Stranger Things Barb actor Shannon Purser has criticized Hollywood's treatment of "fat" actors. Released in 2016, Stranger Things has since become one of Netflix's biggest hits, transporting audiences back to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana during the 1980s. The series follows a group of youngsters who uncover the dark secrets of a local top-secret government lab and the interdimensional monsters that are released as a result of its twisted experiments. Stranger Things season 4, part 1 recently released on Netflix, with part 2 expected to hit the streamer on July 1st.
Stranger Things season 1 introduces a host of loveable characters, including Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven, Finn Wolfhard's Mike, and Joe Keery's Steve. However, it was supporting character Barb who stole the hearts of fans everywhere. Barb was Nancy's (Natalia Dyer) best friend, who quickly became a fan favorite due to her strong moral compass and naivety. Many were devastated, then, when Barb died at the hands of the Demogorgon in one of Stranger Things season 1's later episodes, with many viewers continuing to call for "Justice for Barb." Barb even briefly appears in Stranger Things season 4 when Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) forces Nancy to remember her late best friend, reminding her of her role in Barb's death.
In a new tweet following the recent online backlash towards Emma Thompson's fat suit for her role as Miss Trunchbull in the Matilda remake, Purser slams Hollywood's treatment of larger-bodied actors. Purser writes that "fat" (a term that is widely used in the positive sense by those who identity with it) actors aren't allowed the same "upward mobility" that other actors enjoy. Additionally, the star says that Hollywood sees large-bodied actors as "two-dimensional set pieces." Check out Purser's tweet below:
Click here to see the original tweet
Although the conversation regarding Hollywood's treatment of bigger-bodied actors has been ongoing for years, the issue took center stage last week with the release of Netflix's Matilda trailer. The Stranger Things actor is one of many who took issue with Thompson's casting, with many users on social media arguing that a "fat" actor should have been cast as the iconically large villain. There are several recent cases of thinner actors being cast in iconically fat roles, a notable example being Gary Oldman's role as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, a role for which he donned a fat suit and facial prosthetics. There was also Colin Farrell's recent physical transformation as Penguin in The Batman, and Tom Hanks' role as Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis.
The recent backlash to Thomson's character and Purser's post are a reminder that, when it comes to adequate representation, Hollywood still has a long way to go. The Stranger Things star's comments highlight that, compared to thinner actors, larger-bodied actors are often shoe-horned into more two-dimensional, less complex roles, or used as merely comedic relief. Although her time on the show was somewhat short-lived, Purser evidently made a huge impact on Stranger Things fans, with Barb representing a rarer, relatively complex and non-stereotypical character.
Source: Shannon Purser/ Twitter