Gabourey Sidibe became the toast of Hollywood with her role as the titular character in 'Precious,' which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
But are there other parts out there for Sidibe, besides those of overweight, pregnant teens?
Yes, she's proved herself funny on the red carpet (Telling Ryan Seacrest her Oscar dress was "The money shot" was amazing!) and charming during her appearances on talk shows. She also has the power of Oprah behind her. But does it really matter when it comes to film and television?
Despite her obvious talent, experts are mixed about whether scripts will roll in for the 26-year-old.
PopEater's own Rob Shuter chatted with Joy Behar about the actress' career, telling Joy that casting directors don't see much down the road for Sidibe. Watch:
As Behar points out, Nikki Blonsky received high praise for her turn in 'Hairspray,' but the full-figured girl hasn't had work since.
Kevin Polowy, Senior Editor of Moviefone, agrees with Shuter and Behar.
"It'll be a challenge for Sidibe to sustain a prominent career, undoubtedly. Sadly, it's already tough enough for women and minorities to find good roles in Hollywood, and she faces another undeniable hurdle because of her weight. But she's such a genuine talent, such a glowing screen presence, the screenwriters and filmmakers of the world would be fools not to craft her some meaty roles --or at least one solid TV gig for the time being."
Others believe her new credentials will provide opportunities for the actress. "Gabby has those two golden words in front of her name now: Oscar Nominee. That opens doors," says Fancast's Senior Editor Tracy Phillips. "The challenge will be for her to make good choices. But she's already doing that. She has her next job already lined up, appearing on Showtime's new dark comedy, 'The C Word,' starring another Oscar nominee, Laura Linney. That's a smart move."
"She has talent, a sophisticated new project on deck--and she has Oprah in her corner," Phillips adds. "What more do you need?"
Although Shuter, Behar, Polowy and Phillips are gracious about Sidibe's chances, bleak as they may be, there are a few who are more frank, and downright mean, about her available opportunities, like Howard Stern.
Stern doesn't think Gabby's career has a chance to survive, The Huffington Post reports.
"There's the most enormous, fat black chick I've ever seen. She is enormous. Everyone's pretending she's a part of show business and she's never going to be in another movie," he said on his show.
"She should have gotten the Best Actress award because she's never going to have another shot. What movie is she gonna be in?" Stern added.
He then turned to Oprah, who's been praising the young actress up and down, and touting her as the next Meryl Streep.
"Oprah's another liar, a filthy liar. She's telling an enormous woman the size of a planet that she's going to have a career."
However, Stern is a little bit wrong. Sidibe has two more gigs on her resume. She's been picked up for a 13-episode stint on Showtime's 'The Big C,' and has one film -- 'Yelling to the Sky' -- in post-production, according to IMDB.com.
Yet, whether or not her career will be littered with sidekick roles -- or even any at all -- remains to be seen.
IF GABBY NEVER DOES IT AGAIN, SHE DID RUB ELBOWS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S FAMOUS PEOPLE.IT WAS SHEER LUCK THAT SHE GOT THAT ROLE AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I CANT SEE NOTHING FOR HER BEYOND MAYBE A LOW BUDGET BLACK FILM HERE OR THERE.SHE BETTER PLAY IT SAFE AND GO TO COLLEGE BUT CONGRATS TO HER ON HER ACHIEVEMENTS AND BEST OF LUCK IN FUTURE
No she was a fluke. Look at many of the other award winners who after their big riole couldn't get arrested ,let alone find another role. Sorry but a one hit wonder . Nice lady but she should save her money and invest it wisely for another carrer option. Hollywood eats you up then dumps you .
I hope she has a great future in Hollywood. She is a talented actress! Her screen test was phenominal and i think there should be parts written just for her. We need to get over our prejudices about weight and start focusing on talent in movies. She was great and i hope shes here to stay!!
What a racist and derogatory article. I feel like this is the 1800's or the 1960s. Are we still in the days of slavery or pre civil rights? This is just disgusting and out of hand.
