Kristin Davis Opens Up About Weight Pressure on ‘Melrose Place’
In a recent interview with People magazine, actress Kristin Davis shared her experience of feeling pressured about her weight while filming for the hit soap opera, Melrose Place. The actress, known for her role as Brooke Armstrong on the show, recalled a specific incident where a producer told her, “Don’t gain any weight.”
Davis reflected on her time on the set of Melrose Place, acknowledging that while she had positive memories of her co-stars, there was an underlying pressure surrounding body image. She mentioned feeling the need to conform to a certain standard of thinness, especially when surrounded by others who were all “gorgeous and super skinny.”
In an effort to meet these expectations, Davis hired a running coach and participated in intense back-to-back 90-minute spin classes. She admitted that she was so focused on trying to maintain a certain appearance that she may have neglected proper eating habits, stating, “Of course, I’m sure I wasn’t eating, I have no idea. I don’t remember the eating part.”
The Sex and the City alum even pushed herself to the point of fainting in a parking lot and experiencing memory lapses. Despite her extreme efforts, Davis learned from her Melrose Place co-star Thomas Calabro that producers still had concerns about her weight. Calabro praised her appearance, noting that he appreciated seeing a woman with curves on the show.
Confused by the mixed signals, Davis confronted the producers about the issue. She recounted a conversation where she asked if they were stressing about her weight, to which they responded by emphasizing the importance of her maintaining her current physique. Davis expressed frustration with the pressure she faced on set, describing it as “normal for a long time” and noting that having curves seemed to be a point of contention.
Melrose Place, which aired from 1992-1999, followed a group of friends living in Melrose Place, California. Davis’s experience sheds light on the challenges actors face in maintaining certain standards of physical appearance in the entertainment industry.
Overall, Davis’s candid revelations about the pressure she felt regarding her weight during her time on Melrose Place highlight the importance of addressing unrealistic body standards in Hollywood. Her story serves as a reminder of the pervasive nature of body image pressures in the industry and the impact they can have on actors’ mental and physical well-being.