Rosie O'Donnell name-drops A-lister over weight remark
Rosie O'Donnell has named the A-lister who told her to "lose 20 pounds" on the "A League of Their Own" set: late director Penny Marshall. Amid rosie o8217donnell namedrops alister buzz, the comedian told People she now wishes she had enjoyed the size she was then.
Key Takeaways
- O'Donnell said Penny Marshall told her to "lose 20 pounds" while filming "A League of Their Own."
- She shared the memory with People while discussing a recent 60-pound weight loss.
- The 64-year-old began Mounjaro in 2023 for Type 2 diabetes and says she feels healthier.
- Marshall died in December 2018 at 75; O'Donnell has also praised her support of women's sports.
Who told Rosie O'Donnell to lose 20 pounds?
According to Page Six, O'Donnell recalled Marshall saying, "Rosie, I want you to lose 20 pounds," during production of the baseball classic.
Her quick reply, she said, was: "You think I carry it around for fun, Penny?" The remark came from the film's director, not a co-star, which is why the name-drop landed as a surprise for fans following celebrity breaking news.
Why is she revisiting the comment now?
O'Donnell tied the story to how her body image shaped her career. "It's very strange to just buy a pair of jeans that fit," she told People. "When I would do late-night, my biggest concern wasn't my set — it was, did I look fat?"
Looking back, she added: "When I look back, I go, 'God, I wish I could have enjoyed the size I was.'"
She began taking Mounjaro in 2023 to treat Type 2 diabetes and has since lost about 60 pounds. She said she feels "much healthier, more powerful in my own physicality," even while noting she is "the same weight" as she was during the movie.
How did O'Donnell describe Penny Marshall beyond the set remark?
The former talk-show host has also spoken warmly about Marshall. In January, on the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast, she called the late filmmaker a "woman's sports freak" and described her as a kind of "closeted feminist" who strongly supported women athletes.
"She made a profound impact on women's sports in the history of the United States because of that movie," O'Donnell said, noting Halloween visitors still dress as her "A League of Their Own" character, Doris Murphy.
Marshall died in December 2018 at age 75 from heart disease and diabetes. O'Donnell's new comments put an old Hollywood body-pressure moment back in the spotlight — and name the A-lister behind it.