Gabourey Sidibe shows off incredible weight loss

The 33-year-old actress flaunted her slimmer physique in an Instagram photo last week and has been inundated with praise from fans ever since.

“You are an inspiration,” wrote a fan in response to the photo of Sidibe wearing a Biggie Smalls T-shirt.

Another wrote: “You are changing lives by doing this, but most importantly, you’re changing your life for the better. Keep up the good work, Gabby!”

And one fan called Sidibe brave: “I am tremendously proud of you and commend you on the journey you are on to become a healthier person. Also, you are braver than you possibly know because you have done this in the public’s eye, which can be extremely difficult ... because people are so mean.”

The actress, who shot to fame after starring in the 2009 movie Precious, was touched by the supportive messages but admitted she didn't post the photo to show off her recent weight loss.

“Um ... That Instagram photo was mostly about showing off my Biggie Smalls T-shirt and laid wig but ... ya know ... That’s cool too,” she wrote on Twitter.

Sidibe has copped plenty of flak over the years for being a plus-sized actress.

In 2014 the star was mocked relentlessly on social media after she wore a cream-coloured dress to the Golden Globes.

Some of the mean comments included, “She looks like a condom,” and “She looks like the chubby ghost from Casper”.

But Sidibe shut down her haters in the best way possible, tweeting, “To people making mean comments about my GG pics, I mos def cried about it on that private jet on my way to my dream job last night”.

Sidibe currently stars in the TV series Empire.