"I'd just like to see a role for women where someone who isn't traditionally attractive is not portraying the best friend. You know, the character that only speaks in questions. 'Gee, are you gonna go out with him? Do you think I look fat?'"

In this quote, Martha Plimpton is revealing her aggravation with the limited and stereotypical functions that are frequently provided to women in the entertainment industry. She particularly mentions the portrayal of the "best friend" character, who is typically not traditionally attractive and just acts as a sounding board for the primary character's ideas and insecurities. Plimpton is requiring more diverse and complex functions for ladies, where they are not lowered to one-dimensional characters who just exist to support the main male character. She likewise highlights the damaging societal expectations put on women, such as constantly stressing over their appearance and looking for recognition from males. Plimpton's words function as a suggestion to challenge and break away from these harmful stereotypes in media representation.