In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Kat Dennings looks back at the harsh critiques she received from casting directors as a child actor and recalls how she was told she was "fat" at just 12 years old.

Kat Dennings has revealed casting directors branded her "fat" and "not pretty enough" when she was a child. The 38-year-old actress has enjoyed a lengthy career, but has insisted the path to success was sometimes painful.

Dennings began her on screen career - appearing in adverts - at the age of nine and received some “extremely negative feedback” from casting directors via her agent. Speaking to People, the Shifting Gears actor said: “It was pretty crazy thinking about it.