Oscar nominations for 2016 have been announced and there’s an uproar led by Jada Pinkett Smith about the lack of diversity amongst the nominees. I misunderstood initially and thought she meant that the voters were racist: suggesting African American actors and directors had been purposely overlooked and wondered who she thought was undeserving of the existing nominees.
Today however I read a media report which cited the delectable Idris Elba (who – incidentally I think would be a most excellent James Bond) on the issue as he spoke about the lack of diversity on UK screens. Another report reflected on our own industry here in Australia and it (and those commenting) noted that we really only see diversity on SBS, and occasionally on ABC TV.
Indigenous Australians account for about 3% of Australia’s population and (as at June 2014) a mammoth 28% of our population was born overseas. More often than not shows might include a token Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or Asian immigrant. But it often feels like an afterthought.
Idris Elba’s comments to Parliament went a little further than race as he also spoke about the inclusion of people with a disability and women—in front of, and behind, the camera.
However… although I completely agree with the lack of multiculturalism (and people with a disability) on our screens, I’m actually (again) taking the opportunity to have a whinge about the lack of non-slim people on our TV and movie screens.
Yep… that’s what I want to know.
Where are the fatties? Or even the pleasantly plump?
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 62.8% of Australian adults were overweight in 2011-12. You wouldn’t know it, however, from our small and big screens as overweight people rarely appear on anything other than current affairs’ items about the nation’s obesity or shows like The Biggest Loser.
And before everyone yells at me for promoting unhealthy lifestyles, I very much agree the increasing rate of obesity isn’t something we should be celebrating.
As someone who falls into that category I know it’s important I do something about my health and fitness. However… over recent years, thanks to the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement (etc), there’s been an increased acknowledgement of the fact that self-hate and ridicule is not a good motivator. Indeed, self-acceptance and appreciating our bodies is often cited as a necessity to healthy eating and increased movement.
It’s taken me a long time but I can now finally appreciate the bodies of women who aren’t slim; women who might be slightly overweight but are fit and healthy. And I think society is finally getting there as well – acknowledging that people CAN be healthy at a range of sizes and shapes.

Plus size model (ie. model) Mel Parrish is a great example.
However, overweight men and women on screen are often akin to sideshow acts—they’re the nerdy idiot or they’re there for the gags. They’re rarely the love interest and VERY RARELY play a lead character whose weight goes unmentioned.

Via Daily Mail UK
Why can’t the occasional lead actor carry a bit more weight than is the norm in Hollywood (et al)? Or if that’s a stretch, then a supporting character offer us some body diversity? Why can’t Callan on NCIS LA have a girlfriend who’s a bit overweight; or Sherlock’s Watson be a bit chubby; or a Pretty Little Liar have a chunky boyfriend?
Is it any wonder the likes of Amy Schumer and Bryce Howard (left) feel ‘fat’ in Hollywood?
Jesus… imagine how the rest of ‘us’ feel?!
It’s like there’s no in-between. No moderation. There are the size 2s and then the Fat Amys who are there for the laughs.
I just want to see people like me—and those around me—on screen; people who are far from perfect but who still deserve to be seen and heard. But mostly seen.
Do you think our existing viewing fodder offers enough diversity?
January 20, 2016
I was thinking only the same thing the other day. Overweight, even slightly overweight, people are portrayed as with Fat Amy’s or often as people to pity. I’d like to see just more size 14 or 16s…
January 21, 2016
Absolutely Jo. I remember watching some cop show recently and the boss’s wife called into the office for something. We’d never met her before and she was older but petite and pretty… and I thought, “Wouldn’t it have been nice if she’d been a bit overweight – and beautiful nonetheless!”
January 20, 2016
YES YES YES.
are you in my head?
MY HOUSE?? 🙂
January 21, 2016
No, but there are cameras! 😉
January 20, 2016
I could care less about is it black or white in the Oscars…blah blah. It just gives everyone a reason to complain about something. I do agree about the more pleasantly plump people though, if your a woman and heavy it seems you have to be a comedian to get a spot and so you can make fun of yourself but if your a guy nobody cares. Oh well, that is hollywood and it’s been that way for a long time.
