Rosie O’Donnell Names the ‘League of Their Own’ Co-Star Who Told Her to Lose Weight

Rosie O'Donnell is getting real about her body, her health, and the industry pressure she faced for decades. The comedian also revealed which A-list director once told her to drop 20 pounds.

Rosie O'Donnell is speaking candidly about her weight, the toll it's taken over the years, and how a major transformation has reshaped both her health and her outlook.

Rosie O'Donnell attends the 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2026 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

The comedian and longtime actress recently recalled a pointed exchange with an A-list director who once urged her to slim down. She opened up about the memory while reflecting on how dropping 60 pounds has changed her day-to-day life.

"It's very strange to just buy a pair of jeans that fit. When I would do late-night, my biggest concern wasn't my set — it was, 'Did I look fat?'" she shared.

Rosie O'Donnell during her interview with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" on February 22, 1999. | Source: Getty Images

"On 'A League of Their Own,' [director] Penny Marshall didn't help by saying, 'Rosie, I want you to lose 20 lbs.' I'm like, 'You think I carry it around for fun, Penny?' When I look back, I go, 'God, I wish I could have enjoyed the size I was,'" she continued.

O'Donnell appeared in the 1992 film alongside Tom Hanks and Geena Davis. Set during World War II, the movie follows two sisters who join the first professional women's baseball league, navigating a growing rivalry between them as they fight to keep the league alive.

The 64-year-old, who was 30 at the time of filming, portrayed Doris Murphy, the team's third baseman. "I'm now at that same weight. But I feel much healthier, more powerful in my own physicality," she said.

O'Donnell has been open about the path that led her there, crediting a GLP-1 medication for the shift.

"Mounjaro changed my life. I couldn't even pronounce it at first. I started three years ago when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was stunned at how it quieted the food noise. I've had trouble with my weight my whole life," she shared.

Rosie O'Donnell appears on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" on September 12, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

Mounjaro, a tirzepatide, is a medication for type 2 diabetes and weight loss that works similarly to Ozempic and Wegovy. It's administered weekly via injection in the thigh, stomach, or arm.

O'Donnell joins a growing list of public figures who've disclosed using the drug over the past year, including Elon Musk, Meghan Trainor and her husband Daryl Sabara, and Kyle Richards' 25-year-old daughter, Sophia Umansky.

The comedian said she's no stranger to the shame often directed at people struggling with their weight.

"My kids would come home from trick-or-treating with pillowcases full of candy and hide it. Smart children. I'd wake up at 3 in the morning and go, 'There's a Nestlé's Crunch bar somewhere.' I couldn't help myself," she admitted.

Following her weight loss, O'Donnell found herself dealing with excess loose skin, which led her to undergo a deep plane facelift. She shared before-and-after photos of the results earlier this year and elaborated on the experience in a post on her Substack.

"I didn't want my face to be frozen," she added. Before going through with the procedure, though, O'Donnell admitted she struggled with the choice.

Rosie O'Donnell is seen on June 15, 2026 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

As someone who identifies as a feminist, she couldn't shake the worry that she might be caving to the male gaze — a force she has spent much of her life speaking out against.

"Clay said, 'Mommy, girls look up to you. What does your legacy stand for if you do this?' I changed my mind for six months and then decided the real power of feminism [is] to decide what we want to do with our bodies and when," she said.