Acting for a Change :: Interview with Jennifer Jonassen

Jennifer Jonassen can remember all too clearly the harassment she faced as a child due to her size. But rather than dieting her way to a size that didn’t fit her or hiding in a cocoon of shame, Jennifer was able to harness her incredible spirit and creativity to become a true force. Today, she is an actress, a writer, a dancer, and an advocate for self-love and size-acceptance. She was also a nominee in this year’s Nourishing Body Image Awards, an honor that was much deserved. I’m excited to share with you my recent interview with Jennifer in which she tells me about how her experience as a fat woman has shaped her passions and career. Prepare to be inspired…

NTS: How would you describe your experience as a fat woman in the world?

Jennifer: I really feel there has been a surge of discrimination lately. Everyone seems to think it is OK to direct hatred toward heavier people. They think it’s justifiable and hide behind the health argument. I find it fascinating that all this anger is directed toward fat people presumably because we are costing so much money. My question is why aren’t they directing that anger towards the government? Why aren’t we demanding universal healthcare? No one seems to be upset that healthcare costs are criminal. Instead that anger is directed toward fat people.

NTS: How would you describe your experience as a fat actress in Hollywood?

Jennifer: It is a challenge. The majority of roles in Hollywood are demeaning. I turn a lot of projects down. And even the ones I choose sometimes turn out to be offensive. It’s frustrating because I want to work. But I also think there are a lot of opportunities opening up as well. As an actress I would like to be offered roles that have nothing whatsoever to do with my weight.

NTS: Tell us about your passion for acting, writing, and dancing. What about these creative expressions excites you? What do you want the world to know?

Jennifer: I have always wanted to perform, but I was always really quiet and shy. Something about theatre excited me and woke me up spiritually. I love writing because a lot of my facade tends to fall away and I get to expose what is really going on inside of me. But dancing! That is pure joy! I always wanted to dance like all little girls, but was discouraged because of my size. More than anything I would like to encourage everyone to dance. We are taught that exercise is painful, hard and punishing. It really doesn’t have to be. It can be euphoric!

NTS: Many individuals really struggle to understand how someone could be happy and healthy at a higher weight. What has your experience with this been, both for yourself and with others’ assumptions?

Jennifer: We have been brainwashed by the media to believe that thinness equals happiness. But my thinner friends have the same struggles in life that I do. Happiness is universal. It is not reserved for a specific size. We all can experience it if we are open to receiving it. For the longest time I thought that because I was fat that meant I would never find love or a relationship. I’m happy to say I was proven wrong. It took a lot of time for me to believe I was worth love. I hope that by sharing my experiences others won’t wait as long as I did to come to this realization.

NTS: Tell us about the upcoming documentary film, “FAT.” What interested you about participating in this project?

Jennifer: You get an incredibly intimate look at my journey to self acceptance. The film features many experts in the field and focuses on three women and our personal stories. The problem is when we attempt to talk about weight, we group everyone into the same category and make dangerous assumptions. If she’s fat, she’s lazy and gluttonous.   The problem with talking about weight in general is that everyone is an individual. There are so many variables: psychological, genetic, physical, economic, social, etc. When we attack someone for being fat verbally it is no different then when we attack someone physically. We are hurting their body and soul.

NTS: You also dance with R.A.I.D., a dance troupe that includes people of all shapes, sizes, and ages. How has R.A.I.D. enhanced your self-esteem and body image?

Jennifer: I think above everything else R.A.I.D. has really been the catalyst for my self-esteem and healthier body image. R.A.I.D. is joyous! R.A.I.D. allows me a freedom to express myself in anyway I feel at the moment: sexy, silly, empowered, strong, but mostly carefree. R.A.I.D. was founded by choreographer Ramie Becker with the simple idea that everyone has a right to dance. R.A.I.D. constantly challenges me physically and mentally.

NTS: Despite discrimination and misunderstanding, what has allowed you to use your body, mind, and spirit to spread a message of size-acceptance, when many others have given up the fight?

Jennifer: When I was in kindergarten I witnessed my mother being made fun of by children because of her weight. I was so angry! I think I decided at that early age to take this battle on. I continue to do it because it is ultimately more important to me than any other thing in my life. I think of the many years I didn’t dance, I didn’t have a boyfriend, I didn’t allow myself to participate fully in life and I keep going because I hope that others can see it is possible for them as well.

To learn more about Jennifer and the amazing projects in which she is involved, check out her website and join her facebook page.

{Photo Credit :: Amy Crilly}