This Week in Gabourey Sidibe, Week 1 of 3

In what I hope will become a regular feature, we find out what's new and what's happening with Gabourey Sidibe, the young Oscar nominee who wowed us with her debut performance in Precious, which I insist people refer to by its full title, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire.

Gabourey Sidibe | The HF Magazine

This week in Gabourey Sidibe, Gaby stars in Tower Heist, which opened in New Zealand on Boxing Day. She is not given much to do in the film, except play a broad Jamaican stereotype. She definitely got laughs when I saw the film play to a big crowd north of Auckland. It was a relief to see people laughing along with her NOT at her, although she doesn't have the best comedic timing.

I couldn't tell you precisely why I have taken such an active interest in her career. It's probably a combination of her winning personality, her awards pedigree and her size. All of which makes her so uniquely positioned in Hollywood.

I hope that Hollywood know exactly what to do with her talent and don't give her the flatulent and falling over role in a comedy just because she's fat.

Had she won the Oscar, she would have had to live up to the promise of winning an award at a young age, which can so often be a burden for a young actor ala Anna Paquin, Jennifer Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Marissa Tomei.

Luckily though, she is free to make a comedic turn as a randy maid in a movie like Tower Heist. Given her penchant for comedy, it was, while a low brow choice, a good step toward gaining traction in the mainstream.

My parents know who she is now.