Kat Dennings Recalls Being Called 'Fat' And 'Not Pretty Enough' By Directors As A Child Actor

Kat Dennings has opened up about her early days in the industry, revealing that the environment was extremely harsh and showed little regard for inclusivity.

The 38-year-old actress shared that some casting directors shamed her for her appearance, with some even calling her "not pretty enough" and "fat."

Kat Dennings credited her "strong mindset" and her parents' support for helping her stay positive until she finally landed a debut role.

While reflecting on her stellar acting career in a recent interview, Dennings opened up about her early days in the industry as a child actor and how she often had to deal with "extremely negative feedback."

According to the actress, those in charge, such as casting directors, were ruthless in their criticism, which often left her wondering why they could be "very cruel" even while "talking about a child."

"It was pretty crazy thinking about it. I'm like: "How can anyone say that about a little kid? This is insane,"' the 38-year-old told People Magazine.

On some occasions, she was even insulted for her looks, while her acting talent was completely ignored.

She added, "For example, I was 12. I'd go into an audition and I'd do it, and my manager would call me and I'd be like: "How'd it go?" And they'd be like: "Well, they thought you weren't pretty enough and you're fat."'

Amid her reflection, Dennings also shared that the industry was not only highly critical but also showed little regard for inclusivity.

"The time that I was auditioning and starting to act, it was a very different environment than it is now," the "2 Broke Girls" star shared.

She added, "There was not a lot of inclusivity at all. It was very harsh…and people would not hold back."

Despite the negative feedback she received, Dennings remained steadfast in her goals, believing she had what it took to become a star. With the added support of her parents, she was also able to maintain a "strong mindset" during those challenging times.

"That was my attitude," she told the outlet. "'For some reason, it didn't break my spirit. I was like: 'I'll show them.' I guess props to my parents because they were like: 'They're idiots. Don't listen to them.' And I was like: 'They're idiots, I'm not.'"

Although it took some time, Dennings eventually secured a proper acting role after starting her career in commercials at the age of nine.

Her first role was in an episode of "Sex and the City" titled "Hot Child in the City," where she played an obnoxious 13-year-old who hires a publicist for her bat mitzvah plans.

She then landed a role in the WB sitcom "Raising Dad," though her time on the show was short-lived due to its cancellation by the showrunners.

Dennings went on to make other appearances in television and film, making her film debut in 2004 as a character named Sloane in Hilary Duff's "Raise Your Voice."

Her big break finally came with her role in the popular sitcom "2 Broke Girls," which brought her widespread recognition. She also became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring in "WandaVision," "What If…?" and in "Thor: Love and Thunder."

Looking back on her journey so far, Dennings now believes that the "completely insane" environment she started in as an actor no longer exists.

She feels the industry has become "much softer" and "kinder," particularly toward those who were once underrepresented due to their looks.

The actress shared, "There's body positivity, there's inclusivity, there's representation, and there was none of that before. It was really gross."

Currently, she is involved in ABC's sitcom "Shifting Gears," which stars her and veteran actor Tim Allen. She also plays the role of a producer on the series alongside Anastasia Stanecki.

Dennings married musician Andrew W.K. in November 2023, and late last year, they celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

During an appearance on "The View" this year, the actress was asked by one of the show's hosts, Whoopi Goldberg, if she ever thought she would get married.

Responding, Dennings noted that dating wasn't easy for her and that before getting married, her perspective on relationships stemmed from a quote by Goldberg.

"It's the worst. It's the worst, isn't it? It's terrible," she said, per People. "I was in a few long relationships and I tried to date a little bit, it was just a nightmare."

"I actually lived by a quote from you, Whoopi," the actress continued. "Correct me if this is the wrong quote, but I did look it up to make sure: I don't want somebody in my house."

However, meeting her husband, W.K., changed Dennings' view on marriage.

"Those were my feelings towards marriage in general until I met my husband," she noted. "Now I like him in my house. I want him in my house!"