Catherine Tyldesley reveals heartbreaking fat-shaming comment which stayed with her
Catherine Tyldesleyhas revealed the devastating fat-shaming comment which has stayed with her. The actress, known for playing Eva Price on ITV's Coronation Street, has spoken candidly about the pressures surrounding body image while working in the public eye.
To most, Tyldesley, 42, often appears full of life and happiness, but there was one comment made during Catherine's career which she says opened up a can of worms relating to body scrutiny. She said: "I remember going to an audition and the director saying to me, 'Kath, you're hilarious - you're always going to be the fat funny one. You’re a character actress.'
"I loved comedy, but I also wanted to be a leading lady. That comment stayed with me." While she didn't disclose which TV show she had auditioned for, this comment never left the Worsley-born star.
- Fans only just realising what John Lennon says at start of Happy Xmas song
- Cruz Beckham's furious meltdown from 'power battle to Brooklyn risk and love for mum'
When the comment was made, Catherine says the latest trends were "all about weight loss," including cereal diets, fad diets and whatever people were trying at the time. But, unlike now, she lacked education surrounding the dangers of such diets. Fad diets, including the Carnivore diet, Low-carb and Ketogenic diets, as well as Fasting diets, have previously been criticised by medical professionals.
Nowadays, Catherine admits she isn't too bothered about weight loss. Instead, she's focusing on her lasting health and being around for her children. Speaking to Dr Jonquille Chantrey on the AgeLess podcast, she said: "It's no longer about weight loss for me, it's about health. I want to be on this planet for as long as possible for my children. I want stamina. I want to feel strong."
Dr Chantrey reflected on Catherine's comments and explained that she sees the issue of 'aesthetic labour' on a daily basis in the clinic. She said: "Across film, TV and social media, bodies have become sites of scrutiny and comparison. This pressure isn't superficial; it can disrupt sleep, alter cortisol and even affect how our tissues repair. Some believe it's just the price of success. But the psychological and metabolic toll, particularly for women, is very real."
But as the parent of young children, the actress, like many parents, has concerns due to the rise in filtered social media images and constantly being compared to others online. She said: "Young people are looking at filtered images thinking, 'Why don't I look like that?' Without realising, half the time that person doesn't even look like that themselves. It makes me really sad."
However, she went on to explain that she knows people in the industry who have had cosmetic surgery due to the criticism they have faced online. Without naming anybody, she explained: "I know actresses who’ve had surgery purely because of online comments about their arms, face or stomach. People don't realise how life-changing those words can be."
Although Catherine often shares snaps of herself in the gym, if she misses a day, she doesn't panic. Instead, she gets her workouts in around her children, allowing herself to be fitter on set and having energy around her children.
"After my daughter, my body changed dramatically - my lower abdomen, my hips," she said about her post-pregnancy body changes. Catherine continued: "It really impacted my mental health. Getting support and addressing those changes helped me feel like myself again."
TikTok
Threads