January 21, 2016
True Stormi, though a lot of the bigger guys are comedians as well. Perhaps that’s the only way into the industry if you’re bigger!
January 20, 2016
What a great post. I actually think the more we talk ‘colour’ the worst it gets. I watch for amazing actors and have favourites from a few different cultures. I don’t watch tv often but I guess there is a lack of plus size women and men in shows. I wish we can get away from the thought that small is healthy, many size 14 – 20 are healthier.
I have heard about the uproar but purposely stay away from negative, I’m not interested in taking it on.
Have you seen the yogi Dianne Bondy commercial, really progressive, especially for the Yoga world.
January 21, 2016
I haven’t seen that commercial Marce but will google it. I follow some plus-size yoga peeps on Instagram and they’re very inspiring!
January 21, 2016
I remember a couple of years back that both Kate Winslet and Jennifer Lawrence made statements about not apologising for their size and not bowing to the pressure of Hollywood to lose weight. These girls aren’t fat in any way, shape or form and they were being picked on because they weren’t almost anorexic. Hollywood has a very distorted idea of what normal is so I wouldn’t be holding my breath that any change will ever happen.
January 21, 2016
I watched the Amy Schumer movie Trainwreck the other night and know she makes a bit of a big deal about trying to lose weight and not being thin and yet she looked perfectly fine. Slim even. It’s very depressing!
January 21, 2016
Well, my fave actress is Melissa McCarthy. I think there aren’t enough people on the screen with big noses like me! As far as indigenous actors on screen goes, after seeing Last Cab to Darwin and the superb performances by the aboriginal lead actor and actress I say, more please.
January 21, 2016
I suspect much of my ‘normal men don’t like non-slim women’ thing comes from popular media and TV etc as you so rarely see it and I’m starting to believe it’s not the case! And yes, anyone with slightly unusual looks usually plays the quirky tech or lab person on many shows… Gah… I think about the casts of most of my fave TV shows and think, not everyone is that pretty and shiny in real life! (And when someone is a bit bigger than the norm – thinking of a morning TV personality here – the media tends to focus on that fact!)
January 24, 2016
Bryce Dallas Howard looks amazing, I was watching a daft cop show earlier and I looked at the actress and she made me feel huge. I am UK size 10, normal with a big ass, flabby stomach (those bloody kids of mine are responsible!!) and boobs down to my knees (kids again, their fault) and I feel constantly under pressure from all the tv shows that show stick thin women, it is not normal.
Idris Elba that you mentioned is on Luther here in the UK and it gets amazing reviews but there is nothing else like it, our soaps do have multi culture communities, my guilty pleasure Coronation Street has diversified a little, it has a multi hued cast, mostly white but it is getting a little better, a cast that comes in all shapes and sizes, a character in a wheelchair and the most recent addition was a brilliant young man who has Down’s Syndrome.
The media still has a long way to go as does those big fashion house who thing size 0 is acceptable.
January 24, 2016
I think the thing (for me) about the slim beautiful people on TV is that it makes you feel more helpless about my own situation. ie. I will have none of those things cos I don’t look like that.
January 24, 2016
I think that TV show and movie producers have gotten too caught up in serving us a ‘dream’ on a platter. They don’t really care anymore that it might not be our dream they’re giving us, but some made-up, media dream that profits the economy, especially if it makes us spend money on trying to lose weight, buy healthier food, and sign up for gym memberships we won’t really use.
Also, I’m pretty sure a movie or a TV show that managed to have really diverse characters all across – size, colour, gender, sexual orientation etc would be a big hit! Yes, we do want part ‘dream’ but we also want to kind of recognize ourselves – at least I do. I want to feel like I could be a part of the cast, in a way. Like those characters are my friends 🙂
Great post, Deb!
January 24, 2016
Yes I completely agree and thanks Lexxie!
January 24, 2016
OH I LOVE THIS POST! thanks for writing Debbie! I agree society has change how they perceive female beauty but sooo little! I think there is still a long way to go about making feel females valued and not judged in this world. Ohhhh don’t get me started Debbie… LOL you just stirred the inner bitchy feminist in me!!! LOL again LOVE your post 🙂
January 25, 2016
Thanks Daniela!