5 Incredible, Badass Points Lea DeLaria Makes In This Powerful New Interview

There is so much to enjoy about this inspiring, empowering, and altogether truly special interview with Lea DeLaria that at the end when she declares, "What's not the love?" it truly feels like the answer is nothing. This intimate, stripped down interview (literally, Lea actually strips down to a sports bra and boxers) is held by StyleLikeU, a mother-daughter team that describes themselves as "leading a movement that empowers people to accept and express their true selves," and it seems like they're really getting the job done. In nearly 12 minutes, Lea opens up about everything from growing up as a closeted Catholic, getting physically assaulted for being gay, her love of her own body despite what other beauty standards might be out there, and so much more you just need to watch to fully understand. Here are five of the most badass moments this clip has to offer, and you can watch the whole thing at the end as well! (Warning: if you're at work you might want to turn the sound down for the first few seconds, even though what Lea's saying is pretty awesome.)

1. On what her "Butch Dyke" style means to her. 

"My entire life has been trying to put a positive spin on what it is to be butch. The media has always portrayed us as fat and stupid, we beat our wives, we cause fights, we drive trucks...(But) butches do everything. We cook, we clean, we have to be really good at everything. That's our thing. And of course you have to take care of your lady, your femme. You have to be very attentive, open doors. I mean, I've always considered myself a feminist, and when I open a door for a woman I'm not implying that she's weak anyway, to me it's a matter of politeness and respect.

2. On embracing her body.

"Look, I'm a proud fat woman, period. We live in a fatist society that expects - especially of women - certain things, especially around their weight, and it's bullshit...Look, obesity is an issue, I get it. It's a problem, it causes a lot of things that people need to be aware of. But the flip coin of that is it's mostly genetics, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's that simple. Fat is not ugly. In fact, it's quite beautiful."

3. On her biggest accomplishment.

"Getting to the level that I've gotten to in this industry without ever having once been in the closet. I felt very deeply each insult that would happen to me every time somebody called me a 'dyke' on the street, all that when I was younger, and I remember wanting to change things so that didn't happen. I've been queer-bashed. I was beaten up horribly in 1980 by a guy. It was gay pride week in San Francisco. Obviously, you know, somebody who'd come into the city looking for someone to beat up, and I was the lucky person. I wanted to make a change. I wanted to affect a change, and my best tool for that was my humor."

4. On how acting has become easier since menopause.

"Probably the most vulnerable I feel is when I'm shooting an important dramatic moment. Accessing weird emotions within yourself is part of what I do, and I have to say it's become a lot easier since menopause. My emotions are right there now in a way they never used to be, and I also let go of the idea that I have to control them. They're just emotions."

5. On why her body is the best place to be.

"Because I love me! Look at this! What's not to love?"

Watch the full, amazing interview below. 

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