Only 14 plus-size actresses nominated for award in 5 years

In recent years, women in the film industry have been hitting out at the gender pay gap, which sees them being paid less than their male counterparts. 

Now a new study reveals how women in entertainment are also being quietly discriminated against because of their size.  

Analysis by plus size fashion retailer navabi looked at nominees for the Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes and film and TV Baftas over the course of the last five years, and found that a mere 10 per cent of the female stars were a UK size 16 (US 12).

No woman who is a size 16 or larger has won the Best Actress Oscar or Bafta in the past five years, while just seven – including Melissa McCarthy, Patricia Arquette, Wunmi Mosaku and Sarah Lancashire – have scooped major awards.

No plus-sized women has won a leading lady gong at the Baftas for five years, and size 16 actresses have received just two out of 25 nominations in the last five years.

Miranda Hart has been nominated for TV Baftas for her comedy show Miranda. Meryl Streep who is a UK 16 or a US 12 has been nominated multiple times in the past five years

Queen Latifa was nominated for an Emmy for her role in Bessie (left) while Christina Hendricks received a nod at the Emmy’s for her role in Mad Men in 2015 

A size 16 may be the average UK dress size, but only 14 per cent of nominees for a TV Bafta are a size 16 or above, and it’s a worse picture for the film awards at just six per cent. 

The Golden Globes comes out top for women of UK size 16 to 28, with previous female actors nominated including Chrissy Metz and Queen Latifah.

Bethany Rutter, Social Media Manager at navabi said: ‘With the average woman in the UK wearing a size 16, what we’re seeing is that these prestigious awards ceremonies, which celebrate achievement and art, are overlooking the contributions and talents of plus size women.

‘If more plus size women are represented, not only in terms of nominations but acting roles available, it will help promote positive body image and aspirations among young women of all shapes and sizes which is vitally important.’