Thandiwe Newton broke down in tears as she apologised for failing to represent “darker-skinned actresses” during a broadcast interview on Thursday.
The 49-year-old is set to play a grieving Black professor who confronts two white hunters on her property in upcoming film God’s Country.
But she has revealed that she was hesitant to portray the character over fears she wasn’t dark-skinned enough for the role.
“My internalised prejudice was stopping me from feeling like I could play this role when it’s precisely that prejudice that I’ve received,” she told Sky News.
“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."
The Westworld star had tears rolling down her cheeks as she added that “she wanted to apologise every day to darker-skinned actresses”.
"To say, ‘I’m sorry that I’m the one chosen. My mama looks like you. My mom looks like you," she said.
"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."
God’s Country has been 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 marks the first time Newton will use her birth name Thandiwe following years of being known as Thandie in Hollywood.
“I got to change it back, which actually is probably more powerful,” she said. “So I’m glad that they robbed it for a brief, brief couple of decades.
“And I love the fact that it’s God’s Country that is the first project that has my name, you know. Honestly, I was like, this is my last movie… I don’t need to say anything else, really.”
God’s Country debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, and is awaiting a distribution partner for a full release.
