Comedian Daisy May Cooper has revealed that she lost 10 stone following changes to her mental health medication. The This Country star expressed concerns that her new appearance might alter how the industry perceives her comedic talent.
The 10-stone weight loss linked to quetiapine
Daisy May Cooper, known for her role in This Country, recently shared that her significant physical transformation was a byproduct of managing her mental health. As Daisy told the Times, she had been taking quetiapine tablets to treat anxiety and depression, which caused intense hunger and subsequent weight gain.
The comedian noted that the weight gain made daily tasks difficult, stating she could not climb stairs without sweating. As the report mentions, she felt "most miserable" at her heaviest. After deciding to stop the quetiapine medication, the weight "fell off," leading to her current , more glamorous appearance seen in recent appearances like Last One Laughing.
The fear of being 'scratched off' comedic lists
Despite her physical transformation, Cooper has voiced anxieties regarding her professional longevity.. She expressed a specific concern that being thinner might lead casting directors to view her differently, asking, "Will I be scratched off people's lists when they go, 'She can't be the funny big one?'"
This anxiety highlights a recurring issue in the entertainment industry where women are often pigeonholed by their body type. However, several questions remain unaddressed by the report. It is currently unknown if casting directors have actually changed their approach to her, or if her professional workload has seen a measurable shift. Furthermore, while she mentions a "new cohort of trolls," the specific scale and nature of this digital backlash remains unverified.
Handing social media management to a PA
The comedian has also had to change how she interacts with her audience due to a new wave of online harassment. According to the report, the weight loss has attracted a "whole new cohort of trolls" who target her based on her new look.
Speaking on the BBC podcast How To Be In The Spotlight,Cooper revealed that she no longer manages her own social media accounts, instead delegating the task to a personal assistant (PA).. This move comes after receiving messages suggesting that her loss of weight equates to a loss of comedic ability.
The outdated trope of the 'funny fat woman'
Cooper’s experience points to a broader, frustrating trend in media where female comedians are often expected to maintain a certain body type to remain "relatable" or "funny." She challenged this notion directly, questioning why women are expected to be larger to achieve comedic success.
While Cooper champions body positivity, she noted that her own journey was driven by a desrie to feel better rather than aesthetic trends. she stated, "I champion anybody. I think everybody should be happy with their body. But I wasn't." This distinction is vital: her journey wasn't a rejection of body positivity, but a pursuit of personal health after medication-induced changes.
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