I didn't see anywhere in that article where they said she wouldn't get anywhere because she's black, so where's this awful racism you're referring to? In fact, to bolster the view that this actress has little chance of having a future in film they used the example of an obese WHITE woman whose career tanked after one film success. I saw no racism whatsoever. Some folks see racism where it simply is not present.
im black and i don't think what was said was racist. she is fat and she needs to lose weight. howard stern is just brutally honest. i love black people but stop pretending like it does not matter what you look like. black people judge other black people all the time. look down on people because of lack of money status title PLEASE BE REAL
It may be a rude article, it may be a mean article, it may be a horrible article. But at the very end, its an HONEST article. I said as much the other day, although not quite as blunt, after Oprah went on and on and on about her 'future'. I'm sorry but again, honesty, aren't too many (zero) roles for 400 lb black woman.
Oprah is so fake. Gabby got lucky when she got the role of Precious. They needed a huge dark woman. She is going to be a one hit wonder. I think she is sweet and very friendly but she doesnt fit the Hollywood sterotype. Men can get away with being huge but not women. Oprah is telling her she is going places when if fact the only one who will hire her is Tyler Perry. He loves protraying huge black women in his movies and television shows. He is the main one expoiting black women. I like Gabby but I am just keeping it real.
Amen, and thank you. This poor girl doesn't realize that her fifteen minutes are just about up, and that she has been used as little more than a freak-show act. If she wants any kind of life that's worth living, she needs to get immediately into Weight Watchers or some similar program and lose 150-200 pounds. She won't live to 35 if she doesn't.
I did find the Oprah tribute slightly vomitous...I mean...the young girl was LUCKY...She had a GREAT role, but really? She does need the biggest loser..I think she is bigger than some of the biggest contestants...Good luck to her...I mean if H-wood is changing their tune and now are going to have role after role for very, very large black young women, then she certainly may have the great career, but we all know that this was a one-off. I mean, I think she's very likeable, but other than Oprah making movies with her specifically, I don't think her "career" is going to be lasting.
I agree with you, zana. There are COUNTLESS beautiful and thin black actressess who are CONTINUOUSLY being ignored in Hollywood.
To think that someone as HUGE as Gabby will have a career as anything more than a large black woman, is to be delusional.
She's quite large and needs to lose weight, not for Hollywood, but for her own health. She's MORBIDLY OBESE, and that's as bad as being DANGEROUSLY THIN.
Talents should not be done by weight.Hollywood needs to grow up that why they have so many problems with drugs and drinking not to mention the weight with actress and eatimg disorder. If the actor and actress would band together they could change some of the issues that plague this profession,because without them. Their would be no movies.Andwhile we on on the subject it is not health too gain and lose weight for some the roles you play. And besides some men like plus-size women.and we all have a plus person in our families and we love them dearly.So let give credit were credit is do and help to reinforce reality.
Gabourey Sidibe became the toast of Hollywood with her role as the titular character in 'Precious,' which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
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IF GABBY NEVER DOES IT AGAIN, SHE DID RUB ELBOWS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S FAMOUS PEOPLE.IT WAS SHEER LUCK THAT SHE GOT THAT ROLE AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I CANT SEE NOTHING FOR HER BEYOND MAYBE A LOW BUDGET BLACK FILM HERE OR THERE.SHE BETTER PLAY IT SAFE AND GO TO COLLEGE BUT CONGRATS TO HER ON HER ACHIEVEMENTS AND BEST OF LUCK IN FUTURE
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No she was a fluke. Look at many of the other award winners who after their big riole couldn't get arrested ,let alone find another role. Sorry but a one hit wonder . Nice lady but she should save her money and invest it wisely for another carrer option. Hollywood eats you up then dumps you .
Anyone remember how heavy Queen Latifah was when we first saw here? If Queen L. can loose it and have a career, so can this young woman.
Reply
I hope she has a great future in Hollywood. She is a talented actress! Her screen test was phenominal and i think there should be parts written just for her. We need to get over our prejudices about weight and start focusing on talent in movies. She was great and i hope shes here to stay!!
