One of the things I like to do is get a visual of my character in my head and usually I'll search around IMDB until I find an actor/actress that I think would be perfect for the part if it were to be made into a movie. (I don't have much a life, so I do this for just about every novel I read and/or write). So my lead character in HTDA is a bigger girl. By that I mean she is about a size 8-10 which is by no means plus-size, but if you ready any magazine they seem to think that qualifies as plus size. So I decided to just do a Google search to look for bigger actresses. After getting alot of girls that didn't fit the part, I stumbled upon an actress named Gemma Arterton.
Recognize her? She's beautiful. She's a bond girl and recently starred in Prince of Persia. BUT that didn't stop some big names in Hollywood, from directors to designers, from making comments on her size.
Her size? Yeah Gemma Arterton is a size 8-10 (the size probably of the average woman). But designers had commented that they didn't think she would fit in their sample sizes and a casting director even said it would be hard to hide her double chin. SAY WHAT????
I couldn't believe it. I was so shocked after reading these articles about Gemma, but then I started to think about Hollywood in general. We all know that every actress put on the screen is usually the ideal woman, so that moviegoers will either want to screw her or want to be her. The same goes for literature. But should it be like that?
I tried looking through all my novels looking for a main character that wouldn't exactly fit into the category of "physically fit." The only ones I could find were either in Jennifer Weiner's novels or were the quirky best friend. You may be able to find some quirky main characters, but that's usually in their personality. The only thing that usually separates them from anyone else is that they're a loner, a redhead, or paranormal.
So I ask you, fellow bloggers, are your characters physically fit? Do they complain about their flat chest, but are skinny as a rail? How about we put a few pounds on them and see what happens? Better yet...who the heck said that a size 8-10 was fat????
