Books/films with obese female protagonist?

[runnerbeany]

Chatting with friend and discussing whether UK society can view obese women as 'heroic' protagonists. We both think that people can be heroic regardless of body shape, but couldn't think of good examples in the media. Can you help?

We want examples of reasonably well known books/films/TV, where the protagonist is an obese woman (not just a wee bit overweight) and where it is not relevant to the story. She just HAPPENS to be obese, but the story isn't ABOUT her weight. She doesn't lose weight by the end. She triumphs in the story, either physically, psychologically, or beats the antagonist, or whatever.

I appreciate that many books don't mention whether the protagonist is obese or not, so you could choose to imagine she is, but that is not the same thing.

Please no fat-shaming! I'm really hoping the answers are plentiful and me and my friend were just unable to think of any.

How to Build a Girl?

The good girls, on Netflix. Not heroes such as they are actually bad girls. But worth a watch.

Precious Ramotswe from the Number 1 Ladies Detective Series.

She was played by such a beautiful actress in the TV series.

Shrill

There's one on Netflix with Rebel Wilson. I can't remember what its called. She hit her head and then her life became amazing.

These are US-based not UK, but for younger overweight/obese heroines try the classic Trixie Belden "girl detective" series.Trixie's weight is never a direct plot point but she's definitely described as stout, round, etc. and there are references to things like her not fitting into borrowed clothes, etc.

Also (more recent/contemporary) US-based YA: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner, The Big F and To be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin, and The Nowhere Girls (specifically the character Grace) by Amy Reed.

In The Fault In Our Stars Hazel is overweight due to her medication. I somehow knew they would conveniently forget that when they made the film.

The Heat starring Melissa McCarthy.

@Cyberworrier

I came on to say the girl in The Tourist too! The actress is very pretty and talented.

" (American) "The Heat"

Retta, an American comedian, stars in Good Girls (comedy/drama) and also Parks and Recreation (sitcom). She plays great characters in both, she plays them so well and she's so funny. Her weight doesn't come up.

Pen in Bridgerton, she is marvellous!

Dumplin
I Feel Pretty
The one about the girl running the marathon on Prime

Dr Ruth Galloway, written by Elly Griffiths, is portrayed as being overweight - maybe not quite obese though. I really like the character.

@DropYourSword. I love Mma Ramotswe: she is beautiful and traditionally built

Shrill - Its an American sitcom on BBC iPlayer (I think)

Maxwell, in the Jodi Taylor Chronicles of St Mary's series. She does lose weight in one book due to extenuating circumstances but she constantly describes herself as short, overweight and ginger. Max is marvellous, as are the books and the author.

@OppsUpsSide

Shrill

I thought of that, but Annies weight is a big big part of her story. I love her flat mate though, who is pretty much the same size and it's never even mentioned!

OP if this kind of thing interests you, have you listened to the podcast 'maintenance phase'? One of the hosts is a fat lady (her words not mine) and talks a lot about anti fat bias in society and the media. She's funny too and they have done some really interesting episodes debunking 'wellness' myths and talking about obesity.

Togetherness - doesn’t quite fit the bill because one of the two (female) leads is only overweight not obese. But it’s great and worth watching.

I’d disagree about I Feel Pretty and Britney runs a marathon. Those films are all about weight even if the message is that it doesn’t matter. It’s not incidental to the plot.

(and not very overweight, but still.)

This is a good thread OP.

I can only think of the exact opposite, ie Bridget Jones, martine mcCutheon in love actually, Kate Winslet in anything at all - an objectively thin female character triumphs "despite" her physical imperfections 🤢🙄

@Wookydook

Precious ? (As in, the film)

I have read the novel this film is based on - Push by Sapphire. A very disturbing read which explicitly details sexual abuse. The protagonist states her obesity is a side effect of abuse. You’d need a stomach of steel to get through this book. A hundred times more disturbing than the film.

Also the detective duo, Rosemary and thyme.

The "new" ghostbusters movie (2016) has 4 varyingly averaged sized female leads, and none of their weights or general physical attractiveness is in any way part of the story.