My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s Nia Vardalos Talks About Weight Loss and Double Standards
Here’s a very refreshing interview from actress Nia Vardalos – she talks about the fact that everybody is asking her about her 40lbs weight loss, even though sh’e got much more important things in her life. Even more, she mentions that it’s not realistic that ugly guys get such hot girls in the movies, especially since there’s a double standard, as she was always asked by journalists if it was plausible that her character in My Big Fat Greek Wedding would be able to date someone as attractive as John Corbett. Here it is:
It’s just weight. Just 40 pounds of fat now gone from my body, but wow, it’s pretty much all I get asked about. In the last year, I got to star in a movie, wrote and directed my next one, and adopted a three year old from American Foster Care. But guess what I’m asked…how did I lose the weight?
I am embarrassed to be in the position of answering questions about my body again. On the publicity tour of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ I was asked over and over again, if, as the writer, I felt it was a fair depiction of real life to have someone of my er, below average looks, hook up with hottie John Corbett.
It’s been years, and I have sat through many a movie like Sideways, where nobody blinks an eye when Paul Giamatti gets together with gorgeous Virginia Madsen. And, then ‘Knocked Up’….well, the visual of Seth Rogan on top of Katherine Heigl made me put the popcorn down and reach for my purse. Not because I was grossed out but because I knew the film was about to stop and Ashton Kutcher would now jump out and go “aha, you’ve been punked, that would never happen.” I waited. But no Ashton. The film went on. And many a reviewer, who probably look like sweet Seth (yes even the women) gave it a thumbs up.
Yes, there’s a double standard for women. Whatever. Yawn, we all know it, perpetuate it – we make it worse every time we buy a magazine showing “Stars with Cellulite.” And women, we do buy those magazines. Yes, we do. No, not just at the airport – you have a subscription, admit it. So do I.
So, it’s our fault. Let’s accept it and move on. Socially, the issue of men’s weight is simply not a big deal. Let’s face it: Russell Crowe is fat and no one ever talks about it. Alec Baldwin just orders his suits a size bigger and we continue to swoon.
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So, what exactly is up with my weight loss? I get hit with this awkward question daily and have answered it in press interviews, at the grocery store, at the newspaper stand. Why? Because I see their anxious, open faces needing the secret, the new pill, the cure, anything. Just please share the secret. So I hesitantly answer and am always met with the same response: the glaze-eye slack-jawed face.
Because they don’t want to hear the truth: I had a blood sugar problem so my Doctor ordered me to lose weight, it was really hard but I did it through diet, exercise and it took a year.
This is when the boredom sets in on the querying person. I might as well just shove an Ambien up their nostril. The gleam in their eye fades and they get sleepy.
No one wants to hear the facts about weight loss. It’s simple. Take that bag of Doritos and throw it as far as you can. Now chase after it. Pick it up, do it again.
Or don’t. You don’t have to lose weight, unless like me, it becomes an issue of health. I thought I was attractive when I shot ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’ Studio executives and movie reviewers let me know I had a confidence in my looks that was not shared by them. In other words: they labeled me with words like, overweight, unattractive, unappealing. Hey, just say fat. I love the word fat. I used it in the title. It’s actually not a naughty word. We give it a power it actually doesn’t have. So, you’re fat. Big deal.
If now, I have a sudden validity because I look different on the red carpet, check out my Before pics on my Twitter. (@NiaVardalos) I am showing what happens before Team Miracle comes over in the Hazmat suits and works on me for a few hours. Anyone can look like they make me look. That’s why most malls offer a Glamour Shots booth.
Wow, could she give a bit of her brains to Megan Fox too?
She’s lovely and knows what she talks about. I really hope she got better concerning her health problems…
agreed!
u’re so right !
I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding with a boyfriend… I remember him saying (about Nia’s character) “she’s not traditionally beautiful, but there is something appealing about her.”
So there is a guy’s perspective that that she was attractive just the way she was.
Kudos for her for getting healthier, and double kudos for her healthy attitude about weight.
wait, women swoon over alec baldwin? ok seriously though, she’s right, we are completely obsessed with weight. instead of bettering ourselves intellectually or morally or etc., the ultimate self-improvement in our society is looking good. i’m guilty of it too.
My mom finds him really appealing… shrug.
Love her! I laughed out loud about the “shoving an Ambien up their nostril” comment. I recently lost 85 lbs for health reasons (I was severely obese and pre-diabetic at age 26) and can completely relate to people wanting to know my “secret” – and always having to talk about it.
My “secret” is I eat healthy foods, and eat less calories than I burn everyday (which means exercising). Its not sexy, but it works.
Kudos to her for being a confident and intelligent woman who speaks her mind regardless what size she is.
Agreed! That comment was awesome! Also kudos on shedding 85lbs! That is a lot of weight! I recently lost 40, and when people ask me how I lost it I usually roll my eyes. Oh yay, that conversation again.
I don’t remember her being fat during “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. I mean, she kinda chubby, but not fat. Now she looks good! I agree with her, that health is all that REALLY matters. I wish that when I was younger I had someone to tell me and make me follow what she says! But, I don’t have a subscription to any of those magazines!
Anyway, from her interviews, I can say she is very nice and funny!
And, it is realistic for me that ugly men/women go out with hot girls/guys! I see it everyday on the streets.
P.S:By the way, from the trailer of her new movie, dont you think that the guy is hot?lol(exception is his nose and his style at the beginning!!!)
I don’t remember her being fat or ugly in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. And I don’t think John Corbett was at all on a higher level looks-wise than her. They just looked like normal real-life people. And she sounds smart. Being smart seems like something to be expected of you in real life but more of a bonus in hollywood.
She is not the stereotypical definition beauty but she is appealing. My husband absolutely loves her humor and personality. That makes her even more attractive. I bet she’s a fun person to be around. Love her.
This is awesome! What a cool lady!!!!
I love her even more now!
I don’t think she’s that pretty, but I love her personality and humor. This article makes me like her even more.
She looks gorj! pretty in purple too =]
I never though she was fat; most of the Greek women I know or have seen are usually curvy, so I didn’t think twice about her weight. I also agree that although she may not be “your traditional Hollywood beauty”, I found her quite attractive in a very unique way (no, not in the she’s so ugly she is cute kinda way!)
I love every part of this interview. Nia is amazing and inspirational. I agree with everything she says. She looks great, then and now.
omg i think i love her. haha!
I loved that movie, is anyone else going to see the new movie made by the same people where she’s in Greece?