Portia de Rossi has opened up about the showbusiness industry's beauty standards, including how they contributed towards her eating disorder. The 42-year-old, who is married to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, admitted that she was "affected" by the unrealistic expectations, and opened up about the ongoing pressures of ageing in Hollywood.
Portia de Rossi has spoken candidly about the industry's beauty standards
"I was obviously very affected by it," the Arrested Development actress revealed during an appearance on Australia's Today show.
The Australian star, who has overcome her struggles with the issue, did added that in recent years she has started to see positive changes being made in the way women are portrayed on screen.
"It's funny because 20 years ago I would have said absolutely," she replied when asked if the industry was still setting unrealistic standards for women. "But because of people like Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope and because of Shonda Rhimes, my other boss on Scandal, I think they're bringing stories to light that are more relatable and they're writing better roles for women."
Portia continued to explain that while viewers want a more realistic and positive body image portrayed onscreen, there is still a long way to go because the pressure to conform "still exists", particularly for the younger generation.
Portia is married to comedienne and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres
"Now people want to see themselves," she said. "They don't just want to look at a pretty young thing as much as they want to see themselves reflected and to see life as it really evolves.
"It's a very interesting time... but obviously [the pressure] still exists, it does exist to a degree and I think it's worse for really young girls."
Portia has previously spoken candidly about her eating disorder, revealing it was when she began modelling as a young teen that she felt "tremendous responsibility" to lose weight.
"I felt tremendous responsibility when I was 12 years old and I was put on a catwalk," she confessed during TV series It Got Better. "My modelling agents had told me to go on a diet. So I didn't eat for 10 days before then."