Turning white characters black

Someone above said that if it is a drama, the race of the actor is less important than for a historical depiction. I agree, however, many characters such as in Wuthering Heights are very real and loved by readers and to change their appearance jars. I find that when the race or gender is changed in portrayal of a real person, it entirely undermines the credibility of the production. The lived experience of a real person is very bound up with their race and gender so the whole perception of a character/person changes. A black Anne Boleyn is just not believable to me. The production becomes shallow and a bit pointless. Colour blindness is referred to above. It is to be avoided in my view but that seems to be what’s happening. On the other hand, this topic is thought provoking! Sadly though, I think many will take portrayals at face value, E.g. think Anne B was black!

I liked Bride and Prejudice, for itself, not because it was Prude and Prejudice with Indian actors.

Equally there could be a film called Other Roots about the current issues with white or any other colour slavery and the disgraceful treatment of people including children “sold” into slavery prostitution.
It wouldn’t be the same as the original.

Spinnaker

Agree with eddiecat but I also think it's just another example of pandering to the p.c. brigade.

Absolutely agree. The TV adverts are even more annoying.

I think there are a lot of assumptions about the intelligence of other people

We know AB wasn't black - if she had been Elizabeth would have had dual heritage, and there are many portraits of her, even though there are none left of Anne. But the point is that it doesn't matter. I know that Henry 8 had red hair, but I can happily watch Eric Bana playing him with dark hair, or Ray Winstone with a brown crew cut. We know we are looking at actors, not reincarnations.

It used to be thought that people wouldn't be able to accept gay actors as leading (straight) men, but these days that doesn't matter at all, for the same reason. Far from being too dim to realise that what is on screen is not 'real life' people have become more sophisticated in the way they understand media.

I can see where you’re coming from — when you love a book, especially one with a strong sense of time and place, it can be jarring to see big changes in adaptations. But I think it’s worth looking at it in context too. Sometimes casting choices are less about rewriting history and more about making sure modern audiences feel represented and included — especially in fictional stories. For historical adaptations, it’s more complicated, but even then, casting choices often aim to open up the space for talented actors who might otherwise get boxed out.

I do agree though that what we really need is more stories from diverse backgrounds to begin with — books, films, shows — not just retrofitting old ones. That way, we’re not relying on adaptations to carry the whole burden of representation.

In the end, I think everyone just wants good storytelling, and that can happen with a range of approaches. But it’s good we’re able to have conversations like this, as long as it’s respectful on all sides

Some people may. Others take what they see on TV as gospel truth. We really won't agree on this.

That was for Doodledog

Not agreeing just means you’re entitled to your own viewpoint, whether it’s about changing colours, casting able bodied people as disabled roles when there are disabled actors who could play the part.

How strongly you feel about it is up to each individual, but being told it doesn’t matter as opposed to it doesn’t matter to me
is dismissive of others’ viewpoints and IMO seems rather rude.

Bukkie

I agree with Doodlebug, it was ridiculous Anne Boleyn was played by a black actress when she was a white person. There would be total uproar if a black historical figure was played by a white actor or actress. As Spinnaker says it's pandering to the PC brigade.

No, I thought Doodledog said it was fine for Anne Boleyn to be played by a black actress, but not Nelson Mandela to be played by a white man because of the context. Perhaps I'm getting confused.

Personally, I think if we are referring to the correct context, then it is wrong for Anne Boleyn to be played by a black actress.

There is absolutely nothing racist about saying that. I'm sure if members of my family were portrayed on screen they would want to be portrayed as the correct heritage - and they include different types of heritage.

Whilst there were people of African heritage in Henry VIII's court, there is no indication of African heritage in Anne Boleyn's lineage. People on online forums express surprise that she was black and thought she might have been a slave brought to England. Unfortunately, these myths persist because of the casting by TV producers.

It's patronising, as Aveline said.

I think there are a lot of assumptions about the intelligence of other people
Not assumptions, just that there are people on other forums who say they never realised Anne Boleyn was black!

I have no problem with black actors and actresses playing parts that have previously been the domain of white performers. For example, when they were considering actors to play James Bond now that Daniel 007 Craig has popped his clogs, allegedly, Idris Elba was on the list. I'm all for seeing more of Mr. Elba and a black James Bond is fine by me. However, please let history be accurate. Anne Boleyn was not black so ignore any box ticking exercise and cast a white actress to play her.

Yes, but James Bond is a fictional character.

So is Jack Reacher, of course, described as 6'5" but then played by Tom Cruise. (Not that I've watched it.)

However, please let history be accurate.

Yes, I was agreeing!!

Many people, (mostly younger but not necessarily), believe or disbelieve the strangest things just because they see it in ‘the media’. There is so much misinformation out there. Going back to the original post, for the sake of argument, surely it is also insulting to our intelligence to think we would believe, to use same example, A Boleyn was black? Tempted to suggest such casting could be ‘a Brechtian device’?

Well, I had to look that up.

I agree with others that historical accuracy is important. Let’s not rewrite history.
Non fiction is about education and therefore must be accurate if truth is to be carried forward.
Non fiction should be the best person for the character regardless of physical features.
Idris Elba for James Bond, ooh yes please.

Sorry fiction should show the best one for the character

Idris Elba for James Bond, ooh yes please.
I might start watching again!

The Western world has been very happy for centuries with a fair, blue-eyed, Jesus.🤔

Not that it bothers me much. I was enchanted to see an Inuit Jesus calming the sea full of whales in a stained glass window in the Arctic.

I think it takes the general public, and I include myself, longer than anticipated to get used to the unexpected.
I often get a surprise when the lead actor is different from my preconceptions. Whether they are black, older, taller, disabled in some way etc
I get used to it but it takes a while.

The film The Personal History of
David Copperfield for example. Starring Dev Patel was brilliantly acted but certainly strayed from Dickens 1850 novel. It was much funnier than I remembered 🤣

Lathyrus3

The Western world has been very happy for centuries with a fair, blue-eyed, Jesus.🤔

Not that it bothers me much. I was enchanted to see an Inuit Jesus calming the sea full of whales in a stained glass window in the Arctic.

I was just thinking that, too!

Lathyrus3

The Western world has been very happy for centuries with a fair, blue-eyed, Jesus.🤔

Not that it bothers me much. I was enchanted to see an Inuit Jesus calming the sea full of whales in a stained glass window in the Arctic.

Jesus was not Inuit.

He was Jewish.

I am with Doodledog!

Originals should stay originals, it's ludicrous trying to change everything to suit today. They are what they are, keeping authenticity is key. If some don't like it, they can go and write their own but not on the back of an original. I just despair!

Allira

Lathyrus3

The Western world has been very happy for centuries with a fair, blue-eyed, Jesus.🤔

Not that it bothers me much. I was enchanted to see an Inuit Jesus calming the sea full of whales in a stained glass window in the Arctic.

Jesus was not Inuit.

He was Jewish.

I do know that😬

I just loved the way they’d made him their Jesus.

The other window had polar bears going into the ark and a snow goose with the branch in his beak.