Battlestar Galacticaactress Katee Sackhoff recently shared her candid thoughts about the problematic way she was treated during a photoshoot. A main member oftheBattlestar Galacticacast, Sackhoff played Viper pilot Kara “Starbuck” Thrace throughout all four seasons of the show.
Yesterday,Sackhofftook to Instagram to share images from a photoshoot she posed in withBattlestar Galacticaco-stars Tricia Helfer and Grace Park. In the post,Sackhoff described the hurt she felt after a costumer referred to her as “the big girl”, saying, “I felt humiliated. Exposed. Disgusting.”
The Starbuck actress continued to say thatthough this was the most confrontational comment on her body, it was not an isolated incident, and that this behavior speaks to the darker side of the Hollywood industryas a whole. Sackhoff concluded her post by saying that she is committed to raising her daughter to feel “powerful” — “Because I deserved better. And so does she.” Check out Sackhoff’s post below:
The Starbuck Actress’s Experience Is Upsettingly Common
You don’t have to be a Hollywood insider to know that actresses' bodies are scrutinized to an alarming degree, and even though society has come a long way since Sackhoff’s photoshoot 20 years ago,the entertainment industry’s obsession with female thinness remains pervasive.
No matter her size, it was wildly inappropriate for someone to address Sackhoff in such a demeaning manner. What makes the wardrobe person’s comments even more disturbing is that Sackhoff wore a “6/8” dress size but was treated as though she were “massive.”
If it were one person making these comments to Sackhoff, that would be bad enough. But the fact that Sackhoff had been hearing versions of them throughout her entire career, which dates back to her teenage years, is horrifying, as was the fact thatshe was conditioned to think it was “part of the job.”
Why Katee Sackhoff Sharing Her Experience Is So Important
While nobody should feel obligated to reveal abuse they’ve endured, in Hollywood or any other industry,Sackhoff shining a light on Hollywood’s toxicity is a big rallying cry that the treatment she received at the photoshoot is not okay. Based on her comments, Sackhoff was taught that she just had to grin and bear it, and this is undoubtedly the experience of countless other actresses.
In addition to Sackhoff’s courageous candidness, it’s heartening to see the wave of support she’s received from other actresses. HerBattlestar Galacticaco-starTricia Helfer, who’s also in the photo, commented with several hand-clapping emojis.
Buffy the Vampire Slayeractress Charisma Carpenter said, “You’re f***ing perfect! ✨ I’m sorry you were made to feel anything other than that. Keep shining!”. Carpenter had previously come forward withallegations ofBuffycreator Joss Whedon’s workplace abuse.
Many of us grew up watchingBattlestar Galactica.But while it’s tragic that such gross mistreatment was reported behind the scenes, Katee Sackhoff’s revelations will hopefully make things safer for future actresses.
Battlestar Galactica
Cast
Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that premiered in 2004. The plot follows the crew of the aging Battlestar Galactica as they protect a small fleet of human survivors from the renewed threat of the Cylons, in a quest to find the mythical 13th colony, Earth.
