Kate Winslet Shares She Was Told to “Settle for the Fat Girl Parts”

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Kate Winslet is looking back at a difficult chapter of her life.

Kate Winslet, known for her role in Titanic, recently discussed the criticism she faced about her appearance early in her career.

Kate recalled being told early in her career that her opportunities would be limited because of her body type. Speaking on the upcoming episode of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, she explained that a drama teacher once told her, ‘You’ll find work if you’re willing to only play the roles of the ‘fat girl,’ according to Deadline.

The Academy Award winner continued, saying, “That wasn’t very kind, was it? It’s shocking what people will say to kids.”

Kate, who began her acting career at 15 with a role in the BBC’s Dark Season, has revealed she dealt with an unhealthy relationship with food, often eating very little, between the ages of 15 and 19.

She said her biggest regret was her long struggle with food and body image. For years, she worried constantly about her weight, obsessing over what she ate, panicking about calories, and starting each day by immediately checking if she looked heavier.

She started dieting as a teenager, but her issues with body image began much earlier, when she was bullied about her appearance by classmates.

She shared that she was often teased as a child. Kids at school would call her names like ‘blubber,’ even though she wasn’t overweight – she just had naturally strong legs. They would sometimes lock her in the art room and taunt her, chanting things like ‘Blubber’s blubbing in the art cupboard.’

The actress from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has a strong message for those who bullied her: “You were truly awful, and you ought to feel remorse.”

Kate, a mother of four – 12-year-old Bear with her husband Edward Abel Smith, and Mia, 25, and Joe, 22, from earlier relationships – coped with high school bullying by using it to push herself to do better.

Honestly, developing a thick skin came pretty early for me. When I was dealing with negativity, I really dove headfirst into my passions – I threw myself into my theatre company and all sorts of creative projects. It was my way of making those schoolyard issues feel as small and unimportant as possible, and it totally worked!

The director of Goodbye June explained that they wouldn’t allow anyone to disrupt the path they had firmly decided on.

Kate isn’t alone in speaking out against body shaming. Here are other celebrities who have also confronted their critics.

Okay, so this is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and it’s really important to discuss. Recently, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s daughter shared a TikTok video about a tough experience – she revealed that strangers were commenting on her body online. It sounds incredibly disheartening, but she framed it as a ‘milestone’ – and honestly, that really resonated with me. It’s a sad reality that young women often face this kind of attention, and acknowledging it is a big first step. It’s a reminder that we need to be so much more mindful of the impact our words have online, especially on younger generations.

She explained that one person told her she should use Ozempic because of her weight, while another accused her of being dangerously underweight. She pointed out that her weight hadn’t changed during that time, and even if it had, it wouldn’t have been anyone’s concern.

Ava believes everyone deserves to be accepted for who they are, not judged on their appearance. She emphasized that you never know the challenges someone might be facing, and true beauty goes far beyond how someone looks.

The singer of “I’m Good” responded to negative comments about her body, saying she’s fed up with people criticizing her appearance. In a tweet on June 23rd, she acknowledged gaining weight and bluntly stated she’s tired of the conversation, asking people to move on.

She also shared that everyone’s weight naturally changes, explaining, “It’s a normal part of life, and you never know what someone else is dealing with – whether it’s medication, illness, or other factors.”

Following criticism about her appearance in an Instagram photo, the actress from The House Bunny responded to those commenting on her weight. She explained that while she usually doesn’t feel the need to address such comments, she wanted to speak out against body shaming. She said she was upset by the inappropriate remarks left on her picture, especially because she was just having fun with the photos. She noted that the angle of the picture made her even feel smaller than she is. Ultimately, she emphasized that people don’t have the right to leave negative and judgmental comments about her body, or anyone else’s.

She explained that commenting on her weight – whether saying she’s too thin or needs to eat – is hurtful and constitutes body shaming. She firmly stated she won’t tolerate any form of body shaming.

Over a week later, she responded to criticism by posting a bikini photo with a message saying she’ll continue to be happy despite negativity, playfully telling her critics she sends them love and gratitude.

 

In February 2021, the actress publicly addressed rumors that she was pregnant. The speculation started after online photos surfaced of her on a film set in Australia, wearing a dark blue tank top. She directly criticized a news outlet, the New York Post, via Instagram, stating that it was unacceptable to comment on a woman’s body in 2021, and writing, “I’m not pregnant…but apparently it’s still okay to speculate about a woman’s body shape?”

Christina Hall, known from Flip or Flop, recently responded to online criticism about her body. In a video posted to Instagram on February 7th, she explained that she’s currently at her natural weight and has simply regained her figure after having babies. She reassured commenters who expressed concern about her being too thin, saying she’s healthy and everything is okay.

The singer, who recently faced criticism online about her body and weight, responded to the negativity without saying a word.

During her performance at Manchester Pride 2025, she wore a large T-shirt featuring a design of a woman in a cropped tank top and black push-up bra.

