Kat Dennings recently opened up about the harsh and ‘insane’ comments she received from directors when she began her acting career as a child.
Known for her roles as Max Black in “2 Broke Girls” and Darcy Lewis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dennings is now starring in ABC’s “Shifting Gears” where she plays a leading role.
Despite her success, Dennings’ journey in the industry has not been without its challenges.
In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, she discussed how she learned from an early age to dismiss her critics.
“The time that I was auditioning and starting to act, it was a very different environment than it is now,” she shared. “There was not a lot of inclusivity at all. It was very harsh. There was a lot of extremely negative feedback and people would not hold back.”
Describing the unkind treatment from some directors, Dennings recounted that they often used ‘very cruel’ language toward her.
Reflecting on those experiences, she said: “It was pretty crazy thinking about it. I’m like, ‘How can anyone say that about a little kid? This is insane.’ For example, I was 12. I’d go into an audition and I’d do it, and my manager would call me and I’d be like, ‘How’d it go?’
“And they’d be like, ‘Well, they thought you weren’t pretty enough and you’re fat.’
Instead of being disheartened by these remarks, Dennings chose to reject their criticisms and prove them wrong.
“That was my attitude. For some reason, it didn’t break my spirit. I was like, ‘I’ll show them,'” she explained.
“I guess props to my parents, because they were like, ‘They’re idiots. Don’t listen to them.’ And I was like, ‘They’re idiots, I’m not.'”
Dennings acknowledged that while the past was challenging, the industry has improved, becoming ‘much softer’ in her view.
“There’s body positivity, there’s inclusivity, there’s representation, and there was none of that before. It was really gross,” she remarked.
In “Shifting Gears,” Dennings acts alongside Tim Allen, portraying Matt’s estranged daughter, Riley.
“He’s Santa Claus [The Santa Clause films] and Buzz Lightyear,” Dennings said of Allen to People.
“He’s a big part of my consciousness growing up, so it was very surreal to work with him, but in a great way, because he’s a very kind person.”