Comedian Sarah Millican has hit back at the Twitter trolls who made her cry after last year’s BAFTAs.
Ahead of this year’s ceremony the 38-year-old, who was nominated for an award back in 2013, has written a column about the criticism she faced about her outfit.
She began: “I am a comedian. You may or may not find me funny, but the fact remains, that I am a comedian. This feels like a defensive start to a column but you will soon understand why”.
Sarah explained that she was “thrilled” to be nominated and heading along to the show, before saying that she and her friend went to John Lewis to look for her dress.
“Fancy expensive designer shops are out of me as I’m a size 18, sometimes 20, and I therefore do not count as a woman to them… We knew which one was the right one as soon as I swished back the curtain and both my friend and I oohed”.
It wasn’t long before the night itself arrived: “The red carpet is very intimidating, although I garnered a few laughs when I replied to the “Who are you wearing?” question with “John Lewis” and the “Where did you get your dress?” question with “The Trafford Centre”.
“I had a few awkward photos taken by the wall of paparazzi. Awkward as I’m not a model (I’m a comedian), have never learnt how to pose on a red carpet (I’m a comedian) and I have pretty low self-esteem”.
After the show, on her way home, Sarah went on to Twitter where she was happy to see people saying she was robbed in her category. Something she wasn’t so happy about was the amount of criticism she was receiving about her appearance.
“I was fat and ugly as per usual. My dress (the one that caused ooohs in a department store fitting room?) was destroyed by the masses. I looked like a nana, my dress was disgusting, was it made out of curtains, why was I wearing black shoes with it. I cried. I cried in the car.
“And that wasn’t the end. The next day, I was in newspapers pilloried for what I was wearing. I was discussed and pulled apart on Lorraine… I’m sorry. I thought I had been invited to such an illustrious even because I am good at my job. Putting clothes on is such a small part of my day.”
That day, Sarah made a promise to herself that if she was ever nominated or invited back to the BAFTAs, she would wear the same dress as an act of defiance. While that is the case, she is actually working on the night of the ceremony this year.
You can read Sarah’s full column at the Radio Times website here.
Sarah on the red carpet at last year’s BAFTAs.