THIS GIRL SHOULD GO ON THE BIGGEST LOSER AND GET THAT WEIGHT OFF OF HER IF SHE HAS ANY CHANCE OF MAKING IT THROUGH LIFE ,NEVER MIND HOLLYWOOD
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What a racist and derogatory article. I feel like this is the 1800's or the 1960s. Are we still in the days of slavery or pre civil rights? This is just disgusting and out of hand.
Reply
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding ... the first rearing of the race card. Didn't take long.
I didn't see anywhere in that article where they said she wouldn't get anywhere because she's black, so where's this awful racism you're referring to? In fact, to bolster the view that this actress has little chance of having a future in film they used the example of an obese WHITE woman whose career tanked after one film success. I saw no racism whatsoever. Some folks see racism where it simply is not present.
I think people are talking about reality in Hollywood, not the way things "should" be. Hollywoodland is unfair. I agree.
im black and i don't think what was said was racist. she is fat and she needs to lose weight. howard stern is just brutally honest. i love black people but stop pretending like it does not matter what you look like. black people judge other black people all the time. look down on people because of lack of money status title PLEASE BE REAL
It may be a rude article, it may be a mean article, it may be a horrible article. But at the very end, its an HONEST article. I said as much the other day, although not quite as blunt, after Oprah went on and on and on about her 'future'. I'm sorry but again, honesty, aren't too many (zero) roles for 400 lb black woman.
Oprah is so fake. Gabby got lucky when she got the role of Precious. They needed a huge dark woman. She is going to be a one hit wonder. I think she is sweet and very friendly but she doesnt fit the Hollywood sterotype. Men can get away with being huge but not women. Oprah is telling her she is going places when if fact the only one who will hire her is Tyler Perry. He loves protraying huge black women in his movies and television shows. He is the main one expoiting black women. I like Gabby but I am just keeping it real.
Reply
Amen, and thank you. This poor girl doesn't realize that her fifteen minutes are just about up, and that she has been used as little more than a freak-show act. If she wants any kind of life that's worth living, she needs to get immediately into Weight Watchers or some similar program and lose 150-200 pounds. She won't live to 35 if she doesn't.
All the roles for morbidly obese young black women have just been used up. Celebrity fit club?????
Reply
I did find the Oprah tribute slightly vomitous...I mean...the young girl was LUCKY...She had a GREAT role, but really? She does need the biggest loser..I think she is bigger than some of the biggest contestants...Good luck to her...I mean if H-wood is changing their tune and now are going to have role after role for very, very large black young women, then she certainly may have the great career, but we all know that this was a one-off. I mean, I think she's very likeable, but other than Oprah making movies with her specifically, I don't think her "career" is going to be lasting.
Reply
Gabby should stay in the industry but skinny pretty talented black girls have a difficult time being cast in ANYTHING...good luck. Gabbs
Reply
I agree with you, zana. There are COUNTLESS beautiful and thin black actressess who are CONTINUOUSLY being ignored in Hollywood.
To think that someone as HUGE as Gabby will have a career as anything more than a large black woman, is to be delusional.
She's quite large and needs to lose weight, not for Hollywood, but for her own health. She's MORBIDLY OBESE, and that's as bad as being DANGEROUSLY THIN.
I have no respect for Oprah Winfrey. I used to watch her show but I have a very low opinion any more.
Reply
Talents should not be done by weight.Hollywood needs to grow up that why they have so many problems with drugs and drinking not to mention the weight with actress and eatimg disorder. If the actor and actress would band together they could change some of the issues that plague this profession,because without them. Their would be no movies.Andwhile we on on the subject it is not health too gain and lose weight for some the roles you play. And besides some men like plus-size women.and we all have a plus person in our families and we love them dearly.So let give credit were credit is do and help to reinforce reality.
The story line and the fat actors was enough reason for me not to see the movie. I think her career is over.
Reply