Weight woes for Gabourey Sidibe

AP

MOVE TO TV: Gabourey Sidibe arrives on the red carpet.

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Gabourey Sidibe wants to lose weight.

The 'Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire' actress is hoping to shed her excess pounds, but knows she wouldn't have landed her breakthrough role if she wasn't overweight, her mother Alice Tan Ridley has revealed.

Alice said: "The truth is Gabourey would like to lose some weight but the reality is that she would not have gotten the role of Precious if she had not been heavy.

"As her mom I would like to see my daughter healthy but if she didn't lose weight that's not a problem either - it runs in our family.

"We have relatives that are 80 who are too heavy so it works in different ways for different folks."

Regardless of whether Gabourey loses weight or not, her mother believes she will go on to have a long acting career.

She added to RadarOnline.com: "I'm proud of my daughter no matter what and the truth is that there are all kinds of acting roles for all sorts of people."

It has been reported that Gabourey is being lined up for weight loss reality show 'Celebrity Fit Club' but Alice insists the star has not been approached.

She said:  "I have not heard anything about her appearing on 'Celebrity Fit Club' or any of these dieting companies getting Gabby to try and endorse their products."

- Bang! Showbiz