'Fat actress' strips for Oprah
2006-11-07 07:25
Chicago - Kirstie Alley was once the "fat actress". But she donned a bikini to show off her new shape on Monday's broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
To the sounds of the Commodores' Brick House Alley, 55, strutted out onto the stage in a maroon bikini - fulfilling a pledge she made to Oprah about a year ago.
Alley, who is 1.73, has lost 34kg after hitting a high of 99kg. Her weight gain was documented in various unflattering paparazzi photographs.
Alley said she never would have had the courage to wear a bikini on stage when she was 30 years old, despite being slender.
"I think women - I don't think we ever feel like we're good enough. We don't feel like we're thin enough or pretty enough or smart enough or work hard enough. And we are good enough.
"The bikini thing is neither here nor there, other than the fact, you know, I am 55 years old. So I thought - come on, we are all good enough. And we look good enough. And we are not our bodies."
Alley, a spokesperson for the Jenny Craig diet programme, starred on Showtime's reality-comedy series Fat Actress. Her best known role is as Rebecca Howe on Cheers.
She joked about the "stripper hose" she had bought to flatter her legs - and how she had initially wanted to wear them up to her neck.
She said she's learned how to make smart choices when dining out. For exercise, she dances and works out with a personal trainer. She's also quit smoking.
"We can decide to change anything - at any age," Alley said. "What I hope for all women is they feel good about themselves, they look the way they want to look."
On the net:
www.oprah.com
- AP