With her safety pin earrings, nose piercing, and auburn-tinged hair, Ivy Snitzer exudes a captivating screen presence, even when communicating through Zoom. However, her face remained hidden from view in the acclaimed movie. Now, she operates an insurance agency in Philadelphia. In a noteworthy turn of events, Snitzer served as Gwyneth Paltrow’s body double for the character Rosemary in the 2001 film Shallow Hal.
While Paltrow donned a fat suit for scenes that showcased her visage, Snitzer’s physique took center stage for the intimate shots capturing Rosemary’s arms, midsection, and thighs.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Stunt Double Wanted To Be Funny
Back then, Ivy Snitzer, a 20-year-old pursuing acting studies in Los Angeles, nursed dreams of carving a path as an actor or a comedian. “Mostly, I just wanted to be funny,” she reflects. In an interesting twist, a fellow participant from her improv class contacted her, intrigued by a certain opportunity. Even now, the exact wording of the casting call for Shallow Hal eludes Snitzer’s memory.
Without any lingering queries, she accompanied her friend to a designated space where casting directors snapped several photographs. Within a day, a callback beckoned – she found herself seated with the film’s directors, the Farrelly brothers, in a casual dialogue.
Having shed a considerable amount of weight since then, Snitzer recalls her time on set for the film without any negative recollections. The ensemble and the crew accorded her a sense of significance, making her feel indispensable to the movie’s production. During the moments when her physique was in focus, Snitzer felt completely at ease. She has warm words for Black, characterizing him as a delightful individual, and she also found Gwyneth Paltrow to be genuinely pleasant (Paltrow frequently praised Snitzer’s acting abilities).
But, she says, “it didn’t occur to me that the film would be seen by millions of people”. And when Shallow Hal was released, “it was like the worst parts about being fat were magnified. And no one was telling me I was funny.”
The film’s jests about size never struck her as offensive, given that she herself was accustomed to making similar jokes.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Stunt Double Received Backlash For Her Remarks
As part of the film’s promotional efforts, Snitzer received invitations for television and magazine interviews. While she was initially enthusiastic about these opportunities, she swiftly grasped that they inadvertently opened the door for strangers to approach her in public. Some individuals were incensed by Snitzer’s statement that “It is not the worst thing in the world to be fat,” accusing her of endorsing obesity.
A disconcerting incident involved someone managing to obtain her address and sending her diet pills. Amidst such encounters, there were also expressions of affection – a symphony composed specifically for her arrived in the form of a heartfelt love letter.
Returning to New York, she resettled in her parents’ residence and took on the role of a bartender, intermittently taking the stage for comedy gigs, and briefly trying her hand as a catering waiter.
Source: The Guardian
