Natasha Rothwell Denounces The Pressure To Represent All Plus-Size Women
Natasha Rothwell won our hearts as Kelli in the HBO series Insecure and due to her comedic style and relatable personality, she quickly became a fan favorite. However, Natasha is more than just an actress, she also writes and directs, which has also been showcased on Insecure.
The 41-year-old’s performance on the popular HBO series proves that her character is more than just the funny plus-size friend which has historically been the case for many, many television shows and movies.
When speaking to British magazineGal-Dem, the multihyphenate acknowledges her Insecure character not falling into the old Hollywood trope plus-size women find themselves in. “I think that Kelli is very much a character and not a caricature,” Natasha said.
“She’s very consistent. She’s body positive. She rides for her friend but she’s never self-deprecating. She is not the punchline of her jokes – she’s in control. I think those are some key differences to that trope that I think people are wanting to lump Kelli into.”
While she loves that her character resonates with many viewers, it can become a lot to deal with. When you’re the only one or “other” most of the time you feel pressure to do your kind justice. We see that a lot within the Black culture.
When you’re the only Black person in a predominately white space, you may feel pressure to represent your Blackness positively and try hard to disprove the negative stereotypes.
TheWhite Lotus star feels the same way about being the only plus-size woman on the Insecure cast. However, she refuses to let it get to her.
“It is a lot of weight for any show to carry when they are the only one tackling the humanity of people. People want to hang their experiences as a plus-size Black woman on me,” she said.
While we see the Kansas-born star displaying a lot of confidence in her craft, it wasn’t always that way for her. From 2014-2015, she wrote for Saturday Night Live, and while it may be looked at as a notable accomplishment to write for one of the most prestigious sketch-comedy shows, for Natasha it wasn’t what it was all cracked up to be.
The comedian told the Los Angeles Times that she struggled with feeling seen. "I wanted to show that I belonged. I wanted to be at the table at SNL and I wanted them to think, 'F---, she's funny. I like what she has to say. And I see her and, oh, that joke is great.' That's a lot to carry," she said.
"And I think that's also an expression of privilege for white writers: They don't know what it's like to walk into a room and feel like the audition is not over. I didn't feel seen, always. Putting my hand up was me wanting to know if my voice could be heard. It was Pavlovian for me."
Currently, Natasha can be seen on The White Lotus and the final season of Insecure.
Featured image by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Angela Bassett On Oscar Loss: ‘I Was Disappointed, And I Handled It Like A Human Being’
Angela Bassett is finally opening up about her 2023 Oscar loss for her role as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The legendary actress was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and there was a lot of buzz about her finally taking home the coveted trophy. However, to the shock of many, the prize ultimately went to Jamie Lee Curtis. Angela talked to Oprah Winfrey about that night on an episode of OWN Spotlight and said she “was gobsmacked.”
“I thought I handled it very well also, and my intention was to handle it very well. It was, of course, a supreme disappointment, and disappointment is human,” she explained. “So, I thought, yes, I was disappointed, and I handled it like a human being.”
While there was a lot of chatter online about the astounding loss, there was also a focus on her reaction to it. People suggested that Angela had an unhappy expression on her face. However, as she mentioned earlier, it was a human reaction. She further explained that it was important for her to remain gracious, especially for her family, who attended the ceremony with her.
95th Oscars/ Screenshot
“I know a pastor who says, ‘technology’s different, people are the same,’ and it’s like there’s going to be these moments of disappointment that they are going to experience, but how do you handle yourself in the midst of them?" She said. “So, we’re gonna smile. We’re gonna be gracious. We’re gonna be kind. We’re gonna party, anyway.’”
Angela’s husband, veteran actor Courtney B. Vance, also spoke about the loss in an interview with People. While he acknowledged the upsetting blow, they weren’t going to let it deter them from having a good night.
"It hurt her feelings when she didn't win the Oscar this last go-round, but we decided to party like it was 1999 that night and they weren't going to run us home," Vance said. "So we ended up at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's party and life goes on. They gave her an honorary Oscar, which is wonderful. So we keep it pushing."
He continued, "I believe her best work is ahead of her. So maybe it re-energized people about her, but she's the most amazing actress in the world. Folks who know, know and the folks who don't know, maybe they were re-energized, maybe they were energized."
In January 2024, Angela received an honorary Academy Award for her illustrious 40-year career and she gave a powerful speech where she uplifted other Black actresses.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images