This type of article is actually hard to write but most of us can’t help but hope that Chrissy Metz will be able to keep moving forward and upward after the hit show This Is Us. Some however think that her career might have peaked at this point and will plateau rather than climb. Metz has shown that she’s capable of achieving greatness, but the hard truth that will sink in, if it it hasn’t already, is that while it’s not right at all, big women in show business tend to become typecast with great ease. It’s not a pleasant thought and it’s one that many would rail against when it comes to supporting their favorite actors, but it is also a very true statement since despite their talent bigger women do tend to become locked into certain roles that don’t allow for much growth as a character. Metz has already a successful career and it would be great to see it continue, so hopefully this article will be proven wrong in the days to come, but if you want a good example of how bigger women are treated in show business take a look at Roseanne Barr, Melissa McCarthy, and many others. There’s nothing to say that they can’t all be successful, far from it, but the reality is that those in charge of the casting often take into account what the audience wants to see versus what will sell. The sad truth is that while Metz is very talented she’s not always want people want to see.
Bigger women can make it in show business, but they tend to need another skill to rely on.
Actresses like McCarthy and Roseanne tend to have a little bit of extra talent that they use to their advantage, such as their comedic acts. We won’t go into how effective this is for every audience member but the overall feeling is that they are funny and can act. Metz can act and she can act very well, but apart from that her physical form does hinder her from taking on other parts. McCarthy took on the role of a secret agent in Spy, but if you’ll notice that movie kind of flopped as it seemed to take her way too far out of her comfort zone, thereby negating her appeal to people who counted on her to be funny and dramatic. It’s a very mean thing to say but typically, big people are not action stars. There are exceptions to the rule, but not many.
Chrissy can act, there’s no doubt about this.
That’s great and all, it really is, but unless she is bent on changing her appearance, which she shouldn’t unless it’s her choice, then the role of the bigger woman is always going to be what she’s cast as, no matter which role it gives her. There’s no doubt that she can fill a spot and make it her own with wonderful results. Doubting her would be the act of a fool, but we all need to be a bit realistic at the same time. She won’t be performing in the same roles as say, Angelina Jolie or any other woman whose waistline is ridiculously small. The unfortunate fact of being a bigger woman is that she will be able to fulfill dramatic and comedic roles aplenty, but action and anything other than the part of the big woman will likely be denied to her. As sad as that is, as well as harsh, it is unfortunately very real. While the rest of us believe that she might be able to pull off a wide range of roles that could put her in movies and shows that offer a little more in the way of engaging action and thrill, the likely role she will usually be given is someone that needs to be tucked up and out of the way, or the role of someone who will be front and center and have to be emotionally strong throughout everything.
There should be more hope for her to be honest.
And there very well may be. Actions, fantasy, scifi, drama, comedy, all of them need people, not just big or small, but people to fill out the various roles and give life to the many different characters that are developed throughout the course of the production. For Metz there could always be something open if she tries for it like everyone else, and it could be that she’ll find a role that will be outside of her comfort zone but still well within her capabilities. It would be far preferable to being cast as the big woman again and again.
Quite honestly it’s a shame that talent like Metz’s makes anyone feel that she needs to be confined to certain roles because of her body type. It’s true that she probably can’t keep up with those in better shape, but there should always be a place for anyone in any production.
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