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?

'A distinguished lady with lots and lots of personality'

I think at least now things are getting better for casting 'ordinary looking' people and different body types without that being the 'point' of the character.

this is why I like shows like The Office and Superstore because they look like a normal mix of people you'd see working in an office or a supermarket

People confused by them hiring 'morbidly obese' people and using magic 'unoffensive' words.

Fat people know they are fat its disingenuous to pretend otherwise and and awful lot of obese people who choose to work in the public eye (modelling/acting/performance) are actually perfectly comfortable and confident in their size.

I have worked with lots of plus size models, they have all been completely aware of it and not remotely offended, most are happy to call a spade a spade and have no urge to be the 'skinny girl'.

Casting an obese model/actor is no different from casting a short or black or wrinkly its just a factual discriptor that the applicants will be aware applies to them and choose to 'explot' that part of themselves to get money, they are comfortable doing it or they wouldn't apply.

Might as well make some money while you're fat/ugly/old. It's unusual for people to look the same for their whole lives, ugly duckling and all that. Get your ugly money before you become a swan (which popular media is overrun with already). That's how I'd frame it if I was doing it. You might get more work because of your appearance than someone more conventionally attractive.

I’m really glad you started this thread as I ALWAYS think about it.

The girls off desperate housewives, the girl who stands on Ross’s feet in Friends and the boy who eats cake in Matilda - why would any parent put their kids forward for this!!
They must literally ask for fat kids.

I’m very shocked you think the desperate housewives girls are ugly though, as I think they’re gorgeous little things.

But they’re cast because they’re overweight and there is an episode where Gabby tried to makes Jaunita lose weight.

I love those girls they’re one of my favourite characters in the show but I can’t help feeling sorry for them too!

I absolutely love that show and I must have watched it from beginning to end at least 5 times.

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

😂😂😂

The youngest was also cast to resemble her father

So any little girl intentionally cast to look chubby and like a man isn't going to be the epitome of cute is she (?)

The youngest was also cast to resemble her father

So any little girl intentionally cast to look chubby and like a man isn't going to be the epitome of cute is she (?)

They’re both so cute but they obviously cast for overweight Mexican girls and chose them two probably because they slightly resembled the parents and they were the best actors/ had the best chemistry etc.

I don’t think she resembles the dad much at all apart from the fact they both have brown skin.

Oh no I'd say she looks more like a mini female Danny DeVito - especially in scenes where she is annoyed! Very expressive faces for both of them!!

The storyline about the losing weight for the older one though I just don't get how parents could want that!

Omg! Ian Brown from the Stone Roses has a second job!!!

I’ve had a really crap day and that’s one of the best laughs I’ve had in months. Thank you!

Girls can look like the father without being 'manly' or 'ugly'.

I regularly get told I look like my bio dad, strangers have come up to me and asked if Im related to him and as I said I got rejected from UGLY when I applied.

I have certainly never been called manly, Im actually quite classicly 'soft' and 'feminine' looking.

IME casting briefs aren't known for pulling punches. I'm not sure how the agent phrases it to the parent in the case of child actors but some of the briefs we used to get were... Not especially PC!

I think I’ve seen most of the ones in the “Thugs” section on OLD :)

Isn't the size/look of the Solis sister in D.H. integral to the switched at birth storyline - they chose a child actor who was physically bigger than the families birth daughter.

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but I remember a little boy in After life. Ricky Gervais said to him that if he was a paedophile, he wouldn't be interested in him because he's a fat little ginger cunt. Not nice, but maybe he was happy to be on TV. I don't know

The boy from that sketch was interviewed and really enjoyed being part of the show and very proud of his part I don’t think he cares that he was casted for being tubby and ginger. I remember it because my own son looks exactly like him. He’s a chubby little ginger ….. too. Although to me he is beautiful .

Oh well, alrighty then

It's a tricky one. My middle son is training to be an actor now and was a kiddie actor. I remember after one audition he said to me 'well I haven't got that, I was giant sized next to the others' (he was talking about height - and he didn't get it).

In his late teens he told me he was unlikely to get into X drama school 'because they like 6 foot 4 leading men types and I know I'm a character actor' (He's quite short and skinny). So he definitely developed an understanding of his casting type during his childhood. That could be potentially problematic for some children.

Middle son is pretty robust and had enough success as a kid to not really care about the rejections for whatever reason. Personally its my idea of hell and not something I would particularly encourage a child to do. DS2 did mainly theatre though, which is far better safeguarding wise with kids ime than film. Theatre shows are tightly regulated and the children's casting directors are usually very experienced and the children are well chaperoned. Well for West End shows/tours - have heard some horror stories on the grapevine from panto but ds2 never did that - probably depends on the production company.

I always thought they chose her because she looked like Carlos.