Some called them "ugly," but these divas triumphed anyway

At some point in their careers, these actresses were belittled by someone in Hollywood. Today, they are not only stars but some are considered some of the most beautiful women on the planet. One example is Jessica Chastain: she is one of Hollywood's most sought-after actresses and won an Oscar for 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' and a Golden Globe for 'Zero Dark Thirty.'

But it hasn't always been that way. In fact, as Jessica Chastain told us in an interview, "I've been called pretty in the industry for the last five years. Before that, I didn't get roles because they told me I wasn't pretty enough."

What was wrong with the actress? According to some enlightened people, it was her hair colour. More than one producer suggested that Jessica Chastain change her red hair, one of her most recognizable features, into blonde. Because that's what Hollywood needs, more blondes.

In 1976, Dino de Laurentiis's son invited Meryl Streep to audition with her father for a role in 'King Kong'. When he saw her, the producer said, in Italian, why he had brought in such a 'brutta' (ugly woman).

The thing is, 26-year-old Meryl Streep knew Italian. She answered the producer in his own language: "I'm sorry I'm not pretty enough to be in King Kong." The role was given to Jessica Lange.

Only three years later, Meryl Streep won her first Oscar. By 1982, she had two awards and four nominations. Today, the actress has 21 nominations and three Academy Awards, by far the best in Hollywood history. Dino was wrong.

Anyone who knew 'Suits' would already have applauded the beauty and class of Meghan Markle as an actress. However, it wasn't always that way.

Meghan Markle told Darling magazine that she used to get a lot of criticism. "One day I wasn't thin enough, or pretty enough, or my features weren't as ethnic as they should be. But the next day, I was too thin, too ethnic, and too pretty."

Singer and actress Selena Gomez is one of those celebrities with many followers on social media while also capturing millions of viewers and listeners around the world. Their reactions to her looks aren't always positive though.

After her appearance at the Golden Globes of 2023, Selena Gomez was body shamed because she was supposedly overweight. Her response? "I'm a little bit big right now because I enjoyed myself during the holidays."

As Gomez reveals, Hollywood tells her on a daily basis that she's "not sexy or special enough." They say that if she were sexier, she'd be "even more loved."

Winona Ryder impressed an entire generation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her roles in 'Beetlejuice', 'Little Women,' and 'Heathers' made her the muse of millions of teenagers.

Despite her innocent beauty, one casting director whose name she never revealed, dared to tell her she wasn't "pretty enough for Hollywood."

This person's proposal? "Go back to school." What a mistake for a casting director. Winona Ryder has recently struck again with 'Stranger Things'. And in case nobody remembers, she has two Oscar nominations in 1993 and 1994.

You may not remember, but Lizzy Caplan had her big break with 'Mean Girls', where she played Janis, LiLo's Gothic friend.

Lizzy Caplan has confessed to feeling isolated and marginalized in Hollywood. A lot of this was to blame on producers who'd call her insufficiently beautiful for the industry.

The series 'Masters of Sex' elevated Lizzy Caplan to television star status with several awards nominations for her role of Virginia. She also had main roles in 'Castle Rock' (2019), 'Truth Be Told' (2019-20), and 'Inside Job' (2021-22). In cinema, he made her mark with 'Now You See Me 2.' So you can see she's not to be underestimated!

Kate Winslet has won many awards, among which are an Oscar (plus six nominations) and five Golden Globes (plus eight nominations).

In spite of her talent, some could not see the inner light that the actress had as a young woman. She tells it herself. "When I was 14 years old, a theater teacher told me that I wouldn't have any difficulties, as long as I was satisfied with playing the roles of fat girls."

The teacher was a real genius, don't you think?

Lea Michele achieved glory and fame with the role of Rachel Berry in the acclaimed series 'Glee.' She was 23 when she debuted in the series. She became a star and one of the world's most desirable women.

Before succeeding, the New York actress had dozens of castings and bad experiences with nasty characters from the industry. One of them was a casting director who recommended that she have a nose job if she wanted to succeed in Hollywood.

When asked about that anonymous person, Lea Michele always sends him the same message: "Wherever you are, go to h***."

Nowadays, Reese Witherspoon is one of Hollywood's most powerful and desired actresses. But that was not always the case for the sympathetic actress.

'Legally Blonde' made her a star and 'Walk the Line' gave her the most relevant awards in the industry (Oscar and Golden Globe included). With 'Big Little Lies' she consolidated her position as a television actress and producer.

Far away are those days when, according to Reese Witherspoon herself, Hollywood told her that "she wasn't pretty enough, tall or smart enough." Reese continued acting anyway. "I'm stubborn," she says.

Sarah Jessica Parker had been in the film industry for a long time when Maxim magazine named her 'The World's Least Sexy Woman' of 2008. Very tough for a bona fide Hollywood star.

Despite Maxim's declaration, most already considered SJP one of the world's most elegant women, an icon of style, and a magnet for the most exclusive brands.

In addition, her Carrie Bradshaw in 'Sex and the City' is legendary in the history of television and fashion.

This actress is, without a doubt, one of the most relevant African-American performers alive. An Oscar plus three more nominations prove that point.

Viola Davis was brilliant on television as Annalise Keating in 'How to Get Away with Murder.' Despite this, many producers say that she "does not fall within the classic canons of beauty."

Viola says she has heard such remarks her entire life. At least now, "they use a soft and sophisticated way of calling me ugly." But we all know they are still way off - in whichever way they say it.