Fabulously Talented Women of Size
by zmcadler93 | created - 23 Feb 2015 | updated - 23 Feb 2015 | PublicA few years ago, a man told me I could never be a leading lady because I'm fat. These women are examples of how wrong he is.
1. Octavia Spencer
Actress | Hidden Figures
Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, ...
Sorry I couldn't hear you over the sound of that time she won an Oscar.
2. Queen Latifah
Actress | Chicago
Often considered hip-hop's first lady, the woman behind the moniker Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Rita (Bray), a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr. She came from a police family-both her father and her older brother were ...
3. Rebel Wilson
Actress | Senior Year
Rebel Wilson was born in Sydney, Australia, to a family of dog handlers and showers. She trained at the Australian Theatre for Young People and at Second City in the US. After a successful stage and television career in Australia, this writer/actress/producer now focuses on feature film projects in...
4. Melissa McCarthy
Actress | The Heat
Melissa McCarthy was born in Plainfield, Illinois, to Sandra and Michael McCarthy, and was raised on her family's corn and soybean farm. She began her performing career as a stand-up comedian in New York where she appeared at the famous clubs, Stand Up New York and The Improv. She worked on her ...
5. Jill Scott
Actress | Why Did I Get Married?
Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with "The Light of The Sun", performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV ...
6. Aidy Bryant
Actress | Saturday Night Live
Aidy Bryant was born on May 7, 1987 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Saturday Night Live (1975), Shrill (2019) and Human Resources (2022). She has been married to Conner O'Malley since April 28, 2018.
I can feel more confident in myself knowing that someone like me is a current SNL cast member.
7. Oprah Winfrey
Producer | The Oprah Winfrey Show
Oprah Gail Winfrey , often known simply as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history and ...
I mean... it's Oprah. What else do I have to say?
8. Sharon Rooney
Actress | My Mad Fat Diary
Sharon Rooney was born on October 22, 1988 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She is an actress, known for My Mad Fat Diary (2013), Barbie (2023) and Dumbo (2019).
9. Gabourey Sidibe
Actress | Precious
Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, is a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer/singer, while her father, Ibnou Sidibe, is a cab driver....
This Oscar-nominated actress responded to fat-shaming comments on Twitter with "To people making mean comments about my GG pics, I mos def cried about it on that private jet on my way to my dream job last night. #JK". Beautiful.
10. Amber Riley
Actress | Glee
Amber Riley was born on February 15, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Glee (2009), The Wiz Live! (2015) and Glee: Director's Cut Pilot Episode (2009).
11. Danielle Brooks
Actress | Peacemaker
Danielle Brooks was born on September 17, 1989 in Augusta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Peacemaker (2022), Orange Is the New Black (2013) and Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021). She has been married to Dennis Gelin since January 13, 2022. They have one child.
12. Lea DeLaria
Actress | Orange Is the New Black
Lea DeLaria was born on May 23, 1958 in Belleville, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Orange Is the New Black (2013), Cars 3 (2017) and Edge of Seventeen (1998).
13. Dascha Polanco
Actress | Orange Is the New Black
Dascha Polanco is a Dominican American actress known for playing the character Dayanara "Daya" Diaz on Orange Is the New Black (2013). As of January 2018, she has a recurring role on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2016) as Detective Lori Weider. Polanco was born in Santo...
14. Adrienne C. Moore
Actress | Orange Is the New Black
Adrienne C. Moore was born on August 14, 1980 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. She is an actress, known for Orange Is the New Black (2013), Shaft (2019) and Pretty Hard Cases (2021).
15. Kathy Bates
Actress | Misery
Multi-talented, multi-award-winning actress Kathleen (Doyle) Bates was born on June 28, 1948, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the youngest of three girls born to Bertye Kathleen (Talbot), a homemaker, and Langdon Doyle Bates, a mechanical engineer. Her grandfather was author Finis L. Bates...
16. Mo'Nique
Actress | Precious
Mo'Nique received a standing ovation when she stepped on stage for the first time in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, giving her confidence to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. After numerous stand-up performances, she took a leap forward with one of the starring roles in The Parkers (...
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