NEWSGabourey Sidibe Opens Up on 'Vanity Fair' Hollywood Cover
Feb. 17 2010, Published 9:22 a.m. ET
Breakout star Gabourey Sidibe has been revered, nominated and awarded for her heart-wrenching portrayal as Precious Jones in the Oscar-nominated film Precious Based on the Novel Push By Sapphire. She also received a Oscar nod for Best Actress for her breakthrough role in the moving drama. Gabourey opened up to Access Hollywood about the controversial Vanity Fair Hollywood cover, and admits her exclusion crossed her mind.
“At first I thought, ‘Hmm, should I be there? ” she told Access Hollywood at Monday's Oscar Luncheon. “Then I very quickly got over it. I think if I were a part of that shoot I would have felt a little left out anyway.”
Gabourey was featured inside the magazine with co-star Mo'Nique and director Lee Daniels, and felt content with her presence in the spread.
“Was I satisfied? Yeah, well… I mean, I come from a world where I’m not on covers and I’m not in magazines at all,” she said. “And so I was happy to be in the magazine.
Gabourey continued that if she was chosen for the cover, which included up-and-coming young stars Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan, Abbie Cornish, Amanda Seyfried and Anna Kendrick, she would have wondered whether she fit in.
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“I would have felt a little like… whether or not I should have been there,” she told Access. “It doesn’t matter, because I wasn’t on it and I’m excited to be mentioned anywhere, and it doesn’t matter to me where I’m not mentioned.”
Vanity Fair was caught amid a media firestorm for the lack of diversity on their Young Hollywood Cover. Gabourey, Avatar's Zoe Saldana or Freida Pinto are actresses from diverse backgrounds who some feel should have been considered for the shoot.
Gabourey has maintained her modesty and doesn't let negative attention bother her. She is confident with herself.
“It was a long transition,” she said. “It was so long ago that I don’t exactly remember how I got there. I’m just grateful that I am there because so many people go through this — beautiful people, gorgeous people — don’t feel it, don’t feel as if they’re gorgeous and I think it’s really sad and I’m glad that I happen to be one of the people who does feel it.”
