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?

[NightmareSlashDelightful]

@mam0918

Charlize in 'Monster' was highly praised for 'uglying' up to play Aileen.

Oh yeah, she was brilliant in that (although she's brilliant in everything). Won the Best Actress Oscar for that performance I think.

If you compare that film with the Nick Broomfield documentaries where he interviews the real Aileen Wuornos, Theron's impersonation is uncanny. It's not just the appearance, she captured everything; the voice, the cadence of speech, the mannerisms. Utterly captivating. And pretty much the only time I've ever felt empathy for a serial killer.

Her take on Megyn Kelly in Bombshell was scarily accurate as well.

[NightmareSlashDelightful]

@broodybadger

@OneTC

Are you looking at the 'right' versions of those children?

As in desperate housewives the kids were recast as they grew up

The original 2 actresses for those roles were definitely intentionally large and not the prettiest children

AFAIK it was only the Scavo kids who were recast, not the Solises. Gaby's kids didn't turn up until after the five-year 'jump' anyway.

[BecauseICan22]

@Hugasauras

The 'thugs' section is amazing 😂

[iwantasandwich]

@Tonty

Although I'd like to bump into Jess the joker - yum

[Arbesque]

@IceStationZebra

Same for soap operas @Echobelly - think back to Dallas and Dynasty days. American soaps were glamorous, Britain had Eastenders and Coronation Street. There’s a lot more diverse programming now but probably a noticeable divide, still

Yes Dallas was a sensation when it first appeared because we just weren't used to seeing so many beautiful people in one soap opera.
At the time Coronation Street had a mostly ordinary looking cast with the odd pretty actress or good looking bloke.

Nowadays it's full of stunners and Dallas actors wouldn't stand out at all.

[Speedweed]

I don't know if casting agents specify 'ugly', or if they just ask for normal looking, which then becomes ugly when stood next to hyper-beautiful stars

[Laiste]

The Thugs section looks like my XHs family face book shots 🙄😂

[NightmareSlashDelightful]

@iwantasandwich

@NightmareSlashDelightful

Interesting so they kind of code the traits they're looking for and then those doing the casting will accept a higher rate of application due to being a bit woolly with the casting requirements?

Do the actors/models really not get it though when they're cast, as surely it avoids a lot of unnecessary applications by just saying we need an obese ginger man who looks like shit for this part. As if they put 'a large set red head who has character' they'd get more applicants I'd assume than by being prescriptive

There's quite often more flex in the appearance aspect than a lot of people think. Primarily, with acting anyway, they're looking for other qualities; particularly chemistry with other actors, and the embodiment of the character as written.

So no, you wouldn't get a call for an obese ginger who looks like shit! 😂If they were needing to be that prescriptive at all, it'd be much more like your second example wording.

When the character is pretty physically defined, for example by having been described in detail in a novel that is then turned into a TV show/movie, they tend to approach specific actors. Gwendoline Christie for Game of Thrones for example, because there just aren't that many physically strong, six-foot-plus women working in acting. She'd have been on a pretty short shortlist (actually, in her case, I think she was suggested to the show's producers by fans of the books in advance).

For a while, I did a lot of casting of male models for ad campaigns and we almost never had a prescriptive look in mind. So we'd never say 'we want a 21-year-old with blond hair and a six-pack'. We'd brief the modelling agency about the client, the rough age range we were looking for and a storyboard of the ad or campaign. We'd generally be sent quite a wide range — in terms of appearance, ethnicity, background, look, even age — of models to consider. It would almost always be a gut feeling casting decision, not a straightforward 'who's the handsomest'. You'd see a string of these guys and one would almost always stand out as being 'right' for the campaign and it wasn't really anything to do with looks at that point.

[Notimeforaname]

"We have chosen your baby to be dressed as an Nazi Officer, pushing a wheelbarrow, with a Jewish baby, into an oven.”

I just laughed out loud on the bus 🤣 last thing I expected to read today.

[YouHaveAnArse]

@QuebecBagnet

I’ve had modelling work before when they said “looking for a woman approx 45yo, dress size large”. I wasn’t offended.

'Large' is about a dress size 12 these days if you believe Vinted.

[Laiste]

My FIL is with an agency and does film extra work.

He was once recruited for someone who wanted ''Old, sleepy. Wise and distinguished'' ..... 😳

[iwantasandwich]

@Laiste

My FIL is with an agency and does film extra work.

He was once recruited for someone who wanted ''Old, sleepy. Wise and distinguished'' ..... 😳

How do they even look for 'sleepy'!

That's a weird one

[iwantasandwich]

@NightmareSlashDelightful

Thank you for being so detailed in your replies

Super interesting and definitely scratched this knowledge itch

[Laiste]

I know! 😂He said while on set he was careful to keep his eyes half shut at all times.

[JauntyJinty]

Who else remembers when they hired Martine McCutcheon to play a fat bird in Love Actually and just kind of kept reference her extraordinary fatness throughout the film?! That was a weird bit of casting.

Just had a quick google, apparently she was a size 12-14 at the time!

[Laiste]

Maybe it was a typo and the crew spent the time wondering why he didn't open his eyes properly .......

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'm an actor. Before Christmas I got put forward for a job with the character brief: "we're looking for a really average, ordinary looking person. Someone who'll completely fade into the background."

I was quite glad not to get that one! It's not a good line of work for the fragile of ego though! 😆

[MrsGamgee]

@Watercoloursky

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

I think I have my found my "in" to fame 😁 having rather an unfortunate face, I might appeal for certain projects. Ka-ching! 💰

[iwantasandwich]

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

I'm an actor. Before Christmas I got put forward for a job with the character brief: "we're looking for a really average, ordinary looking person. Someone who'll completely fade into the background."

I was quite glad not to get that one! It's not a good line of work for the fragile of ego though! 😆

I'd imagine it's a bit of an ego hit to be approached for these types of roles!!

Even if the casting is dressed up to try and be as nice as possible

[glittereyelash]

The two actresses who were gabby daughters are grown up now and both are really cute. I see what your saying though I'd hate to look at a casting call for a fat ugly boy then turn to my son and say son sounds exactly like you 🙈

[TooManyMoronsHere]

@ExHack The older daughter of Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives is Demi Lovato's sister.

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

"I'd imagine it's a bit of an ego hit to be approached for these types of roles!!

Even if the casting is dressed up to try and be as nice as possible"

What's mad about it is that I'm tall with green eyes and lots of very curly hair - so not what would usually spring to mind when looking for someone to fade into the background. But my agent put me forward for it and the casting team asked to see me, so maybe I'm more forgettable than I like to think!

[catinboots123]

Fab question OP. I've pondered upon this for years. What about Kate in This is Us? Do they specifically advertise for a morbidly obese actress????

[Yupsuuuure]

This thread is fascinating!

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

As a PP says, they'd ask for a "type" - so, the brief might say: "diverse body types required; think Melissa McCarthy", or something like that. I was recently seen for a casting seeking "Helen McCory types".