Posted on 03/19/2017 8:13:22 AM PDT by Ennis85
Actress Thandie Newton has said she "can't work" in the UK because there are no roles for black and minority ethnic actors in historical dramas. London-born Newton said the number of costume dramas had led to "slim pickings for people of colour". Her criticism comes after British Film Institute research found that 59% of UK films since 2006 had no black actors in any role. Newton's next UK TV role will see her appear in BBC One's Line of Duty. Speaking to the Sunday Times Magazine, the mother-of-three said: "I love being here, but I can't work, because I can't do Downton Abbey, can't be in Victoria, can't be in Call The Midwife - well, I could, but I don't want to play someone who's being racially abused." "I'm not interested in that, don't want to do it... there just seems to be a desire for stuff about the Royal Family, stuff from the past, which is understandable, but it just makes it slim pickings for people of colour." Newton is one of many British actors who have complained about the lack of ethnic diversity in UK TV and film.
Former Spooks star David Oyelowo said there had been an exodus of black British actors to the USA, due to the lack of opportunities available in British drama. In 2015, the star of A United Kingdom said: "We make period dramas in Britain, but there are almost never black people in them, even though we've been on these shores for hundreds of years. "It's frustrating, because it doesn't have to be that way". On the US stage, black actors portrayed white historical figures like George Washington in Broadway musical Hamilton, which retells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
not much work for me in africa either, playing historical characters so there we go. I’d do blackface, but then again, I’m a horrible person
I’m surprised they aren’t following our lead and casting someone like Wanda Sykes as Queen Victoria.
Wasn’t she in HBO’s Westworld walking around stark naked?
Disgusting skank.
There were complaints that the mural in our courthouse had no blacks. It was accumulated from photos taken in the 50s. hmmm. I wonder whatever happened. I’ll be there tomorrow and I’ll look at it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)
And lets see if it plays well in London
Samuel L Jackson will be pissed now even more.
I understand that it can be frustrating to be the wrong background for a production that is trying to be historically accurate especially if you really love the time period, but that is really just part of the genre. Those of us that watch them are already PITAs when it comes to most details they try to get right, to then purposely put in an element that they know isnt accurate.
Lots of white guys would love to be in samurai movies, but outside of really bad ones, like with Tom Cruse, you have to make it in proper context like Shogun in order for it to work.
You can always seek out a fictitious story set in those times (Steampunk pretty much does that), or look for a real person from that time that has an interesting story.
Just “self identify” as a man and play Othello.
L
I have yet to see a historical program about Ramses the Great which showed him with red wavy hair. Which is what he had.
They always portray him as dark skinned with coal black hair. Often as partially Negro.
If they portrayed him or King David who had a “ruddy complexion” with red hair and fair skin people would be outraged.
We even have supposedly serious historians claim Cleopatra was Black.
Thandie Newton, establishing a b*tchhead in the war on traditional cultures and historical revisionism in the film industry. If the Brits check thier white privilege, she’ll soon be playing Queen Victoria.
Blacks are, what, < 3% of the UK populace?
Based on Dr. Who, OTOH, you would think that UK was 50% Black and that cure white chicks can only find Black boyfriends.
No problem - just change history to make it fit what whatever present political opinion is!
First world problems.
I saw an episode of “JAG” maybe 15 years ago and he was with a large group of Navy Seals. They appeared to be maybe 75% Black.
There surely are Black Navy Seals but seeing groups of them in real life training and I typically see none.
“If we simply dispensed with the topic of British history altogether, I would have more work..”
oh. Well then, okay...
....????!!
Ridiculous.
I watch a lot of contemporary British TV drama. They push interracial sex all the time, FWIW.
I want to see a remake of Shake Zulu done with an all Chinese cast!
The amazing thing is Thandie gets more prestigious work than 95% of white American actors, and she still complains.
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