Mayim Bialik is one of the highlights on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ as Sheldon’s sort-of girlfriend Amy Farrah Fowler. She brings the kind of zesty and zany wackiness that was previously lacking in any of the main characters, and although her character sometimes grates on your nerves, that’s due more to the writing than Bialik’s brilliant portrayal of the character.
The Big Bang Theory cast at Comic-Con
Mayim, a TV veteran with ‘Blossom’, has recently dubbed herself ‘the fattest woman in Hollywood, jokingly saying, “I've dubbed myself very endearingly 'the fattest woman in Hollywood' because believe it or not, it’s a challenge finding dresses that fit my large (by Hollywood standards) frame.”
In a blog post on Kveller, Bialik discusses her first experience at the Golden Globe Awards, saying, “The [red] carpet was fun. Besides feeling a little bit like the photographers were not terribly excited about a lot of us TV people, and besides feeling awkward being the fattest woman in Hollywood (even Jennifer Lawrence who used to proudly share my dress size looks like she has left me for smaller pastures…), it went okay. Most of the attention really does go to the movie actors and the scantily-attired TV actresses. That’s just how it works.” She also adds, “As for the pomp and circumstance and the women praised for who can eat the least and look the most adolescent in terms of body type and the intensity of it all? Not so easy for this little lady.”
Kaley Cuoco in a scene from 'The Big Bang Theory'
While it’s true that Bialik is definitely larger than the average woman in Hollywood, it’s interesting to note that she makes references to both Jennifer Lawrence and Tina Fey getting thinner and ‘leaving her behind’. Hollywood does have a way of pressuring you into losing weight, so it’s interesting to look at it from the perspective of someone who clearly hasn’t given in to the system. However, Bialik is not known for her looks or her size, but rather her impeccable comedic timing. This may be a good buffer against continued pressure to ‘go native’, but it’s also something that will keep earning her jobs in the long run, even after ‘The Big Bang Theory’ ends its run.
Mayim Bialik on Conan
