A star of one of the biggest TV sitcoms of the 90s has revealed how ‘awkward’ it was when her real-life weight gain was used for a storyline on the show.
More than 30 years ago, made her debut as Topanga Lawrence in , the main love interest to the protagonist (Ben Savage).
Topanga became one of the most beloved characters of that TV era, with the actress reprising her role in the sequel series , which aired from 2014 to 2017.
Now 43, Danielle has recollected one time during the filming of the original programme when the writers decided to create a plotline for Topanga which centred on her real-life weight.
It wasn’t just Danielle and Topanga who were targeted, but also and his character Eric Matthews, as her co-star had also apparently gained some weight too.
Describing the situation as ‘awkward’, DAnielle said on the Pod Meets World podcast: ‘They called me into the office to tell me they were going to [write about it] – it wasn’t really like they asked.
‘Obviously, it was Will and I. Will had gained some weight. I had gained some weight. [And the writers said], “Obviously, you guys have gained a little bit of weight, so we’re gonna write an episode about it. And we just wanted you to know. And here’s what it’s gonna be. It’s gonna be really funny.”’
Danielle added that she and Will, now 48, both felt uncomfortable about what they’d been told, but accepted it at the time.
She revealed how Will said how he was ‘totally fine with it’ almost ‘immediately’ – but in retrospect, she now knows that he was ‘very insecure’ and that the situation was ‘really painful for him’.
‘And for me, it was more like, “Oh, wow.” Like, I didn’t – no one had said anything to me about it. I had been aware that I had gained weight, but I was still you know, I was a size 4,’ she continued.
Danielle explained how she remembered being staggered over the fact that she had seemingly ‘gained enough weight’ for the writers to think it was worthy of a storyline.
‘I remember thinking, wow, these people think I’ve gained enough weight [that] we have to write an entire episode about my weight gain…And I have to say I’m fine with it, because they didn’t even present to me another alternative,’ she stated.
‘And even if they did, I probably wouldn’t have felt comfortable being like, “Yeah. I don’t wanna do that.’
The actress added that it was a ‘weird situation, so much pressure’.
In addition to Boy Meets World and its spin-off, Danielle has also appeared in TV shows including Full House, Harry and the Hendersons, and films including National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze.
She has also worked as a presenter, fronting shows including The Fish, The Fuse 20 and Say What? Karaoke.
Boy Meets World is available to watch on Disney Plus.
