To wonder how casting for 'ugly' people works

[iwantasandwich]

I've been watching desperate housewives for the first time and the two girls who were cast to play Gabbies children were done intentionally to be the opposite of her, 'ugly' and plump for the contrast and the story line initially too.

I then started wondering how does this work when casting, what parent or agent sees a casting call for 'ugly fat children wanted' and thinks 'ooo I've got one of those'

The same applies for adult roles but I find it especially hard to understand for children.

Some characters are designed to look a certain way, but when that way is ugly or spotty or very large how does that work for peoples self esteem.

AIBU to think it's a weird balance for parents to find with helping their child who wants to act but also accept the fact sometimes they'll be cast for a less than ideal aspect of their appearance?

There are specialist casting agencies! Eg www.ugly.org/2016/specials

The 'thugs' section is amazing 😂

Not sure where my post went but was meant to say that the thugs section is amazing!

Cracking up at 'wee folk'

On the one hand there are agencies for character actors and models, iirc one is called ugly.
On the other hand, in Brüno, Sasha Baron Cohen says the following to parents of baby actors and they agree: “We have chosen your baby to be dressed as an Nazi Officer, pushing a wheelbarrow, with a Jewish baby, into an oven.”
So probably you will find parents prepared to do anything.

For kids they usually go to drama schools and clubs don’t they?

phone up the head of Liz smith school of dance or drama and ask if they have any kids meeting the brief. Then Liz sends down little suzie or Alfie simply saying ooh I’ve got you an audition for tv, isn’t that (me) amazing?

adult in that industry know the score. There is an “uglies” agency I think that specialises in non- typical looks. But same MO, phone round a few agencies and ask them to send along anyone fitting the bill.

Of course there are openings for character actors. But of course your looks do count just as if you want to be a singer your voice counts.

All the across in still game for example are pretty normal attractive looking people. You wouldn't guess from their characters though

*actors

I think my builder is in the thugs line up. Definatly thought "this a man I shouldn't piss about" on the first sight meeting

Great question OP! I always thought about this in the episode of Friends with Monica and chandlers wedding and the kids were wanting to stand on Ross’s feet and there are these cute kids then the “big” ginger kid …. Cue lots of laughs. I always found that so cruel for that child actor as she must have been aware of this as she was not really young.

I feel sorry for the kids cast as the ugly/fat one, think the girl ross.dances with at Monica and Chandler 's wedding, overweight,.not particularly attractive. What must that do to a child's self esteem 😭

@Mybestyear jinx!

Cross post with @ChimChimeny !!

@ChimChimeny -and again!

But when they're specifically looking for ugly children I'm just wondering how parents do the mental gymnastics for that

Of course money will play a part but even if I put my kids in acting school and was approached to give consent for a role where the only reason they were cast was because they were fat and ugly id not like it

Yes, she is also a great example

Her being big and ugly was the driving force of the character itself - must be really shit knowing that's why you were chosen

I've wondered the same! I don't think they can easily fool the kids in most instances as it's very rarely handled subtly. For example, Bruce Bogtrotter in Matilda, Ben in 'It', Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate factory. So often the 'fat kid' is cast so that everyone can bellow at them about how repulsive and greedy they are. It would get me down, and I generally don't give a toss how I look.

I've always wondered about this!

I can picture it now:

"Right we're casting for a fat ugly slob, obviloulsy no interest in self care and a general mess"

I walk in the room

"Perfect, you're hired!"

You wouldn't want to bump into "Eugene Wood" or "chopper" on a dark night.

Anyone can be made to look fat or ugly (or both). Remember "Ugly Betty" — the actress that played the lead role was actually beautiful in real life.

Bermondsey, Big Ash and Chopper!!
I'd love to go down the pub with them lot!

But some children and adults are cast because they don't need to be made fat and ugly

I'm just wondering how parents especially balance that with trying to build a child's self esteem

Yeah the kids must know, especially those over the age of 4/5

I was a chubby child and my parents always made a big thing about saying I was beautiful, helped build me up so I wanted to lose weight on my terms (and I did once I started secondary and grew a bit and started sports I enjoyed in PE) but if they had signed me up for a character whose main 'thing' was being a fat child I'd have been so upset

Also, Eli Wallach who played "The Ugly" in The Good, The Bad and… was a very handsome man. (I wouldn't say no!)