatened to walk off the set if they didn’t leave her co-star alone. You tell them, Emma!
#2: Carrie Fisher
As Princess Leia in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, Carrie Fisher portrayed one of the most beautiful and badass women ever to grace a galaxy far, far away. Fisher was given an opportunity to reprise her career-defining role in 2015’s “The Force Awakens.” Despite being “Star Wars” royalty, however, Fisher was still asked to shed about 35 pounds before shooting commenced. This wasn’t the first time Fisher was put under such circumstances, as the filmmakers wanted her lose weight for 1977’s “A New Hope” as well. On both occasions, she followed through with the demands. Before passing away in 2016, Fisher was overtly candid about her weight loss and the pressures actresses face in Hollywood.
#1: Judy Garland
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Throughout what might’ve seemed like a glamorous career, this Hollywood legend was hounded to be quote unquote “camera-slim.” Even at age 14 when she made her film debut in “Pigskin Parade,” Judy Garland felt incredibly self-conscious about her weight, allegedly describing herself as a “fat little frightening pig with pigtails.” The studio only fuelled Garland’s insecurities, sometimes taking food right off her plate. It’s even been reported that she was forced to smoke 80 cigarettes daily and consume pills every four hours to satisfy her appetite. Of all the celebrities on this list, Garland is perhaps the most tragic figure, as her experiences with weight loss contributed to her drug addiction, which ultimately claimed her life.
