'I'm ready to blow this joint': Morbidly obese mother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape vows to act again after losing an incredible 240lbs
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She made her feature film debut in 1993 drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape, as the morbidly obese mother of Johnny Depp's title character.
And while she remains housebound in her Forney, Texas home, Darlene Cates is celebrating a triumph in her battle for better health - and one that may have her back on the big screen.
The 64-year-old actress has lost an astonishing 240lbs, plummeting to 331lbs after a decades-long struggle with her weight.
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In better health: Darlene Cates, 64, was critically-acclaimed for her performance in 1993 movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape - and is looking forward to returning to acting after losing a staggering 240lbs
The victory, she tells the Dallas Morning News, has bolstered her confidence to resume her acting career.
'I can do moms real well. I don't have to delve very deep to find mom in there,' she said.
The actress is currently recovering from a series of surgeries that had her in hospital for nearly a year, after tipping the scales at 575lbs.
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ShareHaving been released last November, and after three near-death experiences, she is still unable to walk.
But with a goal to lose 100lbs more, and following a rare outing on Father's Day in June, Cates says she hopes with several health victories more she will be able to act again.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape: But Leonardo's gamble definitely worked in his favour when he scored his first-ever Oscar nod as mentally-handicapped Arnie Grape
On set: Johnny Depp and Darlene Cates pose together while filming the hit movie
Speaking of her trials along the way, she told the newspaper of how she has endured stares from passers-by, who she has felt don't see her as a 'real' person.
'People can be cruel, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it home, wrap yourself up in it and wear it,' she explained.
Gilbert Grape in that respect was a triumph not only in cinema, but also for Cates personally.
In the role of Bonnie Grape, the actress said she was able to connect to the story of an obese woman, trapped inside her own home due to her condition.
The critically-acclaimed Lasse Hallström drama follows Gilbert [Johnny Depp] as he takes care of his mother and his autistic brother Arnie [Leonardo DiCaprio] - but his responsibilities present a dilemma when he meets a young girl [Juliette Lewis].
In an emotional final scene following Bonnie Grape's death, Gilbert has do burn the house down to retrieve his mother's body because he doesn't want the embarrassment of having a crane winch her out of a window.
On the red carpet: Leonardo DiCaprio, age 19, and Darlene Cates at the Los Angeles screening of What's Eating Gilbert Grape on December 12, 1993
Prized possession: DiCaprio wrote this letter to the actress, praising her performance in their film, Cates said
The film won Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the age of 19.
The actor, Cates said, also wrote her a note praising her performance, which she counts as one of her most prized possessions.
'I'm not really the best in expressing my words in writing but you are the most special person I have ever [met]. I'll always remember you as the best acting mamma I ever had. You triumphed in your role,' the letter reads.
Cates, who shares three children with husband of nearly 50 years, Bob, says she's most grateful to fans.
'[I realised] how God had used me to touch other people and give them courage by what I did,' she said. 'And that gave them courage to put themselves out there more.'
The memory is fuelling her motivation to fight for her health - and get out of the house, she said, adding: 'I have looked at these things about as long as I can look at them, and I’m ready to blow this joint.'
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