The Broadway adaptation of the 1992 film "Death Becomes Her" has made a significant change to the original story, and it's all about body positivity and self-acceptance. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Tony nominee Jennifer Simard, who plays Helen Sharp in the musical, reveals that the production team chose not to use a padded bodysuit to depict Helen's weight gain, unlike in the film.

"One choice we made in our production is not to have a fake, larger suit put on me like they do in the movie," Simard, 54, says. "We said, 'That's not something we're going to do.'" The decision was made to reflect the progress made in body positivity over the past three decades.

Why It Was the Right Decision

Simard, who has been open about her own experiences with anorexia, adds that she wouldn't want to trigger anyone struggling with disordered eating. Instead, the show explores Helen's mental health and the impact of Earnest and Madeline's betrayal.

"I created a solo show called Stigma all about destigmatizing mental health issues," Simard says. "So even though that scene in our show is played at a very heightened, theatrical pace, I feel like I can speak to it from an authentic place because I've experienced such a wide range of issues and have overcome them."

The show has been nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It's now in performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Simard previously told PEOPLE, "I really do think that it is the exact kind of show we've needed since the pandemic. It is just a big old Broadway musical, the way it was meant to be done. And I'm so lucky to be a part of it."

Tickets to Death Becomes Her are now on sale. The 2025 Tony Awards air live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City Sunday, June 8, on CBS.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, The Alliance for Eating Disorders provides a fully-staffed helpline at 1-866-662-1235, as well as free, therapist-led support groups.

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Original article by Dave Quinn for PEOPLE.

Image credits: Mike Coppola/Getty, Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman, Bruce Glikas/Getty