Stranger Things star David Harbour was fat-shamed after auditioning for Wolverine film

The actor was reading for the role of X-Men villain The Blob

Stranger Things actor David Harbour has revealed he was body-shamed while auditioning for a key role in one of the Wolverine films.

Speaking to TheWrap, the actor - who plays Sheriff Jim Hopper in the smash Netflix series - recalled the moment came after he tried for the part of X-Men villain The Blob.

“I auditioned for one of the Wolverine movies and I bumped into one of the casting directors on the lot, and she was really sweet and she was like ‘Oh my God, David Harbour, you’re in town. I have the perfect role for you - The Blob.’

“She was like, ‘Yeah, it’s like an X-Men, he’s like big, fat and controls gravity’ and I was like ‘Okay, wow, that’s flattering.’ And she was like, ‘no, no, it’s not that you’re fat, it’s just that we need a big guy to wear the suit.’

It was when Harbour went in to read for the role that the fat-shaming arrived - the actor jokingly picked up his shirt, squeezed his belly and said, “I got your Blob right here.”

Harbour continued: “I just made a stupid joke and then they called me and the director, we met at like a hotel, and he was like, ‘David, look, you’re wonderful, we really think you’re just a great actor, we’re just concerned… we’re really concerned.’ “I was like, ‘Why, what’s your concern? I’m good to go. I’m available, let’s do this.’ And they were like, ‘no, it’s just, you lifted up your shirt and we saw the… we’re just a little worried about your health.'

“I was like, ‘Wait a minute, dude, pause for one second - you are telling me I’m too fat to play The Blob? That’s awesome."

The role eventually went to Kevin Durand who played the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine which was directed by Gavin Hood.

Harbour was recently confirmed to be appearing in the upcoming Hellboy reboot. Stranger Things season 2 arrives on Netflix this Halloween.