‘It helped me fall in love with myself’: Amy Schumer reveals new role helped boost her self-esteem

Amy Schumer has revealed her new film has helped boost her self-esteem, admitting that it pushed her to “fall in love with myself”.

The 36-year-old actress plays Renee Bennett in I Feel Pretty which focuses on promoting body-positivity.

Speaking at the premiere she said: “It was really empowering to play my character Renee feeling so good about herself, it really helped me fall in love with myself.”

Schumer added that some people questioned if she was looking at someone “skinny” in order to feel so positive.

She said: “People were wondering what I was picturing when I looked in the mirror and a lot of people thought I was picturing somebody really skinny or whatever they thought.

“I was just looking at myself and being grateful for the skin that I come in and that I’m healthy and strong. I hope everyone who sees the movie feels that way.”

Since the release of the trailer the comedian has faced backlash, with many some accusing the film of doing the opposite of what it set out to do.

Addressing the critics she told Vulture: “There’s been a lot of projection. I heard a lot of, ‘She doesn’t have a right to feel bad about herself because she looks however she looks’.

“But first off, it’s not about an ugly troll becoming beautiful, it’s about a woman who has low self-esteem finding some.

“Everyone’s got a right to feel that feeling, regardless of their appearance.”

She finished: “We all struggle with self-esteem. I certainly have … it’s not our place to say who should be allowed to have low self-esteem.

I Feel Pretty is slated for UK cinema release on May 4.