After all these years, I don’t think there’s ever been a more charismatic or relatable Rizzo than Stockard Channing.
Channing was a great artist and her singing was just fantastic in Grease – but nowadays, the 80-year-old looks almost unrecognizable.
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The first movie I ever saw Stockard Channing in was called The Big Bus and I thought it was hilarious. But back then, I could never imagine that she would go on and have such a remarkable career.
Today, Stockard Channing is best known for her iconic portrayal of Betty Rizzo in Grease, the 1978 American musical romantic comedy film based on the 1971 musical of the same name. Like many before me have pointed out, Channing was by far the best Rizzo out of all that have played the part.
Many probably also recognize Channing from the series The West Wing, where she starred as First Lady Abbey Bartlet. The experienced actress was praised for her instant chemistry with Martin Sheen, who played President Josiah Barlet.
“It just worked,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2020.
“We had this chemistry from the beginning. I don’t know what it was, but we had it and it didn’t go away. It was a happy accident.”
Starring as Beth Rizzo
But let’s take a deeper look at the highlight of Channing’s career. Because in the name of honesty, she hasn’t appeared in any major motion picture since Grease, even though she has continued to act in films and on Broadway.
The 13-time Emmy Award nominee and seven-time Tony Award nominee appears to be totally fine with being most remembered for her portrayal of bad girl Beth Rizzo, one of the Pink Ladies in Grease.
But is that really the whole truth?
Back in 1973, Channing had little breakthrough starring in the TV-movie The Girl Most Likely to…, a black comedy about revenge.
“A lot of people talk about the G-word [Grease] and all of that, but back in the day, I had as many people stop me in the street about that one movie. Because it’s about revenge, and people would sit in their living rooms and go, ‘Oh, I’m the only person watching this’ or ‘this person understands me.’ I’m not kidding. It was a million years ago, and then it was the highest-rated movie of the week. Revenge always works,” she says.
According to Channing, she has only watched Grease only two times.
“I used to be grumpy about Grease because I thought it was a kids’ movie or something. But now it’s sort of amazing. I’m very proud of it,” she told The Times in 2019.
The Manhattan-born actress was 33 years old when she played Rizzo and playing a high school teenager wasn’t so easy for her.
”I was so much older than she was in life, but I could not think about that so I sort of threw myself back to what I felt when I was her age over, even younger. The complexity of adolescents and hormones and sexuality and all of that other stuff. Seeing that I really was older I think that added to the isolation of Rizzo,” Channing told Broadway World.
Channing, who became interested in acting at an early age, was thrilled when she was offered the role of Rizzo, and her performance made her a top-ranking star in the late 1970s. She earned a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Supporting Actress, but the New York native had difficulty achieving similar success after Grease.
The beloved actress was handed two sitcoms of her own, Stockard Channing in Just Friends (1979) and The Stockard Channing Show (1980), but neither was successful and her career halted.
But with her look of Elizabeth Taylor and air of calm confidence, Channing didn’t give up and she continued to work as an actress, appearing in many highly-praised movies and stage plays. Her latest appearance on the big screen came was in Angry Neighbors, which premiered in 2022.
The entire school used to mock this nine-year-old girl because of her weight but look at her now!
Breanna Bond’s journey embodies the poignant narrative of confronting childhood obesity head-on and discovering the empowering potential of determination, encouragement, and embracing a healthy lifestyle.
Since her earliest years, Breanna faced the cruelty of her peers due to her weight. Even as a young student in elementary school, she stood out as heavier than her classmates, weighing in at forty-five kilograms when she started first grade.
As time passed, her weight continued to climb, reaching an alarming eighty-four kilograms by the age of nine.
The relentless teasing and bullying at school left Breanna feeling isolated and disheartened. Every day she returned home, emotionally battered and on the verge of tears, a casualty of the unkindness she encountered.
The root of Breanna’s weight struggles stemmed from her family’s dietary habits, which leaned heavily on sweets and junk food. Regular visits to fast food joints and indulging in calorie-rich snacks took a toll on her health and well-being.
Concerned for their daughter’s welfare, Breanna’s parents sought medical advice, hoping to find a solution to her escalating weight gain.
After consulting with a nutritionist, Breanna and her family embarked on a transformative journey. They bid farewell to sugary treats and processed snacks, opting instead for nourishing, wholesome foods. Exercise became a staple of their routine, with family walks and organized sports taking precedence over sedentary activities.
The road to change was challenging. Breanna grappled with fatigue and hunger as she adjusted to her new lifestyle. There were moments of frustration and resentment, especially towards her parents for depriving her of her favorite treats.
However, Breanna persisted, driven by an unwavering determination to reclaim her health and happiness.
Gradually, their efforts bore fruit. Breanna’s once-round figure began to slim down, her confidence soaring with each passing day. Her classmates took notice, trading taunts for admiration.
In the swimming pool, an old friend failed to recognize her, so profound was her transformation. In just a year, Breanna shed an impressive thirty-five kilograms, a testament to her resilience.
But Breanna’s journey wasn’t just about physical change; it was a voyage of self-discovery and empowerment. Fueled by newfound confidence, Breanna excelled in sports, earning a spot on the school’s cheerleading squad and even participating in the Teen Olympic Games.
Today, Breanna stands as a symbol of hope for those grappling with obesity, her story serving as inspiration for many. With humility and kindness, she shares her experiences, offering support and guidance to those on a similar journey to wellness.
Through her grit and determination, Breanna proves that no challenge is insurmountable and that with dedication and perseverance, anything is achievable.
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