Whatever color the Jews of Palastine were a the time. But Maori is not just a color; it is a physique as well. Hardly a jewish physique.
Well, maybe they just wanted an actress who would be moving and would do a good job portraying Mary. Maybe they didn't think she had to genetically fit the part.
honestly...
I guess the Latinos should all throw out their Virgin of Guadalupe statues, since Mary appeared to Juan Diego as having Indian/mestizo features.
And all those iconic images of Mary in Europe should be tossed, since a lot of those look pretty Northern European.
I haven't seen this movie and I'm not familiar with the actress, but I'm half American Indian (The rest is Irish, Scottish, and German) and I've had people tell me I look Jewish and even Russian. Ironically, only members of my own tribe tend to recognise me as an Indian based on my own appearance, and even then only some of them noticed it right away. So I would suggest half-whatever really say much about one's appearance.
On a more important note, I think I'll avoid this one. While I could probably let some of the other theological issues slide the idea of St. Mary "with attitude" is a little much for me.