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Anger as Angelina 'blacks up' for role
By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard 11.10.06
Angelina Jolie as Mariane Pearl in Mighty Heart
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This is Angelina Jolie in her latest film role - as the widow of murdered Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl.
Jolie, 31, has effected an astonishing transformation to become French freelance reporter Mariane Pearl, who was five months pregnant when her husband, 38, was kidnapped while on assignment in Pakistan in 2002.
He was eventually beheaded by Islamic terrorists, despite pleas from his family and colleagues. The film is based on Mrs Pearl's story of the tragedy, A Mighty Heart, which details the moment her husband disappeared through to the birth of their son Adam, now four.
Filming began this week in India. Pakistan was rejected as a location because of security fears. It is being made by Brad Pitt's production company Plan B, with him as producer and Briton Michael Winterbottom directing.
Jennifer Aniston was originally lined up to play the lead, already tipped by industry insiders as a potential Oscar contender. But following her divorce from Pitt, in which she relinquished part ownership of Plan B, he handed it to his new flame Jolie.
There has, however, been some controversy over the casting. Some black campaign groups say it amounts to a "whitewash" - because Mrs Pearl is mixed race. One website, blacklooks.org, claims: "It is 2006 and I had assumed that the days when white actors took on roles of black people had long passed away."
Another blogger adds: "This is just another example of the white washing of history. There are mixed/black women actresses who could have done a damn good job in this role. You can't tell me that Halle Berry, Judy Reyes or other women of African descent wouldn't have been a better choice."
But Mrs Pearl has welcomed the casting, saying: "I'm delighted Angelina Jolie will be playing my role. I deeply admire her work."
US actor Dan Futterman plays the role of Pearl. Jolie has described A Mighty Heart as being about "cross-cultural understanding and the values that people of all faiths share".
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Reader views (13)
What is the big deal, she’s doing her job and maybe she was the best person for the role.
- Mani, London
Why is it that the only mixed race/black actress people can seem to think of to play this role is Halle Berry?
- Pmurphy, London, UK
I believe that the choice of Angelina Jolie had less to do with her acting skills or even the skin tone that she will adopt to portray this French mixed race person, but more to do with the fact that Brad Pitt has the say in this production and he wanted his girlfriend to do it, so let's black her up then, no matter the flak it would bring! As a Black American who studied acting but became depressed by the whole business because it is all about who you know and not about your talent, I gave up. Favouritism and special privilege is what guides that business. Family connections etc. are the order of the day in that world, not common sense and the understanding of the real state of race relations in the world today, which would make you think about what it looks like in this period of history to blacken up an actor's face! Brad Pitt is not interested or maybe not clear it seems in that notion and so had no problem with this. Those of us who would like to act... black or white, don't even seem to get a look in, unless we have the right connections. So for some black actors, they don't stand a chance when film bosses like Pitt instruct their cast accordingly. By the way, Halle Berry's next film requires her to be a white woman... you couldn't make this stuff up!
- Shellia, London
Casting in movies has never been about accuracy (sadly). It is about box office and bucks. Angelina Jolie is apparently considered more bankable than the vast pantheon of better, more suitable actresses. However, she happens to be Brad Pitt's wife. The role WAS apparently going to Jennifer Aniston when SHE was Brad Pitt's wife. Everyone at drama school take note - it obviously pays to be Brad Pitt's wife, whatever the film and whatever the role.
Whoever said life was fair?
- Emma, London
Why, exactly, should this part only have been given to a black actor? Given mixed race means part white, part black, why is it unacceptable to have a white woman play a part white, part black person? This is hypocrisy. And since colour has been made the all-important issue, Angelina Jolie is closer to Mariane Pearl's skin tone than many mixed race actresses, eg: Halle Berry.
- Rd, London
If Angelina is playing a role of a woman of mixed race, why should it then matter if the role is played by a black or white actress?
Secondly, she's an actress. That's her proffession, to immitate other people.
Last but not least I wish everybody would stop bickering over such a futile subject and give Angelina credit, where it is due!
- Archi, London
Has no once else noticed the blatant hypocrisy and racism shown by our black campaign group friends? Being mixed race means precisely that - she has both white and black genes and if its acceptable for a fully black actress to play this part then it should be acceptable for a fully white one too - it's not as if they have insisted the part should be played by a mixed race actress which would be fair enough.
Now if they'd objected on the basis that she's a rubbish actress then fair enough...
- Jason, London
Reminds me of when Alex Guiness "blacked up" to play the philosophical Hindu in "A Passage to India". He was very good in the role, but I would have preferred someone who was actually a Hindu and an Indian but the film industry both US/UK have never been ones for taking racial matters seriously over the years, they can't help it, it's called being "so up yourself you don't know what is going on in the real world."
- Suchi Chatterjee, Brighton, UK
Are we going back to the days when white actors and actresses slapped on the brown make up to play ethnic characters? I thought we had moved on from these patronising acts of racism. Are the producers of this film saying there are no mixed race actresses worthy of this part? If the film were merely based on the true story it would be different but once again Hollywood feels it is acceptable to ignore any positive images of real ethnic people.
- Lee, London, UK
Mariane Pearl is mixed race; however, the people who say Halle Berry, or other women of African descent, would have been a better choice have obviously never seen Mrs Pearl.
- Jack, Charlotte, NC USA
Akasa, you are taking the "Mick" aren't you. Angelina is of European French and American descent. I thought those days of white stars blacking up had long gone. Especially, with people like Thandie Newton, Halle, Salli Richardson around even Mariah Carey why do we need another white actress to take a role from a black actress. Furthermore, when Black/Mixed race actors take over from white actors you don't see them whitening up do you? Also, there are fewer roles for black actresses than for white actresses, this decision is not fair. Also, I for one will not see the movie even though I think Miss Jolie is a very good actress.
- Candy, London, UK.
They should have had a black actress play the role. It is not about being politically correct, however, having Angelina play the role is just not acceptable. There are as stated a number of black actresses now - any of whom could have been picked. I suppose it has nothing to do with the fact that it is Brad Pitt's company that she has been picked.
- J Kaur, London
I thought Angelina Jolie was mixed race?
- Akasa, London UK
