Hayley Atwell, a versatile actress known for her roles in period dramas, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and action franchises like Mission: Impossible, has navigated the complexities of Hollywood's body image expectations while carving a successful path in the entertainment industry. Her journey highlights the pressures faced by actors, particularly women, to conform to certain physical standards, and how Atwell has addressed these challenges while maintaining her artistic integrity.
Early Career and Body Image Pressures
Atwell's career began in the theater, where she honed her skills in classical and contemporary plays. She gained recognition for her work in TV costume dramas such as Mansfield Park, Howards End, and Brideshead Revisited. During the filming of Brideshead Revisited in 2007, Atwell faced pressure to lose weight. According to First Post, during dinner at Emma Thompson's house, Thompson became "very angry that I wasn't eating all the food she was giving me. I told her why and she hit the roof." Thompson, her co-star, was outraged and threatened to resign from the film if the producers forced Atwell to lose weight. This incident brought the issue of weight demands in the industry to light and highlighted the support Atwell received from her peers.
In a 2010 interview with The Guardian, Atwell described herself as a "loner and nerd, slightly overweight, with a very heavy fringe" during her childhood. She also mentioned being called "Hayley Fatwell" at school, indicating that she had been conscious of her weight from a young age.
Agent Carter and Physical Training
Atwell's role as Agent Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) marked a significant turning point in her career. The character was a military liaison to Steve Rogers, portrayed by Chris Evans. To prepare for the role, Atwell underwent rigorous physical training with Simon Waterson, an ex-Marine. This training focused on building core strength and muscles to handle the physical demands of the role, including working with guns and performing action sequences.
In an interview, Atwell said, "It was basically no cake and no wine." She followed this strict regimen for eight months, which was necessary because she couldn't adhere to it during filming.
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning and Physical Conditioning
Hayley Atwell joined the Mission: Impossible franchise as Grace. To prepare for her role in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Atwell committed herself to rigorous training and physical conditioning. She honed her skills and sculpted her physique, leaving no stone unturned in her quest for perfection.
Atwood starts her day with a ginger shot, and she also makes her team do one as well, as shown in a recent Instagram video. Jesse Feder, RDN, CPT with My Crohns and Colitis Team, explains, “Ginger shots can help boost digestion, prevent bloating and nausea, and reduce inflammation throughout the body."
To get ready for the film, Atwood did a lot of Pilates and gave fans a behind-the-scenes look. Jarrod Nobbe, a USAW National Coach says, “I love the all-encompassing benefits one can yield from partaking in Pilates. You get strength, stability, core, and mobility improvements when you practice pilates consistently. I even advocate for my athletes to perform one weekly pilates-based training day." April Federico, a certified nutritionist, adds, “Pilates places a significant emphasis on developing a strong core, which includes the muscles in your abdomen, lower back, and pelvis. These muscles are essential for stability, posture, and overall body strength. With that said, pilates can improve your posture drastically.
To keep up with Tom Cruise, running is a must. In a conversation with Interview Magazine, she said she runs “30K a week” and commented on Cruise’s awe-inspiring running abilities. “What I’ve noticed on set is it’s not his speed that’s the most impressive. He’s studied the form, he’s studied how to run. Nobbe states, “Running is an excellent choice of exercise for multiple benefits. It allows you to increase your Zone 2 Heart Rate work, showing overall aerobic fitness improvements and a healthier cardiovascular system. Running allows you to get outside, breathe fresh air, and soak up the sun (on a good weather day). Feder adds, “Running is a wonderful cardiovascular exercise. It can help you burn off and keep off body fat and improve things such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Atwood hasn’t talked much about her diet, one thing we do know is she likes oysters, which are a good source of protein. Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD, and sports dietitian says, “Like other forms of seafood, oysters are a source of lean protein. They are a surprisingly rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, a powerful antioxidant and essential nutrient that the body cannot make on its own. The biggest powerhouse, however, is the Vitamin B12 content.
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Although Atwood trained hard for MI 7, she also allowed herself to enjoy treats every now and then. After filming a tough train sequence, Cruise sent her a box of chocolate. Raw dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and carries awesome amounts of fiber, giving raw dark chocolate great health characteristics,” Moody says. “It contains numerous values of vitamins and minerals, along with antioxidants. The key, just like with many things, is to consume in moderation!” New York dietician Fiorella DiCarlo adds, “Dark chocolate is lower in sugar and fat than milk or white chocolates. In this way, it does not increase blood sugar levels in the way the other chocolates do! It also contains minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc which support the immune system.
Embracing Individuality and Rejecting Unrealistic Standards
Atwell has been vocal about the importance of body positivity and rejecting unrealistic beauty standards. In a 2016 interview with the Belfast Telegraph, she stated, "Unless we are perfect, women are seen as divas or bitches." This comment reflects the challenges women face in the industry, where they are often judged more harshly than men based on their appearance.
In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Atwell revealed that she was once told she looked like a "fat pig" on screen and should eat less. This incident further fueled her determination to challenge the industry's obsession with skinniness.
Atwell has also spoken out against the use of Photoshop and other forms of digital manipulation to alter actors' appearances. In an interview, she stated, "It's important that young girls understand what photoshop is." She also retorted, "Why am I so photoshopped?" when one visitor to her page asked her, "Why are you so beautiful?"
Finding Strength in Theater and Personal Life
Atwell has consistently returned to the theater throughout her career, finding it a source of artistic fulfillment and personal growth. She has performed in numerous productions at prestigious venues such as the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
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In a recent interview, Atwell said, "Theatre does for me what church can do for many people. I still really feel that." She also emphasized the importance of having a supportive personal life, noting that her partner, music producer Ned Wolfgang Kelly, provides a steadying influence and helps her maintain perspective.
Other Actors Speaking Out
Hayley Atwell is not alone in her stance against unrealistic body expectations. Many other actors have spoken out about the pressures they have faced and the importance of body positivity.
- Viola Davis: At the 2017 Critics Choice Awards, Davis shared her struggle with body image and acceptance, stating, "I truly believe that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are, and I just recently embraced that at 51."
- Betty Gilpin: Gilpin wrote about her experiences with body image in Glamour, revealing that even girls who look "perfect" to the outside world can struggle with their self-perception.
- Amy Schumer: Schumer has used her comedy to address body image issues, dispelling the myth that everyone in Hollywood is naturally skinny.
- Kirsten Dunst: Dunst casually declined to lose weight for her role in Sophia Coppola's film The Beguiled, earning body positivity points for her response.
- Jennifer Lawrence: Lawrence has refused to let body shaming affect her career, famously telling someone who suggested she lose weight, "You can go f*** yourself."
- Jennifer Lopez: Lopez fired her manager after he told her she needed to trim her curves, asserting, "There's no reason to be anybody but myself."