In a candid conversation, actress Kat Dennings recently opened up about the harsh and often insulting casting experiences she faced early in her career in Hollywood. The Thor and 2 Broke Girls star, who has become an icon in the entertainment industry, recalled how casting directors made cruel comments about her appearance when she was just a child auditioning for roles.
Speaking to People, Dennings reflected on the challenging environment she entered as a young actress. “There was not a lot of inclusivity at all,” Dennings said. “It was a very harsh atmosphere. There was a lot of extremely negative feedback, and people would not hold back.” She went on to describe a particularly painful memory from when she was just 12 years old: “I’d go into an audition, and afterward my manager would call and say, ‘Well, they thought you weren’t pretty enough and you’re fat.'”
Despite the hurtful comments, Dennings revealed that she managed to stay resilient. “That was my attitude,” she said. “For some reason, it didn’t break my spirit. I was like, ‘I’ll show them.’” She credited her supportive family, especially her parents, for encouraging her to ignore the negativity. “They said, ‘They’re idiots. Don’t listen to them,’” she recalled. “And I was like, ‘They’re idiots, I’m not.’”
Dennings acknowledged that Hollywood has changed in recent years, with greater attention to inclusivity, body positivity, and representation. “There’s body positivity, there’s inclusivity, there’s representation, and there was none of that before,” she said. “It was really gross.”
Her brave decision to share these stories highlights how much the industry has evolved, and serves as an inspiration for young talent navigating Hollywood today. With a career that has spanned over two decades, Kat Dennings remains an example of strength, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity.