Thandiwe Newton is opening up about the backlash, privilege, and guilt she has experienced as a fair-skinned Black actress navigating Hollywood and the UK film industry.
The emotional comments came about during a recent interview with The Associated Press regarding her role in God’s Country, which premiered at Sundance late last month. As a Black woman in her 40’s, Newton was an unlikely choice for the role of Sandra, a college professor suffering a tragic loss who gets into a steadily escalating conflict with two hunters who trespass on her land. The film is based on James Lee Burke’s short story Winter Light, in which the story’s protagonist was an older, weathered white man.
While talking about taking on this role with The Associated Press, Newton discussed the impact of prejudice within the film and opened up about the prejudice she’s personally experienced as a light-skinned Black woman in Hollywood.
