Egoli fans abuzz over fat Maggie
2007-10-10 09:36
Johannesburg - The M-Net soapie Egoli has had viewers buzzing the past few weeks with its storyline on obesity.
Some viewers were very sympathetic and supportive about the character Maggie (portrayed by Michelle Ayden) while others were upset because the sub-plot supposedly discriminated against obese people.
One upset viewer had even lodged a complaint with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) about the story being insensitive towards the obese.
One of the respondents on the soapie's internet forum even referred to the character as a "globally fat woman".
But, said the producers, the sub-plot involving Maggie and Koert (Ivan Zimmermann) had been included precisely to illustrate that obesity was a problem in society.
Problem brought to attention of viewers
Franz Kalp, the leading scriptwriter, said they'd wanted to move outside the usually glamorous aura of soapie plots to bring this problem to the attention of viewers.
"We were trying to reflect the true feelings and reactions of most people against the very obese, and the storyline emphasised this.
"But we also wanted to show that these reactions and feelings could change when they got to know the real person in the overweight body."
In the story Koert initially falls in love with the voice on his computer, Maggie's voice.
When he finally traces and later meets her, he's frightened off by seeing how obese she is and heads for the hills, but later on he falls in love with (the real) her.
Encouraged to lose weight
Ayden, who sits in her bedroom with this character in a fat suit, and can't get out of her room, said the role was a tremendous challenge and it spurred her to check her own weight.
"Strangely enough just before I got the role I'd been to a doctor who warned me against my cholesterol levels."
The story was enough encouragement for her to start her own exercise programme, like her character in the soapie, and get rid of the extra kilos.
"The role was a really enjoyable challenge, because I had no idea how the public would respond to the character."
"But luckily most viewers have been very supportive up to now, and that helps a lot."
Burgert Muller, Egoli executive producer said they were very proud of Ayden, who'd been inspired by her character to lose weight.
Ayden said viewers could look forward to some dramatic twists that lay ahead in the development of her character.