Victoria Beckham may experience conflicting emotions as she tunes into this year’s Olivier Awards, where her former stage school principal, Betty Laine, will accept the Industry Recognition prize in April.
Beckham’s Claims of Fat-Shaming at Theatre School
The 51-year-old former Spice Girl attended Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey, from ages 17 to 20. In her 2001 memoir Learning To Fly, Beckham recounted an incident during rehearsals when Laine remarked, “You’re so fat I am going to have to fly you in. I’m going to have to get you in on a crane because you’re such a roly poly.”
Beckham revealed in her recent Netflix documentary that her eating disorder began at the school. She controlled her weight in what she called an “incredibly unhealthy way” and became skilled at hiding it, even from her parents, Tony and Jackie, who funded her tuition by remortgaging their home.
“When you have an eating disorder you become very good at lying. And I was never honest about it with my parents,” Beckham stated. She added, “I never spoke about it publicly, it really affects you. When you’re told constantly you’re not good enough. And I suppose that’s been with me my whole life.”
Beckham noted she stood out from classmates, receiving criticism about her appearance and weight. She recalled the principal suggesting, “at the end of the show we are going to just fly in. You girls can be flown in,” implying they were not as aesthetically pleasing. Her mother, Jackie, confirmed Beckham was told, “you’re overweight. You’ll be at the back,” calling it a “very silly thing to say.”
Betty Laine’s Olivier Awards Recognition
The Society of London Theatre presents the Industry Recognition Award to individuals with significant contributions to the theatre industry. Laine Theatre Arts announced on Instagram: “Laine Theatre Arts is immensely proud to congratulate our Founder and Principal Emerita Betty Laine OBE, on receiving the prestigious Industry Recognition Award at the Olivier Awards.”
The school praised her five-decade legacy: “Through her vision, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence, she established Laine Theatre Arts as one of the United Kingdom’s leading colleges for musical theatre and dance.” It highlighted her influence on directors, choreographers, performers, and leaders across the West End and international stages, emphasizing her role in nurturing talent and professionalism.
Beckham’s Ongoing Body Image Struggles
Beckham’s challenges extended beyond school. In 1999, months after giving birth to son Brooklyn, host Chris Evans weighed her live on Channel 4’s TFI Friday. Reflecting now, she said, “I was weighed on national television. ‘Get on those scales, have you lost the weight?’ We laugh about it and we joke about it but I was really, really young and that hurts.”
She described losing “all sense of reality” with the disorder, which became consuming. Beckham credits husband David for helping her shift to a healthy relationship with food: “David has always known that I’ve been very disciplined about the way that I eat.” She overcame it independently due to trust issues but now focuses on balance and protecting daughter Harper, 14, from similar struggles.
