If you've read my articles before, you would know how much I love and support the Netflix series GLOW. I'm not going to lie, and if you know me personally, you definitely know the main reason I knew of GLOW the first place was because of Alison Brie who I admire beyond words and who has shown me nothing but kindness. The other reason was obviously the incredible ensemble of women in the show. As I was watching I was super impressed with Alison's opposite in the show, Betty Gilpin. I remember thinking, "who is this? She's so good!" So in natural Clancy Smail fashion, I started to look at everything she's ever done. I stumbled upon an essay she wrote for Glamour that made me not only appreciate her as an actress but as a human.
First of all, this essay is full of honesty and there is nothing I appreciate more than an actress being honest. A lot of the time, we put these people on a pedestal and we don't learn a lot of who they are as a person or their journey. Betty breaks down a barrier and gives insight into her insecurities, struggles, and extremely relatable memories. She also gives insight into finding inner strength and the power of being a woman surrounded by other strong women and how much fire that can put under you.
Something that stuck out to me in particular was when she mentioned how in her 20's, the word "sorry" came out of her mouth a numerous amount of times a day and how she had social hangovers about conversations she had at parties. This stuck out to me because this is the exact stage I'm in right now. I honestly can't count the amount of times I say sorry for things I shouldn't have to be sorry about and the judgement I put on myself for saying, feeling, and thinking things that are just part who I am. Also, the amount of time that I have spent reliving conversations where I have just utterly embarrassed myself in front of people my own age is pretty sad. I'm so glad this was something that Betty chose to highlight in her piece because ever since I have read it, that part pops into my mind and makes me think.
She goes on to talk about how GLOW was a turn around from the roles she's been playing. She talks about the process of how all fourteen of the girls had to pretty much just go for it and learn how to wrestle (can you BELIEVE they DID that???). This is the part of the essay where I literally started crying. She explains how when they started to practice, she got partnered up with someone in the show who was actually a professional wrestler and how basically a rush of "I'm sorry..." statements flooded her brain but they ended up nailing it and how there was a roar of pride and cheers from the rest of the women.
Did I cry while reading this? Absolutely. I feel like this experience is relatable to so many things. When I read this, I looked back on my many, many and hopefully continuing years of playing competitive soccer, from being paired up with someone who was more skilled than me and having the "I'm sorry" statements overload me because I felt like I should be on the bench to the high fives and hugs I got from teammates after placing the ball into the back of the net. It reminded me of getting my first real job at a daycare and being nervous that I wasn't good enough and having such a low self confidence but then having no choice but to jump in which now ends in rewards of hugs, kisses, and trust from the sweetest toddlers.
Lastly, I want to point out an over arching message I got from this essay: the importance of women supporting other women is, especially now, needed and absolutely necessary. We can teach each other things, we can inspire one another, we can help one another, we can encourage one another, and we can come together to create something so beautiful, powerful, and different.
Betty, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reminding me of my strength, for being apart of something so special, and for opening up about your journey. I respect and appreciate you loads. You are incredible and deserve every single ounce of success, I can't wait to see where this strength leads you.
