Shannon Purser, known for her role as Barb in season 1 of Stranger Things, has taken on a leading role in Netflix's romantic comedy Sierra Burgess Is a Loser. This role marks a significant step in Purser's career, allowing her to portray a complex character who challenges conventional stereotypes in teen movies. The film explores themes of self-discovery, self-confidence, and the importance of redefining beauty standards.
The Rise of Shannon Purser
Purser's portrayal of Barb in Stranger Things had an outsize cultural impact, resonating with many who saw themselves in the nonconformist, awkward, relatable character. The rallying cry of "#JusticeForBarb" highlighted the desire for representation of diverse characters in teen shows. This role catapulted Purser to instant fame, setting the stage for her future endeavors.
Sierra Burgess: A Modern-Day Cyrano
In Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, Purser plays Sierra, a literary-minded high school student with aspirations of attending Stanford. Sierra's journey involves navigating the complexities of self-acceptance and challenging societal expectations. The film presents a modern-day retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, where Sierra catfishes a football player named Jamey (Noah Centineo) by pretending to be the popular girl, Veronica (Kristine Froseth).
The film twists the stereotype that pretty, popular, mean girls aren't smart, and that intelligent, plus-size women in baggy jeans can’t be cute (and more importantly, can’t be happy in the bodies they are in).
Challenging Stereotypes and Redefining Beauty
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser distinguishes itself by not focusing on a physical transformation of the main character. Instead, the film celebrates Sierra's whole self, including her musical talents and even her catfishing tendencies. Purser's portrayal challenges the notion that plus-size women need to change their appearance to be worthy of love and attention.
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Purser has expressed her desire to change the kinds of stories that get told about fat people, advocating for more representation of diverse body types in media. She emphasizes the importance of showcasing that big women have love lives and complex, colorful lives like everyone else.
Purser's Perspective on Sierra and Barb
Purser sees similarities between Sierra and Barb in their awareness of who they are and their resistance to conform. However, Sierra allows the pressure to fit in to get to her, leading her to make questionable decisions. Purser appreciates that Sierra is a romantic character who is blindsided by a crush, highlighting that the story is ultimately about her falling in love with herself.
Purser notes that she had more time and space to explore the different sides of Sierra compared to her limited role as Barb. This allowed her to delve deeper into the character's complexities and showcase her vulnerabilities.
Working with Noah Centineo and Chrissy Metz
Purser describes working with Noah Centineo as wonderful, praising his genuine kindness and lovability. She notes that their chemistry, even in phone scenes, felt real due to their ability to connect and have authentic conversations. Purser also appreciates the intimacy of phone calls and texts as a form of communication.
Working with Chrissy Metz was also a refreshing experience for Purser, as she found it encouraging to have another plus-size woman on set who is successful and doing amazing things. Metz brings depth to her character, adding comedic timing and making her a refreshing presence.
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The Pressure to Be Unique and Authentic
Purser acknowledges the pressure young people face to stand out and be unique, especially in the age of social media. She encourages them to breathe, accept that things take time, and focus on what makes them feel good. Purser emphasizes that life is a journey and that opportunities will present themselves.
Body Positivity and Representation
Purser emphasizes the importance of portraying fat women living fully and happily as themselves, without feeling the pressure to change. She believes that there should be more stories of bigger women realizing their own beauty and having agency in their lives.
Purser sees Sierra Burgess Is a Loser as fitting into current conversations about body positivity in popular culture by not focusing on a makeover or weight loss as the central goal. She advocates for stories of fat women having the ability to live full, happy lives while they’re fat.
Advice to Sierra and Lessons Learned
If Purser could give advice to Sierra, she would tell her not to catfish anyone and to find value in herself. She emphasizes that it's unhealthy to rely on others for validation and that true happiness comes from self-acceptance. Purser hopes that young people watching the film will understand the importance of being comfortable with themselves in relationships.
Addressing Body Image and Insecurities
Purser acknowledges that body image can be a sensitive subject and appreciates celebrities who speak out about it. She emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and not needing others' approval. Purser shares her personal struggles with body image, highlighting the impact of societal standards and the desire to be thin.
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The Comeback of Rom-Coms and Representation
Purser is excited about the revival of teen rom-coms and the opportunity to diversify representation. She highlights the importance of seeing more queer love stories and interracial couples in media. Purser believes that representation helps normalize things in society and create a sense of belonging.
The Fashion and Nods to the '80s
The fashion in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser pays homage to John Hughes and '80s movies. The film includes synth-y music, filming locations from classic movies like Pretty in Pink, and outfits that match characters from those films. These elements add a nostalgic touch and contribute to the film's overall aesthetic.
Addressing Criticisms and Unlikable Characters
Purser acknowledges that Sierra makes questionable ethical decisions and that there is not a lot of room for that in female characters, especially not young teen girls. She hopes that viewers can explore Sierra's self-growth and redemption as the movie progresses.
Purser believes that it's important to show the reality behind cyberbullying and the motivations behind it. She emphasizes that understanding the insecurities and voids that people are trying to fill can lead to growth and redemption.
Portraying Plus-Size Characters with Complexity
Purser feels that showing a plus-size girl doing bad things is an evolution, as thinner women have been going dark for years. She emphasizes that the people you see in movies and TV should reflect reality, and that fat people live lives like anyone else. Purser loves playing likable characters but acknowledges that it isn't always the reality.
The Dark Turn and Cyberbullying
Purser acknowledges that Sierra Burgess Is a Loser takes a dark turn with its depiction of cyberbullying. She understands the emotion behind it, recognizing the impact of being told your whole life that you're inferior and being compared to women who look totally different.
Addressing Transphobic and Lesbian "Jokes"
Purser acknowledges the presence of transphobic and lesbian "jokes" in the film, stating that they are what she hears coming from young people. She emphasizes that these jokes are not meant to be endorsed but rather to reflect the self-centered and socially unaware point of view of the characters at the beginning of the film.
Purser's Future Projects
Purser is currently working on season 3 of Riverdale and hopes to play more likable characters in the future. She acknowledges the challenge of playing characters who do awful things but hopes that people will understand that she is acting and has good things to say.
The Film's Reception and Themes
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser premiered on Netflix to mixed reviews. Despite the criticism, the film explores important themes of body image, self-acceptance, and the complexities of teenage relationships.
The film subverts traditional rom-com tropes by portraying Sierra as a complex character who makes mistakes, while Jamey is seen as a kind and charming quarterback. However, the film has also been criticized for its unlikeable main character, insensitive jokes, and disregard for consent.
The Importance of Self-Love and Authenticity
Despite its flaws, Sierra Burgess Is a Loser touches on the important topic of self-love and authenticity. Sierra tries her best to be okay with what she looks like, but believing that someone else could love you for who you are is even harder. This is a difficult topic that the film attempts to dissect, but ultimately fumbles due to its problematic elements.