Gabourey Sidibe Looks Worlds Away From 'Precious' Over A Decade Later
Oct 24, 2020 by apost team
Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe had never acted in a film before being cast as the lead role in the 2009 movie "Precious." The 37-year-old actress from New York has come a long way in the 11 years since her audition and is now a star in her own right, despite that she hasn't let the fame go to her head.
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Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York, on May 6, 1983. Her parents, mom Alice Tan Ridley and dad Ibnou Sidibe split when she was young. Her mom gave up her job as a special educational needs teacher to become a street performer. Sidibe witnessed her mum's financial struggles and decided she would do what she could to have a secure job and career.
It was in the middle of studying for a psychology degree at Mercy College, working as a part-time receptionist to pay her tuition, when she took a gamble which completely changed her life.
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Sidibe was told by a friend about the open call for actors for a new Lee Daniel’s movie. She had never acted professionally before, other than in school, but she decided to go along. Her audition saw her get picked for the role out of over 300 women, being cast alongside stars such as Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey.
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The film was a huge success, and Sidibe's acting was highly praised. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress and was nominated for a Golden Globe in the same category.
Despite this, she has never let the fame go to her head, and she has always been comfortable in her own skin. People have often commented on her body so she wrote a book of essays called "This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare," in which she shares her journey from her rise to fame to her body image.
Sidibe was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017 and needed surgery as a result in order to manage her weight. According to The LA Times Sidibe writes:
“It has taken me years to realize that what I was born with is all beautiful. I did not get this surgery to be beautiful. I did it so I can walk around comfortably in heels. I want to do a cartwheel. I want not to be in pain every time I walk up a flight of stairs.”
Sidibe continues to be an advocate for loving your own body and accepting all types of body, whatever shape or size. This is exactly the kind of energy we need in the world.
What do you think about this tale of everyday life to Hollywood star overnight? Has that ever happened to anyone you know? Let us know in the comments!