‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star Reveals She Was Told To Lose Weight Before Landing Her Iconic Role
Pamela Roylance became part of television history when she joined the cast of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ during its ninth season, but the actress recently revealed that getting the role was not as simple as just giving a strong audition. Before she was chosen to play Sarah Carter, Roylance said she was asked to make a personal change before meeting the show’s producers.
Roylance discussed her experience during an appearance on ‘The Patrick Labyorteaux Show’, hosted by former ‘Little House on the Prairie’ actor Patrick Labyorteaux. The actress explained that she was working at a chocolate factory when she was called in to audition, and her job made it difficult to avoid the sweet treats around her.
At the time, Roylance said she was only slightly above the weight she believed the production wanted for the role. She explained that she had an athletic build and did not fit the traditional image that some casting teams expected from female actors at the time.
“I’m a bit overweight. I’m eating the chocolates a lot,” Roylance said during the interview. She added that she was around six pounds heavier than what the casting team wanted.
During the audition process, Roylance said a casting director liked her performance but gave her some advice before moving forward. The actress recalled being told that she needed to lose some weight before she could return for another meeting.
“You’re good and I want to have you come back in, but you’re a little heavy to be on the prairie. You’ve got to be a little thinner,” Roylance remembered the casting director telling her.
The actress decided to follow the advice and worked toward meeting the requested change. After doing so, she returned for another audition and eventually secured the role of Sarah Carter on the popular drama series.
Roylance joined ‘Little House on the Prairie’ near the end of its original run, appearing as Sarah Carter, a character who became part of the show’s later storyline. The series was based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and became one of the most recognizable family dramas in television history.
The actress also reflected on how intense the popularity of the show was for some of its younger stars. Patrick Labyorteaux, who hosted the interview, previously shared stories about the level of attention his brother Matthew Labyorteaux received while playing Albert Ingalls.
Matthew became one of the most popular young actors on the series, and Patrick recalled a moment when fans surrounded his brother during a visit to a Renaissance fair. According to Patrick’s story, Matthew was simply trying to enjoy a turkey leg when a group of fans recognized him.
“Albert down! Albert down!” Patrick recalled his friend saying as they noticed the crowd around Matthew.
Patrick explained that while the attention might have seemed exciting from the outside, Matthew was overwhelmed by the sudden attention.
“This is a dream come true to Al and I, but to my brother, it was a nightmare,” Patrick said.
Decades after ‘Little House on the Prairie’ ended, stories from the cast continue to interest fans who grew up watching the beloved series. Roylance’s latest comments offer another behind-the-scenes look at what actors experienced while trying to become part of the iconic show.
Do you think actors should ever be asked to change their appearance to get a role?
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