From Ridley Scott to diddly-squat: Nadia Sawalha reveals she turned down a role in epic movie Gladiator opposite Russell Crowe because she 'felt too fat'

By Andrew Bullock For Mailonline

Published: 13:53 GMT, 24 February 2017 | Updated: 15:57 GMT, 24 February 2017

Last summer, her sister Julia made a leap from the small screen to the silver screen as Saffy Monsoon in Ab Fab: The Movie.

But Hollywood was not to be for Nadia Sawalha, who has revealed that her insecurities held her back from potential movie stardom. 

Having appeared on British TV in the likes of EastEnders and Benidorm, before finding her niche as a long-term Loose Women presenter, the 52-year-old admitted on Friday that she was invited to meet Ridley Scott in LA, who was casting Gladiator at the time.

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From Ridley Scott to diddly-squat: Nadia Sawalha reveals she turned down a role in epic movie Gladiator opposite Russell Crowe because she 'felt too fat'

Talking to fellow panellists Andrea McLean, Kaye Adams and guest panellist Jennie McAlpine, the brunette bombshell said: 'I got a call from a friend and she said she knew a small role that would be perfect for me and that I just had to fly out and meet this director.'

Struggling to actually recall who the director was at first, she added: 'A really really famous director, it will come back to me, I can’t remember now!'

Elaborating, she said: 'The first thing I thought was "Oh my god, I’m going out there and I’ve practically got the part, this is a dream come true". It was that movie that had the gladiators in.'

'Gladiator?' asked Kaye, going for the obvious choice.

'That's it,' Nadia confirmed, before going on: 'I said to myself, "I can’t go" because I thought I was too fat!'

Not meant to be: Hollywood was not to be for Nadia Sawalha, who has revealed that her insecurities held her back from potential movie stardom

Not meant to be: Hollywood was not to be for Nadia Sawalha, who has revealed that her insecurities held her back from potential movie stardom

Regrets? Adding to the shocking admission, Nadia explained her excuse at the time for turning down the huge opportunity - 'I pretended I was shooting this great big series and it meant I couldn’t go along to the audition'

Adding to the shocking admission, Nadia explained her excuse at the time for turning down the huge opportunity: 'I pretended I was shooting this great big series and it meant I couldn’t go along to the audition.'

The others mourned the fact that their friend could have been in the Oscar-winning movie which was released in 2000 and grossed $457.6 million at the box office worldwide.

'From Ridley Scott to diddly-squat,' Andrea quipped. 

Missed opportunity: The others mourned the fact that their friend could have been in the Oscar-winning movie which was released in 2000 and grossed $457.6 million at the box office worldwide

Missed opportunity: The others mourned the fact that their friend could have been in the Oscar-winning movie which was released in 2000 and grossed $457.6 million at the box office worldwide

 'From Ridley Scott to diddly-squat,' Andrea quipped.

Lack of confidence: Having appeared on British TV in the likes of EastEnders and Benidorm, before finding her niche as a long-term Loose Women presenter, the 52-year-old admitted on Friday that she was invited to meet Ridley Scott in LA, who was casting Gladiator at the time

Never look back: The Loose Ladies attempted to make Nadia feel better for the decision - by superimposing her head onto the poster of the movie

Gladiator won multiple awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Crowe, and three other Academy Awards at the 73rd Academy Awards.

It was also credited with rekindling interest in films centered around ancient Greek and Roman culture.

The Loose Ladies attempted to make Nadia feel better for the decision - by superimposing her head onto the poster of the movie.

Dazzling: She was sure to get a confidence boost, however, when later on the show she donned her 14-year-old wedding dress - which still fit

Dazzling: She was sure to get a confidence boost, however, when later on the show she donned her 14-year-old wedding dress - which still fit

Looking good: 'Well I was pregnant at the time,' she admitted, before suggesting there was a mouse living in the dress

Looking good: 'Well I was pregnant at the time,' she admitted, before suggesting there was a mouse living in the dress

She was sure to get a confidence boost, however, when later on the show she donned her 14-year-old wedding dress - which still fit!

'Well I was pregnant at the time,' she admitted, before suggesting there was a mouse living in the dress.

Kaye was a little distracted however. 'I can’t stop looking at her bosom!' she said.

 

 

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