Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Plus Size Acting

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Expert: - 9/7/2008


Question
Hi my name is Daniela im 14 i want to be an actress i  know can be a great actress but im a plus size and i want to be in Disney Channel or get a great role  but i don't know if they are any good roles for a plus size  

Answer
Hi Daniela,

Two things: first, yes, they do hire kids who aren't the typical size for acting...of course, the roles will be "the chubby friend" (generally a wisecrack who is comfortable with her size). Secondly, do you want that? It is not too late in your life to change yourself and be someone else, someone who isn't resigned to their weight.

There are many reasons for losing the weight, chiefly, because it's hard on your health and also it affects everything in your life. Things like how seriously people take you at work, how hard it is to get around in a world built for smaller people -even the fashions you are forced to buy.

If you ever get to watch Jerry McConnell in "Stand by Me" -you'll see he wasn't the slim leading man he is today. Then again, you probably wouldn't see him on TV or film today if he hadn't changed. There are roles out there, but the competition for them is fierce.

If you are "big-boned" not much can help that, but you can still be proportionate. There are some actresses in that category. The main thing is to learn what good eating habits and foods are, and to realize that the cookie that you want right now is a momentary reward that will keep you from getting the more valuable reward of long term rewards, which are sweeter.

Exercise is also important as well. It makes you feel better and combined with eating right will bring it all down. The key is both -dieting won't do it alone and exercise without diet won't do it either. By the way, you know how I know this? Because I wasn't always slim to average! I was chunky younger at your age and then again in recent years...and yes, it kept the ph from ringing with jobs!

Best, Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Taylor Sheppard

Expertise

I can answer questions: on starting a career in acting, mistakes in acting, etiquette when dealing with industry contacts, finer points on how to act, and things to avoid in the field.

Experience

I have been a professional actor 21 years, with appearances in TV, Film and commercials. I have made good decisions and potentially damaging mistakes. I believe anyone who has a dream deserves to explore it, and I take their aspirations seriously. That being said, I do not pull punches. I try to be tactful, but I will not lie to someone, honesty is more effective. My last film role was in "Teeth" which was picked for Sundance in January 2007. It was sold to Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. for somewhere over 2.5 million. The role was "Mr. Griffith", a sex-ed teacher.

Organizations
Ciao Agency-Austin/Georgetown, Texas. (Formerly known as Donna Adams Agency. Matthew McConaughey was a good friend and fellow member. I also have belonged to agencies in three other Texas cities, but they have since closed.) TXMPA -Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Various other internet networking web rings as well as Actors Access. I was instrumental in advising actress Krista Allen on getting her career in acting started in Austin,Texas (we worked at the same Health Club in the early '90's).

Publications
Previously wrote on a now defunct website such as this one. I enjoyed helping new actors.

Education/Credentials
I have acted for 21 years. I studied under James Nelson Harrell as well as other talented actors at Southwest Texas State University. After college, I have taken classes with Julliard graduate Mona Lee, Bill Johnson, Van Brookes, Marco Perella and others in Austin Texas. I am constantly attending classes to maintain my edge and explore new directions. In addition to attending strictly acting classes, I have also taken business workshops with respected casting directors, such as Shari Rhodes ("Jaws","Close Encounters", "Raggedy Man".) Barbara Brinkley, Jo Edna Bolden and Donise Hardy, (Castingworks LA).

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