Calista Flockhart Faced a Lot of Media Speculation about Her Weight While Starring in 'Ally McBeal'

In the late 1990s, Calista Flockhart starred as a TV lawyer on the comedy show "Ally McBeal." The role catapulted her Hollywood status but also subjected her to the media's harsh scrutiny based on what her character lacked in the show and her physical appearance.

Born to Kay and Ronald Flockhart, Calista Flockhart drew her first breath in Freeport, Illinois, on November 11, 1964. The actress had been building her career for years, appearing on the theatre stage and in many screen roles, before she starred in the hit comedy series "Ally McBeal."

The show was well-received by comedy lovers, winning the 1998 Best Comedy or Musical Series award at the Golden Globes. Flockhart also received a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the title character in the first season.

While the series gained well-deserved recognition, it wasn't without a few harsh opinions from critics – the bitter end of which was mostly received by Flockhart.

The prominent outcry was that McBeal was neither a sufficient nor accurate representation of feminism; the character didn't take herself seriously enough, as far as critics were concerned.

More disturbingly, however, Flockhart's physical appearance became a hot topic among tabloids and gossip outlets. Many harsh rumors circulated in the media about her slender frame, with some outlets claiming she had an eating disorder.

It was a relentless rumor that persisted even after her friends and colleagues vouched that she was healthy. It peaked after she attended the 1998 Emmy Awards, with speculation going on for weeks, but Flockhart insisted that her diet was normal and healthy. And yet, over a decade later, her tune changed.

Calista Flockhart's Weight Was a Subject of Much Media Speculation

In October 1998, the New York City CBS news station reported that filming for "Ally McBeal" had been abruptly halted due to Flockhart's supposedly deteriorating health. The station claimed the show's star was receiving treatment for anorexia in a clinic.

The report came after Flockhart's appearance at the Emmy Awards ceremony a few days before, when she looked "dangerously thin," as outlets described. Her weight inspired mixed reactions, with some fans expressing concern about her health and others making cruel jokes.

Flockhart's representative responded in a second report from the CBS station, assuring the public that she was in good health and was not undergoing any treatment. In fact, she looked forward to "a bucket of chicken" for dinner, as the representative retorted.

Many others came to Flockhart's defense, but the denial of her concerningly thin frame at the time was not enough to let the hot topic die down. It persisted for some time, and after "Ally McBeal" ended in 2002, Flockhart stepped back from acting for a while.

Calista Flockhart Opened Up about the Frightening Experience of Being under Constant Scrutiny

During an interview shortly after, Flockhart acknowledged the public's concern over her weight, admitting that it had gone down. However, she attributed it to "normal weight fluctuation" after cutting out junk food from her diet. Flockhart insisted her relationship with food was healthy, as she explained:

"But I eat. I eat normally. I eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I don’t have a messed-up relationship with food. Am I anorexic? I guess my answer would have to be no."

Moreover, although she exercised regularly, Flockhart said she'd been born "naturally thin." Still, the media was relentlessly body-shaming her, with the LA-based radio station KROQ suggesting a "Meals for McBeal" drive, delivering truckloads of Ring Dings and Twinkies on her set.

Dr. Kara Alaimo of Hofstra University described the frenzy as "misogynistic" and "inappropriate," adding that it was impossible to diagnose someone's medical state based on outside observation. Flockhart struggled to deal with the unwanted attention, as she explained:

"You open yourself up to such harsh judgment when you go to the Emmys. [...] I felt special that night, and it has really hurt my feelings that everyone has held up that picture [in the Tyler dress] and said it's shocking, horrible, disturbing."

Years Later, Calista Flockhart Admitted She Did Not Eat Properly While Starring as Ally McBeal

In 2012, the former "Supergirl" actress confessed that her diet wasn't healthy during the show. Due to the long filming hours, Flockhart barely ate, but she also overexercised. It was detrimental to her immune system, but she got better after taking a step back from Hollywood.

While Flockhart faced backlash for being too thin and being told to eat more, other celebrities like Lizzo ironically faced criticism for losing weight. However, some fellow actors, such as David Harbour, have undergone weight loss journeys that were integral to their roles.