Thandiwe Newton has said she wants to “apologise every day to darker-skinned actresses” for not representing them.
She made the remarks while talking about her new film, God’s Country, which was adapted from a short story by James Lee Burke – but has swapped the lead character from an older white man into a black woman.
It centres on a grieving professor (Newton) who confronts two white hunters she catches on her property.
Talking about the film, Newton said though the role allowed her to heal as a black woman, she hesitated taking it because she did not think she was “dark-skinned” enough for the role. She said:
My internalised prejudice was stopping me from feeling like I could play this role when it’s precisely that prejudice that I’ve received.
Doesn’t matter that it’s from African-American women more than anyone else, doesn’t matter. I received prejudice. Anyone who’s received oppression and prejudice feels this character.
Getting emotional, the British actress added that she “wanted to apologise every day to darker-skinned actresses”. She said:
To say, ‘I’m sorry that I’m the one chosen. My mama looks like you. My mom looks like you.
It’s been very painful to have women look like my mom feel like I’m not representing them. That I’m taking from them. Taking their men, taking their work, taking their truth. I didn’t mean to.
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More: SkyNews