by Jennifer Jonassen

Great news: I scored a role in an independent film! And I am happy to report it I will be playing "cute and curvy girl." This serves as quite the antidote to a lot of roles I have seen posted lately for plus-sized actresses. For example, nine out of ten audition notices read something like this: "Seeking Large Actress (who can really act)"

That first line really gets my hopes up as you can imagine. I think to myself: hooray at last! All of my Shakespeare training, movement classes and vocal workouts have finally paid off. All those years of studying Uta Hagen, Strasberg and Meisner will finally come to fruition. Finally I get a chance to sink my teeth into a juicy role.

Then reading further: "

Must be able to make fun of herself."

So the only thing I'd be sinking my teeth into was a burrito in the background of of a country western video shot in a 7-11 type of environment. This video focused on a geeky guy getting help from the singer to woo a girl who it turns out works the counter at 7-11. In the background  "fat girl" who is seen eating a burrito and shoving a whole hot dog in her mouth. The piece de Resistance, however, was that the character had to run in slow motion with pork rinds. Now here is my conflict. I am able to poke fun of myself. But 9 out of ten audition notices that are for my so-called "type" calls for me make fun of myself or more specifically my fat.

Why is it still OK to make fun of larger women? Aren't we tired of that joke yet? I could tell by the way the concept was written that the author thought they were very clever. But you know what I think would have been even more clever? If "fat girl" was the one behind the counter being wooed for a change. Wouldn't that just about melt every woman's heart? That alone would make me run out and buy a country western CD!