"Leading Lady Parts" is a comedy skit done by BBC that has a lot of great actresses in it who are showing the impossible beauty standards Hollywood has for their leading lady. Although it focuses on the discrimination in movies, it can be very relatable to everyday life.
1. "Try a bit more...smiley"
This part is asking the ladies to smile during a sad scene. Which is very relatable because I don't know how many times I have been told to "smile." Woman are often told to smile many times. It is confusing as to why people expect woman to be smiling 24/7. We will smile when we want to smile.
2. "Ugly-cry"
I love when there is a movie showing an "ugly-cry" because nobody cries in a pretty way. In this video, they are telling her to cry but not "ugly-cry" instead of "sexy-cry." Hands up if you have a sexy cry; no one? Exactly.
3. "More make-up"
Movie stars have to use a lot of make-up to make their character's face flawless. This is relatable because people who don't wear makeup are told they should but not too much makeup. They want you to wear makeup that makes you look like you aren't wearing makeup. Impossible, right?
4. "Lose the jumper"
In this scene, they are wanting her to be more sensual and showy. When she is supposed to be playing a doctor who lives in cold weather. A lot of movies make the clothing revealing when it doesn't make sense. Which is relatable but again they want you to be showy but not too showy.
5. "We're just asking you to be thin and curvy, sexy and innocent"
This is beyond true. They ask her to be thinner but have a "big rack" and have hips but not too much of hips. Most thin-waisted woman don't have big boobs or curvy hips. Most woman who do have bigger boobs and curvy hips aren't super thin in the waist. We aren't hour glasses, we are people.
6. "Can you just be a bit more white"
This shows the often white washing in Hollywood which has been pointed out here lately. It is very relatable because it happens with jobs and white privilege in general; and yes that is a a thing.
7. "You're a mom"
There is a point where actors and actresses go from playing the young leads to the parents because people want their leads to be young. This goes with jobs and many other things because people are wanting younger workers. Unless you know where the fountain of youth is, then you are going to have to deal with the fact that everyone gets older.
8. "Look it's not that kind of film darling"
This ties in with number 6. They at first think she's their coffee runner and then think she's in the wrong room and is supposed to audition for "Black Panther Returns" and then just continue to ignore her. The words "look it's not that kind of film, darling" is the worst. How else do you react other than "excuse me?" or "what the hell does that mean?" Again, this ties in with the racism that often happens in Hollywood and shows the racism outside of Hollywood as well.
9. Tom Hiddleston automatically getting the part
I understand that men have standards too when it comes to muscles and sensitivity but woman have a whole bunch of standards. There is a lot of beauty standards that are impossible to reach and a whole bunch of behavior standards as well.
This video was a perfect example of the standards and I love noticing change and how there are more people asking for change. Yes, we have progressed but sexism and racism isn't gone. It affects people everyday and in both big ways and little ways. Something needs to be done about it and I thank all the people who have done their part. A little can do a lot.