After her breakup with Jim Edmonds, the former Bravo star asked fans to stop commenting on her weight. She admitted on Instagram in December 2019, ‘I’m too thin,’ and responded to comments like ‘Eat a burger.’ She explained that she deserves understanding, as she’s prioritizing her children and handling the situation with as much grace as possible.

The famous singer recently responded to criticism about her weight, telling Entertainment Tonight that she’s always been thin and maintains her physique through ballet, stretching, and regular workouts, which benefit her overall well-being.

If you put yourself out there, you’re bound to face criticism, and that’s okay. I prioritize my own well-being – I embrace what benefits me and leave behind what doesn’t. I trust my team to handle any fallout from my decisions, and ultimately, I’ve learned you can’t try to make everyone happy.

In June 2020, Lizzo responded to criticism about her body with a powerful message. In a TikTok video, she explained that she’s been consistently working out for five years, but not to meet anyone else’s standards. “I’m working out to get the body I want,” she said, adding that her fitness journey is nobody’s concern. She confidently declared that she is beautiful, strong, and focused on her work.

The singer known for her song “Confident” has consistently spoken out against body shaming. In a 2016 interview with Glamour, she shared that when someone calls her fat, even when she’s feeling insecure, she simply laughs it off, knowing she’s doing her best. She also pointed out that she doesn’t have, nor does she necessarily want, a six-pack, as it doesn’t appeal to her.

Following the actress’s decision to share a nude photo online, someone criticized her, writing in a now-deleted tweet that it was inappropriate for a woman in her 50s to post such content, suggesting she should be enjoying time with her grandchildren instead. The commenter lamented a perceived lack of graceful aging.

Halle quickly responded with a playful comment, asking, “Did you know a shrimp’s heart is in its head?”

The singer of “Señorita” recently addressed her critics on Instagram. She explained she’d been avoiding social media to protect her feelings, but accidentally saw headlines about people criticizing her body. Her first reaction was to feel insecure about the photos, worrying about cellulite and not looking her best. However, she quickly realized that everyone has bad angles and bodies aren’t meant to be perfect. She’s especially concerned about young girls growing up in a world saturated with airbrushed images, which create unrealistic expectations and a false sense of what’s normal. She wants her younger sister and other girls to understand that photoshopped pictures aren’t reality. She emphasized that cellulite and fat are natural and beautiful, and she refuses to believe in these unrealistic standards. She encouraged others to reject them too.

I remember when she posted that video from Hangout Music Festival back in May 2019 – she looked amazing! But someone on social media was really rude, commenting about her body and comparing her to how she looked before. Honestly, it made me so mad! She handled it perfectly, though, just replying, ‘I gained weight, get over it.’ It was such a confident and perfect response, and I loved that she didn’t let anyone shame her.

She criticized the fashion industry, stating that some designers wouldn’t dress her for the Grammys because of her size. In a January 2019 Instagram post, she urged people to embrace body positivity, writing, “Let’s empower women to love their bodies, and stop making girls and women feel bad about their size.” She emphasized that beauty comes in all sizes, and proudly declared she would be attending the Grammys regardless, celebrating her size 8 figure with the hashtag #LOVEYOURBODY.

The celebrity had previously shared a photo of her family celebrating the Golden State Warriors’ win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. In the picture, she’s holding her son, Canon. Someone then commented, asking if she was pregnant again.

She firmly said no, adding with a laugh that her 30-pound son was making it difficult to get a good photo because he was so heavy.

Someone else commented that if the child weighed 30 pounds, they would have significant health problems. The cookbook author quickly responded, firmly telling the commenter, “Excuse me? Absolutely not.”

Only a week after giving birth, the podcast host used Instagram to connect with her fans.

She shared a post in December 2018 expressing her frustration with the negative comments she received on a photo of her stomach. She was initially going to share the picture to document her recovery journey, but decided against it after realizing how critical people can be. She clarified that she hadn’t had a tummy tuck, a personal chef, or the time to exercise consistently. She explained she’d had a C-section and was still recovering, though she does have a high pain tolerance, and had previously undergone surgeries for her appendix and gallbladder. She was bothered that she even had to defend herself, especially since she was simply trying to be open about her post-partum body while wearing a belly wrap and high-waisted pants. She questioned why women feel the need to compare themselves to each other and then criticize each other’s appearances. She emphasized that every woman’s body is unique, heals differently, and looks different, and asked why anyone would shame someone for that. She encouraged self-kindness and lifting other women up without tearing themselves down, and expressed her love for her followers before returning to focusing on her baby.

In April 2018, actress Candace Cameron Bure posted a photo of herself having dinner with her son, Lev Bure. Someone commented negatively, questioning why she still appeared heavier than her husband despite her workouts and asking if she’d changed her eating habits.

The actress quickly responded to the criticism. She wrote, “If a 25-inch waist seems large to you, it’s because you’re viewing it with unrealistic expectations. Take care.”

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2025-12-22 18:48