Posted on 06/17/2010 8:16:48 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
She hasn't even been officially confirmed as having the role, but Angelina Jolie is already receiving criticism over her possible portrayal of the legendary Queen of the Nile.
Jolie, who turned 35 last week, is caught up in a racially charged debate over whether the role should of been played by a black woman.
The Egyptian royal was most famously portrayed Elizabeth Taylor in 1963.
The new film's producer, Scott Rudin, previously told USA Today the role is being developed with Angelina in mind as she has 'the perfect look'.
But this statement has angered members of the African American community.
An Essence Magazine online story asks, 'Another White Actress to Play Cleopatra?'
'Honestly, I don't care how full Angelina Jolie's lips are, how many African children she adopts, or how bronzed her skin will become for the film, I firmly believe this role should have gone to a black woman.'
Jolie adopted her daughter Zahara,5, from Ethiopia and gave birth to Shiloh,3, in Namibia. She also has 3 other children with partner, Brad Pitt. Maddox, 8, Pax, 6, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 2.
'Were Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry and Thandie Newton unavailable for auditions that day?' the writer continued.
'Why does Hollywood think it’s even slightly plausible to cast white women in roles that would be more sensible to cast a black actress for? Especially when that role is an African queen.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
So what you’re saying is Roman generals had lousy taste in women. Could be. I remember reading about the kind of food they ate.
The dude thats married to J lo
Do they not teach history in high schools any more?
Cleopatra was NOT black. She was a member of the Ptolomaic Dynasty (Greek and Macedonian) who ruled over Egypt at the time. The Ptolomaic royal line was forbidden to inter-marry with native Egyptians, and during the later period of that Dynasty they only intermarried with their own siblings.
“Who’s slated for Marc A.?”
James Earl Jones
Sadly, kids are shocked today when you tell them she was Greek-the direct descendant of one of Alexander’s generals. They don’t believe me. Then they look it up and realize the old guy isn’t so crazy. I can literally sense their little pea brains churning-”If he was right about that, maybe he was right about Obama...naaahhh, couldn’t be.”
Don Imus nappy headed ho
Egyptians weren’t black. They’re like Arabs.
If the story is true, I think it's a great casting choice. I think the role would come naturally to her.
Isn't that four or do twins count as one?
OMG yes Melina K
On what basis do you say that she wasn’t pretty ?
Their ignorance and fake outrage makes me smile.
Jet Li.
Well, she may not be much to look at, but she had vast... tracts of land.
I always thought that if Sammy Davis Jr. should have played Robert E. Lee in the civil war movie. Hollywood showing true affirmative action.
Yes, of course, they were Greek, and the Egyptians who were ruled by the Ptolemies weren’t black either. They are generally a semitic people.
There is some black influence on demographics from regions up the Nile, but it is not large.
There was also a brief period in which it is believed that blacks ruled part of Egypt when Egypt was in disarray, but it was a long time before Cleopatra and didn’t last long (Egypt has an enormously long history).
Let me be the first, however, to point out that Cleopatra Jones wasn’t white. Consequently, I would have to object to Jolie being cast as that Cleopatra ;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.