Alicia Silverstone recalls ‘hurtful’ body-shaming while filming Batman & Robin: ‘I knew they were wrong’

Actor was dubbed ‘Fatgirl’ in the tabloid press amid claims that she was struggling to fit into her costume

Alicia Silverstone has recalled being body-shamed by the media while filming Batman & Robin, calling her treatment “hurtful”.

The Clueless actor played Batgirl in the maligned superhero movie, and was dubbed “Fatgirl” in the tabloid press amid claims that she was overeating on set and struggling to fit into her costume.

Speaking to The Guardian, Silverstone said that the movie “definitely wasn’t my favourite film-making experience”.

“They would make fun of my body when I was younger,” she explained. “It was hurtful but I knew they were wrong. I wasn’t confused. I knew that it was not right to make fun of someone’s body shape, that doesn’t seem like the right thing to be doing to a human.”

Silverstone starred alongside George Clooney, Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1997 comic book adaptation, which led to her winning a Worst Supporting Actress award at the 1998 Razzies.

The film saw her play the visiting niece of Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred (Michael Gough), who dons a cape and cowl to assist Batman and Robin.

In a separate interview with Collider, Silverstone attempted to remember positive things about the movie.

“I mean, I loved all my scenes with Michael Gough,” she said. “Michael Gough is a dream and I just love that man so much. So, you know, just being with him was incredible and lovely.

“I’m trying to think what else I’d be proud of. I mean, I like it when I get to do the fighting scenes with Uma Thurman. That’s fun. But I’d like to do it all over again as this woman! I think it would be much better now.”

After underperforming at the box office and opening to dismal reviews, Batman & Robin put the long-running franchise on ice until Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins in 2005.