Tips for Obese Women Trying To Make It As An Actress

Being a plus size woman is hard in this world. We get treated differently, we get looks and stares, and its difficult to find well-fitting clothes. With all of these social issues we have to deal with, it's not hard to imagine that we also face these same issues--if not more--in the entertainment industry. It is extremely difficult for plus size women to make it as an actress, but it isn't impossible. This article will give you tips on how to make the most of your career.

Tip #1 Know Your Role

As a plus size woman, it is important to know and accept that you simply are not suited for every role that comes along. Don't set yourself up for failure by auditioning to be Cat Woman. Unless its farce comedy, I'm sorry to tell you that it isn't going to happen. Instead, audition for roles that you know you are suited for. This boils down to knowing your "type". We hear this a lot in the acting world and with plus size women, our size really does contribute to our type. You must take into consideration your physical limitations. Are you just a little bit plump or are you considerably obese? Are you able to walk up a flight of stairs? If they need you to run, can you? If you are physically limited, then your type is going to be limited to types that are physically limited.

Tip #2 Control Your Emotions

Don't get discouraged! There are less roles for us out there, and most of the time there are smaller women auditioning for those also. Getting rejection after rejection can be disheartening, especially if you already have self-esteem issues with your weight. You have to be strong and believe in yourself. You have to have the desire to break barriers in this difficult industry. Remember, skinny women are getting rejected also, and are probably experiencing more rejection than you are because there are more roles for them. Just don't give up, no matter how embarrased you are and the right opportunity will come your way.

Develop a thick skin. In this industry, people may tell you exactly how they feel. You need to be able to handle being told that you are too big for a role without letting it make you feel like the smallest person in the room. Embrace your size. Be comfortable with it. After all, it is a part of your type. Learn to laugh at yourself, so that you don't cry so much. If you are uncomfortable in your own skin, that feeling transfers over to casting directors, who will also be uncomfortable with you. However, if you love yourself, that confidence will transfer over to casting directors and it will instantly make the difference between a depressing audition and a fun, upbeat, and light-hearted one that the casting directors will enjoy.

Tip #3 Have a Super Fantastic Skill

In the acting industry, there is no substitute for pure talent and/or skill. If you have a skill and you have mastered it, this could be the fastest way to get your foot in the door. It could be singing, dancing, stand up comedy, speaking foreign languages, sign language, cooking, or whatever other skill you can think of. Whatever you're are great at, capitalize on that skill. Become better than the best. This way, you can wow the casting director so much in an audition that they completely forget about your dress size.

Tip #4 Do Your Research

There are many plus sized women that have made it to the top in the acting industry. Gabourey Sidibe, Chrissy Metz, Mo'nique, Queen Latifah, and Rosanne Barr are a few examples of women who have broken the size barrier and made it to mainstream acting. Research these women, as well as others. Find out how they got started and what they had to go through to get there. Learn about their big break.

Research agents and managers who work with or have worked with successful plus sized actresses. These industry professionals will know what it takes to boost your career. When you have an agent and manager that is working in sync with your goals, the sky is the limit.

Research casting directors. Find out which ones have cast plus sized actresses in major roles before. Even better, find plus sized casting directors. They will be empathetic to your position (just a little bit...only a little bit).

Tip #5 Lose Weight

This is probably not a tip that you want to hear, or one that is particularly easy. Being overweight is not only a burden on your career, but it is also a burden on your life. If you are going to take acting seriously, don't just sit around and wait on a fat person role to land in your lap. Get out there, join a gym, hire a personal trainer, or whatever it takes to lose some weight. I'm not saying that you have to be skinny, but you do have to be in shape and able to do some basic things. Take Chrissy Metz for example. Yes, she is plus sized, but she was able to work out on a treadmill in the first season of "This is Us".

Eat healthy foods. This is important for weight loss, but it is also important for your skin and health, which go hand in hand with being an actress. Unless bad skin is a part of your "type" (like Danny Trejo, because let's be honest, his skin totally goes along with all the bad-ass, criminal, drug-addict, assassin-type characters that he plays), then you need to take care of it and have the best skin possible.

Endurance is also important, especially if you are trying to be a theater actor. Those shows can run for hours, not to mention the amount of rehearsals that go along with them. If you can't even make it through an audition without winding out, you aren't going to be booked for the role.

Being plus sized doesn't mean that you won't make it as an actress. Use these tips to greatly improve your chances of landing that knockout role you've always dreamed of. You will have to consider things that smaller women don't necessarily worry about, but if you are willing to keep your emotions in check and go the extra mile, you can possibly have a rewarding career.