While looking around on the Internet Movie Database, as I do from time to time, I noticed a news article that grabbed my attention not because it is newsworthy but because of its ridiculousness.
According to a World Entertainment News Network report, actress Liv Tyler has been told by \movie bosses"" that if she lost weight, she'd get more roles in Hollywood movies. She apparently did this for the ""Lord of the Rings"" trilogy, but then gained much of the weight back. The article reports that she's happy with her weight as is and doesn't plan to follow the advice.
First, it must be noted that WENN is known for reporting many stories that are nothing more than tabloid fodder, and thus the legitimacy of this story is in doubt. Secondly, the article reports that she weighs roughly 150 pounds, which sounds correct. Her height in other biographies is reported at 5'10'.
Doesn't matter. True or not, the idea that Liv Tyler needs to lose weight is more than ludicrous. It's offensive.
Whether the idea is coming from a fake news article or from real life, it's incredibly troubling and is simply indicative of the continuing ""slim, slim, slim"" trend in Hollywood women. What, do Hollywood execs think that every single actress should be rail-thin?
Believe it or not, men have varying tastes in women!
Believe it or not, some of us think that Calista Flockhart and Laura Flynn Boyle are thin to the point of revulsion!
Believe it or not, I'm offended that Hollywood seems to find it necessary to dictate what is and is not attractive. I like to think that, while men are simple creatures, we're not complete morons incapable of thinking for ourselves.
Naturally, it's offensive to women, as well. The ""ideal"" female weight according to Hollywood is going down at the exact same time American weights are skyrocketing. It's a sick game. Sure, many people in this country are overweight. But to make women feel as though they should look like a malnourished waif simply compounds the problem. How can they be expected to live up to that preposterous standard?
At least the article reports that Tyler is happy with herself and has no plans to conform. Other actresses, such as Monica Bellucci, have also chosen to remain larger than the Hollywood ideal, and are more beautiful for it. Once upon a time, women of similar shape were considered the ideal. The popularity of Marilyn Monroe certainly attests to that. If enough female actresses stand their ground and still find popular success, maybe the ""thin as a rail"" trend will halt.
But I doubt it.
wwtemby@wisc.edu.
