Jennifer Aniston starred in Dumplin, a Netflix film about a former Texas beauty queen whose overweight daughter enters her pageant as a form of protest. Aniston recently shared how the movie’s portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship, shaped by societal beauty standards, mirrored her own experience with her mother, Nancy Dow, and their complicated relationship.
Nancy Dow, who passed away in 2016, was a model and actor. Aniston, in an interview, described her mother as being “all about presentation” and appearance, both for herself and for Aniston. “I failed to live up to her expectations of a model child,” she said. This focus on physical appearance made Aniston feel like she couldn’t measure up.
Despite being celebrated for her looks, Aniston has said that her insecurity about her appearance stemmed from Nancy Dow’s critical views. In a 2015 interview, Aniston explained how her mother had often been critical of her looks. “She was wonderful. Not me,” Aniston said, reflecting on their challenging relationship.
In Dumplin’, Aniston plays a character that resonates with her personal struggles. The film tells the story of Willowdean, a teenager who joins her mother’s beauty pageant to challenge both herself and her mom’s expectations. Aniston saw this as a reflection of her own experiences growing up, feeling unseen and unloved by a mother who was focused on superficial things.
Aniston emphasized that Dumplin’ carries a message about letting go of societal beauty standards and embracing individuality. She explained that beauty comes from what makes you feel good about yourself, whether it’s a good hair day or the relationships in your life.
Nancy Dow had a career in TV, appearing in shows like The Beverly Hillbillies and Wild Wild West. She married actor John Aniston in 1965, but they divorced in 1980. Their strained relationship became more public when Dow wrote her autobiography in 1999. Though they tried to reconnect after Aniston’s divorce from Brad Pitt, they never fully healed. Dow had a stroke in 2011, and the two didn’t speak much before her death in 2016.
