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In 1959, the hottest actress in Hollywood was "Some Like It Hot" bombshell Marilyn Monroe. Christina Hendricks is a modern day Monroe.TV is just as significant as film, and Hendricks plays the curvaceous bombshell, Joan Holloway on "Mad Men," one of the most critically acclaimed shows on cable TV.
It’s February, 1959 and the hottest actress in Hollywood is Marilyn Monroe. Some Like It Hot is about to be released in theaters and moviegoers are anxiously anticipating Marilyn’s next contribution to the silver screen.The film cost $2.5 million to produce and ended up grossing about $25 million in the US, pretty impressive numbers for 1959.
Monroe received rave reviews for her performance. Although, most critics spilled as much ink ranting about her famous curves as they did on her sharp comic timing.They delighted in pointing out the many “assets” that Marilyn possessed.
Take this New York Times review for example, “Miss Monroe, whose figure simply cannot be overlooked, contributes more assets than the obvious ones to this madcap romp.”Certainly, there was more to her performance than the obvious eye candy. But at least her more voluptuous figure was something people celebrated, not ridiculed.
Sadly, a lot has changed in the last 51 years.
Fast forward to February, 2010. There is another actress on the scene by the name of Christina Hendricks.TV is just as significant as film, and Hendricks plays the curvaceous bombshell, Joan Holloway, on Mad Men, one of the most critically acclaimed shows on cable TV.
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It’s fair to say that she steals the spotlight from her co-stars with a confidence and grace that reminds viewers of the actresses from long ago.However, today the critics are unapologetic in their attacks on body image.
This is nothing new, Oscar winner Kate Winslet has had to endure vicious assaults by the pundits for years. Titanic shot Winslet to superstar status, and although she was nominated for multiple Oscars, people continue to obsessively write about her larger frame.
But Winslet fights back, she refuses to allow Hollywood to dictate her weight. She once said, “women should be encouraged to accept their appearance with pride.” Winslet has gone as far as to bring suit against publications like British GQ and The Daily Mail for digitally enhancing photos and lying about her exercise regime.
Commentators seem to be getting more brazen in their attacks. In their red carpet analysis of the Golden Globes arrivals this past January, a New York Times blogger took aim at Hendricks by writing that “you don’t put a big girl in a big dress.” And if those words weren’t enough, they put a distorted image of Hendrick’s up for the world to see.
Guess what? Fans are seeing right through that and it’s resulting in a firestorm. People are coming out by the thousands to defend Hendricks because she is one of the most beautiful women on screen today. And she is beautiful in whatever size she is most comfortable.
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It is widely known that Marilyn was a size 14 and that didn’t stop her from achieving sex goddess status on and off the screen. From pin-ups to her seductive arrangement of Happy Birthday, Marilyn was one of the most wanted women in entertainment. Maybe, the most desired woman in the world. Today, she would be lucky to land one meeting with an industry executive, this would be our loss.
It’s time to wake up and appreciate all women of every size. Hendricks has unwittingly started a rebellion, an uprising that has been simmering for years. As the well known saying goes, history repeats itself, so it’s time to bring back the curves; bring back the healthy women who are self-confident enough to enjoy everything life has to offer.
Keep doing what you’re doing Christina, there are millions that love you and will tune in every week for it!
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