In the world of entertainment, appearances can mean everything, but Kat Dennings is thankful that times have changed for the better.

In a recent interview with People magazine that came out on Thursday, the 38-year-old actress, known for her role in “2 Broke Girls,” shared her thoughts on the challenging environment of Hollywood during her early career and its “brutal” approach to body image in the early 2000s.

“When I started auditioning and acting, the atmosphere was very different from what it is now,” Dennings mentioned. “There was hardly any inclusivity. It was tough and filled with harsh criticism; people were quite unfiltered in their feedback.”

At just 14 years old, Dennings took on her first television role as Jenny Brier in a guest spot on HBO’s “Sex and the City,” which aired in September 2000. The following year, she earned a main part in the sitcom “Raising Dad,” led by Bob Saget.

“To give you an example, I was 12 when I went to an audition, and afterward, when I’d ask my manager how it went, they would respond, ‘Well, they thought you weren’t pretty enough and that you were overweight,'” Dennings reminisced.

“It’s quite wild to remember that. I mean, how could anyone say something like that about a child? It’s unbelievable,” she added.

Even with the tough feedback, Dennings shared that she managed to keep her spirits high.

“I thought, ‘I’ll prove them wrong,'” Dennings stated with a chuckle. “I owe it to my parents as well because they told me, ‘They don’t know what they’re talking about. Ignore them.’ And I thought, ‘They’re the fools, not me.'”

After landing supporting roles in movies like “Raise Your Voice” (2004), “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005), and “The House Bunny” (2008), as well as guest spots on shows like “CSI: NY” and “ER,” Dennings finally found her big break with the 2008 film “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” which earned $33.6 million worldwide.

She made her comeback to sitcoms in the early 2010s, starring alongside Beth Behrs in the CBS comedy “2 Broke Girls,” which received an Emmy and ran for six seasons from 2011 to 2017.

Now, the actress is part of ABC’s “Shifting Gears,” sharing the screen with Tim Allen, known for his role in “Home Improvement.”

During her chat with People, Dennings reflected on how the entertainment industry has evolved regarding body image, stating the current cultural environment is “‘much more gentle, compassionate,’ and understanding.”

“Today there’s a focus on body positivity, inclusivity, and representation—none of which existed before,” Dennings remarked. “It was quite unpleasant back then.”